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renowned for their attacking firepower. And
with Louis Ludik, Darren Cave, Paul Marshall,
John Cooney, Peter Nelson and a raft of young
Academy products anxious to press their claims
for senior recognition Peel will be a key figure this
season.
Lions Rory Best and Iain Henderson will be pillars
of the pack, with Wiehahn Herbst, new boy Jean
Deysel, Chris Henry, Sean Reidy, Kieran Treadwell
and a fully-restored Marcell Coetzee at flanker
poised to fulfil their individual and collective
talents in powering Ulster to the top of the
Guinness PRO14 and to a really decisive impact
in the Champions Cup.
Wasps and Ulster will field some of their biggest
‘names’ this evening, and with competitive
rugby but a fortnight away fans of each side
will be looking for evidence that the summer
recruitment and the weeks of pre-season training
together provides genuine grounds for long-term
optimism.
In Ulster’s case, Les Kiss has never hidden his
disappointment at the failure to bring silverware
to Kingspan Stadium - in the last two seasons in
particular - and he knows the frustrations which
have been suffered by the PRO14’s persistently
fervent and largest home support. With Gibbes,
Peel, Dundon and Niall Malone his handpicked
lieutenants the Director of Rugby knows that
his squad of players and his management team
is expected to be more than just occasionally
thrillingly competitive in the new-look PRO14 and
in Europe.
Yes, the challenges of a very different league
format, and the exotic addition of two South
African teams will be considerable, particularly
as other clubs have strengthened their ranks,
notably Scarlets, Cardiff and, inevitably, Leinster.
So this evening’s contest has real substance,
players can lay down ‘markers’, coaches can
come to some important judgements, and the
supporters will at last have the chance to exercise
their vocal chords again in urging on their
favourites.
Ulster must start the competitive season on the
first day of September ‘running’, and the visit of
the Cheetahs that Friday evening will provide a
myriad of reasons to pack Kingspan Stadium
terraces and stands once more.
This evening, though, look for the portents for
another exciting season of action, a real step
forward in the ambition to achieve world-class
status in the game. That is the stated mission
of Ulster Rugby, the journey should be as
breathlessly spectacular as the ambition.
ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN
FREELANCE JOURNALIST
AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST
@RODNAWN1