Ulster Rugby v Cardiff Blues

ROD NAWN

Late October and normally the portents for clubs’ PRO14 prospects can be clearer, ambitions recalibrated even, targets scaled up or down. TARGETMUSTBE HOME ‘DOUBLE’

For the Blues, a trip to the Kings provided maximum points, but only one losing bonus point came from tough examinations in Cardiff by Edinburgh and an attritional loss in Glasgow. Arguably this evening’s visitors have had the more intense early examination, but both teams are now reasonably battle-hardened, and a win under the Kingspan Stadium lights would most certainly be a platform for a big November calendar in the PRO14 and – suddenly! – Europe. Ulster is well aware that it can copper fasten its top-three place in Conference A with victories here in Belfast in the next seven days against Cardiff and then Zebre next Friday. With the resurgent, strengthened Cheetahs and Leinster setting the early pace, Kingspan Stadium must become the fortress of old. In a fortnight the first phase of PRO14 action will be completed in Munster, visitors to the Arms Park next weekend. But for players, coaches and the ever- expectant Ulster supporters, the focus is clearly on this evening’s traditionally combative clash with Cardiff. McFarland, it is clear, has stamped his personality and ambition on this Ulster panel, and some impressive recruitment has strengthened the belief that this is a group of players which cannot just compete but effectively challenge for silverware. The arrival of Matt Faddes and Bill Johnston, genuinely quality backs, not just offers real competition for places butt has given the Head Coach various combinations with which to operate in what is an increasingly congested and physically draining campaign.

But in this late summer and autumn of a delayed competitive season, and with the compelling distraction and spectacle of a World Rugby Cup in the Orient, telling indicators of what lies ahead for tonight’s combatants are few. Ulster’s Irish contingent has made its way home from Japan, hugely disappointed, naturally, and for some, a well-earned rest from the game awaits. On Monday Cardiff was called upon to supply yet another player to Wales’s continuing World Cup odyssey when winger Owen Lane replaced the hugely impressive breakaway forward Josh Navidi, one of the most influential figures in Warren Gatland’s squad. Both of tonight’s sides have been prepared with their managements well aware of the personnel with whom they launch their PRO14 programmes, and Dan McFarland and John Mulvihill, the respective Head Coaches, select from those players with whom they’ve spent a long, educative pre-season. In the Championship, Ulster can point to three opening games which have each provided try bonus points, two from the wins at Kingspan Stadium over the Ospreys and the comfortable despatch of the Southern Kings in South Africa two weeks ago. The previous weekend, a late scoring surge mined what could yet be a valuable bonus earned in the thumping defeat by the Cheetahs, guided imperiously by Ruan Pienaar, formerly a deity in this parish.

44

ulsterrugby.com