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still: and the fact is that the Ospreys blinked
first, Ulster successfully negotiated a fixture at
Scotstoun for the first time in six outings and took
control of the table.
What many coaches and players hope for is
‘M’, momentum: it breeds confidence, it helps
develop cohesion and it is embraced by the entire
squad so that when injuries or international calls
intrude others step easily, confidently into the
line-up.
This evening at Kingspan there are some
wonderful individual battles to watch, all
conducted in the context of their respective
teams. But who wouldn’t want to see Jackson
pitch up against Biggar – with both of them
perhaps harbouring serious Lions ambitions next
summer - Webb against Pienaar, Henderson
against Tipuric, Best challenged by Baldwin,
Piutau’s brilliance set against Fiji’s Josh Matevesi
midfield power?
This evening’s game is one to get all rugby
fans excited, two sides with excellent starts to
the season and with a clear aspiration for the
Guinness PRO12 title, come face-to-face just
five weeks into the campaign. But though there
will be some changes to those who’ll figure in
the battle for a top four place come May it’s
clear that, again, ‘the usual suspects’ will be
involved. Glasgow will come back from their two
reverses to date, Cardiff look a more determined
proposition, and Leinster and Munster will mount
serious threats to everyone.
Expectations are high, and properly so, and this is
an Ulster squad with what appears to be a much
more resilient calm and authority on its evolving,
attacking play.
The Ospreys tonight offer a true test of just how
well the Ulster team has developed and grown
after a strong pre-season and some genuinely
uplifting displays throughout September. It’s a
match which promises tries aplenty, and the
mesmerising talents each club can field supports
the argument that the PRO12 is a competition to
stand comparison with any other league in these
islands.
Kingspan Stadium will once again be packed, the
stage set for the most important and potentially
entertaining contest yet.
ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN
FREELANCE JOURNALIST
AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST
@RODNAWN1