Ulster Rugby vs Zebre

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The eleventh-hour postponement that Friday
evening disappointed supporters, naturally, but
both sets of players cut frustrated figures as they
survived the rock-hard surface.
For Ulster, there had been a genuine belief that
the ‘reset’ button on a stuttering PRO12 season
could be pressed against the Parma side, while
Zebre had serious intentions on adding to their
opponents’ indifferent form and causing an upset
– or at least deepening Ulster concerns.
The landscape today has changed somewhat
with Ulster having emerged from the trough of
disappointing results to stage a very convincing
assault on reclaiming their place in the Top Four
and working towards the guarantee of a play-off
spot in May. That target is very far from being
assured, but despite some uneven performances,
a very real character has been demonstrated in a
sequence which has seen Edinburgh, Glasgow,
tonight’s visitors, and Treviso beaten.
In the case of all but the latter there was literally
the bonus of culling that extra point in scoring
four tries or more, and though ensuring the win
is always the priority for the players and fans, it
is now almost imperative – given the pace being
set by those currently occupying the leading
positions in the table – that maximum reward is
taken on each outing.
On Friday of last week the conditions underfoot
and overhead undermined what was a realistic
expectation that five vital points could be secured
in the game against Benetton Treviso, but there
were other factors contributing to a sub-par
display by Ulster and mature reflection does
surely mean that the victory on the night was
more than acceptable.
Yes, mistakes collective and individual were
made on a dreadful night for handling and which
palpably affected confidence, the set-piece
eventually succumbing to the malaise. But Ruan
Pienaar’s calming guidance throughout prevented
an entire collapse in cohesion, and there was the
reassuring sight at home of Jared Payne returning
and scoring a superb try.
His recall to the Ireland Six Nations’ squad after
the serious injury picked up in the Autumn Series
was predictable, and evidence that Joe Schmidt
holds Payne in the sort of regard afforded him
by Ulster’s supporters, his coaches and team-
mates. If he is available this evening to face Zebre
it would be a real boost, and a sure sign that he’s
racing back to full health and fitness.
But this evening’s game with Zebre will not be
decided by one player, no matter how talismanic
he might have become. What Kingspan’s faithful
want to see, and are anxious to cheer, is a win
which would take the side around the recently
resurgent Scarlets and into fourth place.
That would produce a sense of relief which
has been hard-earned, and if it was to be a
victory fashioned by an imaginative, confident
demonstration of try-scoring – conjuring up
another priceless bonus point – that would re-
energise the changing room and the stands and
terraces!
That would build a platform for what is building
up to be one of the most exciting, challenging
Guinness PRO12 seasons in many years. And
platform only is what it would be, because in
a fortnight – with perhaps the bulk of the Irish
contingent back – there is a fixture at Rodney
Parade against the Dragons which for too long
now has been taken on with an inhibition which
we have every right not to accept from such an
immensely talented group of players at Ulster.
Some years ago an ambition for this club was set
out, and it included the aspiration to be world-
class. In many respects, much of that journey
has been completed: a stadium the envy of many
in the game; a structure of player development
which has been most recently advertised by the
impressive appearance in the senior shirt of Rob
Lyttle, Jacob Stockdale and David Busby, to
name but a few; and Operations Director Bryn
Cunningham has secured the services of Charles
Piutau, Marcel Coetzee and – just this week – of
the coveted South African prop forward Schalk
van der Merwe.
These have been, and are, all signals of Ulster’s
intent. But it has to be admitted that the blindingly
obvious omission has been the arrival of a trophy
at HQ for far too long. There have been great
In November last, the visitors, and their hosts this evening were thwarted by
extreme weather conditions.
LET’S ‘TRY’ THAT AGAIN!
ROD NAWN