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profile raised with the appearance of a player with
a power and pace which is as adept in attack as
defence, and whose deftness of pass was surely
best demonstrated with the wondrous off-load,
after a scything run from halfway, which sent
one of the up-and-coming youngsters, Jacob
Stockdale, in for Ulster’s fourth try of a good night
‘at the office’ last weekend.
Of Piutau - of the fast-returning Tommy Bowe,
Wiehahn Herbst, Peter Nelson, Ricky Lutton and
the rest of the currently side-lined – we will hear
more this season: that is something to savour.
The last month has seen a swathe of players get
their chance to put down a marker in the games
with Leinster, Exeter Chiefs and, on first viewing
in Belfast, against Northampton Saints last
weekend. Rodney Ah You’s arrival from Connacht
to offer international-class support at tight-head
prop could prove, in some ways, as key as the
stars from overseas. With a disciplined approach
to his craft and his wellbeing Ah You could
become not just a pillar of the Ulster front row but
of Ireland’s scrum for many years to come. His
promise is that great.
No Payne, Trimble, Luke Marshall, Olding, Gilroy,
Best, Reidy or Henderson as they go through
the Irish Player Management protocols, and
frustrating as their absences may seem for now
their refreshed, fully-fit return to the squad will be
timely and justify the hopes of everyone in the
Kingspan Stadium coaching box and in the seats
and on the terraces at the league’s best-equipped
stadium.
For supporters who have seen their favourites
come agonisingly close to bring much-wanted
silverware to Kingspan, particularly in the last
two seasons, there is both hope and expectation
for the 2016/17 season. But those two great
emotions must be leavened with patience and
understanding. Patience in that the players
on duty tonight and in the immediate future
must be given their chance to gel as a unit, to
accommodate the new and the different.
Understanding, in that fans who have been so
faithful and only intermittently dissenting must
appreciate the quality of player being generated
by, and brought to, Ulster.
A journey which promises to be thrilling and
spectacular starts in earnest this evening and
for this game – and scores more – captain
Rob Herring deserves to have his side hear
the famous roar of encouragement for a full 80
minutes.
It is going to be a night when all the old passions
and ambitions are reignited, so let the Ulstermen
on the pitch hear those on the terraces and in the
stands make their enthusiastic support heard.
This could be the year when the jigsaw falls into
hugely successful place. We can all help put the
vital pieces together.
ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN
FREELANCE JOURNALIST
AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST
@RODNAWN1