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Whatever line-ups respective Directors of Rugby,
Rassie Erasmus and Kiss, are able to field given
injury, form and perhaps Ireland’s preparations for a
busy November, they each will bring the traditional
Ulster-Munster passions and their redoubtable
talents to the stage.
Both Erasmus and Kiss will dig deep into their
resources this evening and for next week, Irish calls
will mean that Ulster, for instance, will be glad that
Rob Lyttle, Jacob Stockdale and Brett Herron have
been in the white-hot heat of the PRO12 battles
already and shown themselves comfortable at that
level. Darren Cave is fast approaching a return to
full fitness and the indomitable and sometimes
undervalued centre is mentally prepared for an
important couple of weeks when his side can confirm
that elusive ability to win with flair and, if required, dig
deep into the soul and physical preparation to eke
out victories from unpromising situations.
But, preferably, the players would love to get the
decisions right, to show their natural instinct for
attack, and the promise of Tommy Bowe being ready
for a protracted run of games is one which will have
supporters hoping to see the ball spread swiftly,
deftly into space and with support.
There will be key battles to be won on the Kingspan
sward this evening, and each group of players is
acutely aware of its responsibilities as professionals,
to the fans who crave reward in the shape of
silverware, and neither will lack for motivation.
But though it is – in many ways – back to business as
usual, tonight’s visitors come to Kingspan Stadium to
be welcomed with sincere and bounteous warmth.
The hosts will pay homage to an opponent who
never took a backward step in red or green, but who
just a few months ago was good-naturedly sharing
his optimism for his team after it stemmed a long
losing sequence with victory in Belfast.
That evening early this year his players played with
grit and gave their all, they mirrored the character
of their Head Coach. Ulster will want – indeed need
- another PRO12 win but the opposition will still be
running on the unlikely energy of grief and loss.
‘Axel’ Foley would not have conjured up such
sentiment to empower his side, but he’d want an
Ulster-Munster game to represent all those things
he relished: fervour, contact, total commitment and
pride in the jersey.
Both teams can pay him the best honour possible by
playing with those virtues.
ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN
FREELANCE JOURNALIST
AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST
@RODNAWN1