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The sides at the top of the table, not unnaturally,
are shorn of many key players while the
international season garners so much attention,
and logic would suggest that those such as
Munster, Ospreys, Leinster and Glasgow –
occupying the coveted Top Four places currently
- might lose ground as the league reaches a
critical phase.
But such is the depth of talent in club squads
now that there is capable – often international-
class - cover in most positions. But in this age
of ‘tiny margins’ some sides do lose key figures,
though in truth the teams struggling in the PRO12
often feel the absence of their stars more keenly
in times of stress.
Ulster might not want to be in that category,
but its fall from grace in the Championship has
been dramatic, from top-of-the-heap in the early
autumn to the fringe of mid-table mediocrity,
in sixth. Eight points adrift of fourth-placed
Glasgow, and seven behind the in-form Scarlets
in fifth. It would be facile and unrealistic to think
that anything but a great challenge faces the
players and management over the next two
months, and in the ten matches remaining in
pursuit of a Top Four semi-final spot in May.
But there is genuine reason to believe that Les
Kiss and his coaching team will send out a side
this evening which will not be burdened with too
much expectation, and actually may feel that the
next block of matches can provide a route back
to PRO12 contention.
Edinburgh Rugby arrived in Belfast still smarting
from a 10-9 defeat by Munster in horrible
conditions at its new Myreside home last
weekend, and Acting Head Coach Duncan
Hodge – who succeeded Alan Solomons in the
autumn – has overseen a decided lift in squad
confidence in recent weeks. A run to the quarter-
finals of the European Challenge Cup has meant
there is still much to play for this season, and
the hope is that the club’s PRO12 fortunes will
improve.
Certainly there is the quality in the pool to
suggest that languishing in tenth place, and
finding itself very much in the shadow of Glasgow,
does not reflect the true potential of a club which
contributed handsomely to Scotland’s impressive
upset of Irish Six Nations’ hopes last weekend.
Flanker Hamish Watson was in his element at
Murrayfield, while prop Alan Dell stood up well
to his first Championship test, and how Hodge
would love to have them available at Kingspan
Stadium this evening.
But he still has a formidable panel from which to
select, and with lock Ben Toolis and back-rowers
John Hardie and Cornell du Preez stiffening a
competitive pack Ulster’s ‘eight’ will be physically
challenged, and must look to secure quick
possession and stretch its counterpart. Behind
the scrum, Jason Tovey is a gifted out-half with
a reliable kicking game, and centre Phil Burleigh
and Tom Brown are positive, try-scoring three-
quarters and scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne may
get his chance, the Scottish international pivot
gradually returning to full fitness and form.
And there is the possibility too that two former
Ulster favourites, Michael Allen and Rory Scholes,
could be given the opportunity to shine in front of
fans very familiar with their pacey, robust styles.
From Ulster’s perspective there is nothing to fear
but so much to gain. Kiss will hope that perhaps
Joe Schmidt will allow some of his charges
not needed in green this weekend to get some
competitive action, but there won’t be any worries
if that doesn’t happen. The coaches remain
determinedly confident in the players readily
available, and with names like Cave, Ludik and
Piutau ready to pose the attacking threat, and van
der Merwe, Treadwell, O’Connor, Herbst, Reidy
and Henry on hand there’s mobility, power and
intelligence in the pack.
It’s tempting to muse over the possible debut of
South African Marcell Coetzee, so unfortunate
to suffer a serious injury at home after signing
on for Kingspan duty, but it’s surely far too early
to expect an instant turnaround because of the
possible appearance of new blood, high-energy
though it might be!
After a welcome break the players will be
refreshed, certainly, but will have been worked
hard on and off the training pitches in the
last week. The blights of so many Ulster
performances recently have been of an alarmingly
basic nature: slipping tackles, poor handling at
critical moments and questionable decision-
For rugby fans the months of February and March are the weeks of sporting nirvana –
the Six Nations in full flow, while the chase for the Guinness PRO12 continues apace.
WHEN NEW START BRINGS CHEER!
ROD NAWN