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in the back row you know you’re in for a great
battle.
“But we genuinely don’t fear any side, and
Ulster is a big club with a lot of quality of its
own, but importantly a spirit, character and
purpose which, allied to the flair we have all
over the park, which the French will not find
comfortable,” says the skipper who leads by
energetic example.
“I have two-and-a-half years to create as a
player and as a captain, a legacy, something
tangible to show in terms of trophies. Captains
are eventually judged on that: ‘What did they
win?’
“I would like to be part of leaving memories
which endure, like the Ulster team of 1998/99,
and although as a squad we haven’t really
talked about what we might take from the great
clashes of that season with Toulouse, I do
remember a few incidents and moments from
watching as a kid.
“I would love to do that for this generation
of supporters and their children, to be
remembered for great nights, and especially
for winning things.
“I said last year ‘judge us on what we do’, and
we were in a great run of form at the end of the
season, the carrot of a PRO12 Final here at our
own Kingspan Stadium.
“One silly mistake in Glasgow undid a lot
of good work, and I personally – and as a
member of the team – want to put things right
in the shape of silverware. Les has helped
breathe new thinking to good habits we
already had, and he’s added a raft of new
ideas which we all believe are going to bare
fruit.
“Europe, as I said, is special, and it’s another
step up, but I really am convinced we can
make that step. We have the depth in the
squad, we have a superb coaching and back-
up team, and the way we are managed in
terms of the games we play, players can stay
at the top for so much longer.
“It’ll be a great night, remembered I’m sure for
all the right reasons,” says the grounded but
highly ambitious skipper.
The legacy starts here, it could be one of the
Best!