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but can you imagine the electricity
that will be generated in the Kingspan
crowd when Bowe and Henderson add
their world-class talents to a side which
has suffered a real ‘dip’ in confidence
given the errors and mistakes which have
undermined the trophy drive in the last few
weeks.
But no sensible fan would deny that Ulster
has quality and it has it in depth, and perhaps
the visit of Zebre will spark the resurgence
which could very quickly put the team back in
the driving seat for the target of a play-off spot
and, preferably, a home ‘semi’.
Leaders Connacht and Leinster are to visit
Kingspan Stadium, there are trips to the Ospreys
and to Glasgow in the offing, and given that the
margins in the league are now so small, that
there are no longer any easy contests, the fans
and coaches would love to see an Ulster team
take the field which has the classy composure and
much-missed quality of Best, Trimble, Bowe, Payne,
Henderson ‘in the mix’.
The Italian side which provides the test this evening
will give some indication of how Ulster has absorbed
the disappointments of recent weeks, and there is
nothing more certain than that the whole squad has
examined itself collectively and individually.
Even the very best players can make mistakes, and
at this level of professional sport they can be really
damaging.
The vastly experienced Mils Muliaina, Luke Burgess
and Paul Derbyshire have been imported successfully
to bulwark native talents such as Marco Bortolami and
Tommaso Boni, and wins over Edinburgh and Cardiff
show that Zebre is not there to ‘make up the numbers’, it is
a team of which every opponent is extremely wary.
Leinster can attest to that after Gianluca Guidi’s team almost
derailed the Dublin club’s revival last weekend!
Yes, the last month has been ‘wobbly’, nowhere is that better
understood than in the management and squad, and after
the hard work undoubtedly done these last few weeks behind
the scenes the fans can now do their ‘bit’ – as they have so
consistently as Ulster’s star has risen.
Now it’s time for ‘Team Ulster’ – on and off the pitch – to
produce its ‘A’ game. Let that unmistakeable roar be heard early
this evening, the revealing last chapter is about to begin!
It’ll be a good read. Promise!
ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN
FREELANCE JOURNALIST
AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST
@RODNAWN1