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have those questions about whether I
played to
my full potential because I know 100%
that I did
here in Belfast.
What do you think has been
the
difference at Ulster, that facilitated
you
playing to your potential?
NW:
I’ve just been happy away from
the
game. I look at it now and the boys have
let
me play the game the way I want to play
it.
Probably the answer to your question is
a bit of balance, know when, know when
not
to. The coaching that we’ve had here
has
been world class and the coaches know
how they can get the best out of me and not
to
over-push. That goes my way too; to play
within the boundaries and the laws of how the
coaches and the team plays so I think all in all
it’s gone pretty sweet.
The physical was way you play the game
probably makes you more prone to picking
up injuries – it is just unfortunate that you
are injured at this stage of your career with
Ulster?
NW:
It is a bit of a shame alright. I’ve probably
been lucky enough, I’ve been playing since I was
18 so she’s been a long ride. The way I play the
game, yeah, you would be prone to injuries, but it’s
probably the reason why I got here so I’m not going
to change it now.
What are the standout memories of your time
here?
NW:
A lot of the European matches. Toulouse back-
to-back. We’ve always seemed to stand up when we
played the big French teams, like Montpellier a couple
of years ago. I think my lasting memory would probably
be when we played Zebre in what looks like my last
home game. I got taken off and I took a second to look
up, everyone was standing and gave me a wee clap,
so as a Kiwi or as an outsider to get that ovation by a
Province that has adopted me is pretty special.
How much of a role do the fans play here at Kingspan
Stadium?
NW:
It’s an unbelievable atmosphere. Sometimes it’s
difficult because we can’t hear each other on the pitch!
I’ve played at a fair few stadiums around the world and at
times you would think there are 80 or 90 thousand people
out there, it’s deafening. When you’re on the pitch and
continued page 9
“I GOT TAKEN OFF AND
I TOOK A SECOND TO
LOOK UP, EVERYONE WAS
STANDING AND GAVE ME
A WEE CLAP, SO AS A KIWI
OR AS AN OUTSIDER TO
GET THAT OVATION BY
A PROVINCE THAT HAS
ADOPTED ME IS PRETTY
SPECIAL”