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I’d played in most matches and was
enjoying my rugby in a winning, stylish
team.
“We just came up short, and the players
and everyone behind the scenes was
‘down’ about missing out on a final at
Kingspan Stadium. We hope to put that
right very soon.”
Away from Kingspan Stadium he delights in
the new arrival and has made new friends
easily, and that – he believes – has helped
his rugby.
“Franco van der Merwe and I like to get out
some free Saturdays and go clay pigeon
shooting, that’s my idea of a good day out,
and Denise has settled in well, likes the
life we’re making, and hopefully that will
continue – accompanied by a few trophies!
Wiehahn enjoys the weekly challenge of,
first, earning his place in the team, and then
taking on the best players in the Champions
Cup and in the PRO12, which he rates
highly.
“In the league you are coming up against
international players and testing yourself,
it’s a top competition to rank with the best
anywhere. And it’s getting tougher, which
is great, the standards are rising and no
opposition can be taken for granted,” he
says, clearly a player intent on improving
his skills and on studying the game and its
constant refashioning.
As we start a New Year, and explode into
the second half of Ulster’s season, Herbst
is one of the lynchpins of the squad, and
takes an earnest view of that. “As I keep
saying, I have a responsibility to the team,
to the coaches, to the fans who turn up
so loyally and support us, and I have a
responsibility to myself.
“It is a great life, that of a professional
sportsman, and for that privilege there is
a very small cost, but it means hard work,
learning all the time, being disciplined and
being committed to the team and what
Ulster means to the supporters.”
He wants those butterflies in his stomach
to keep fluttering, and if they do he
is convinced that it will mean he, and
Ulster, are on target to bring home some
silverware, and to establish a platform for
the longer term.
“AND THAT CROWD, IT
WAS SOMETHING ELSE!
I JUST WANT TO HAVE
MORE NIGHTS AND DAYS
LIKE THAT AT HOME, AND
INDEED AWAY FROM
BELFAST...”