Ulster Rugby vs Zebre

In November last, the visitors, and their hosts this evening were thwarted by extreme weather conditions. LET’S ‘TRY’ THAT AGAIN!

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

ROD NAWN

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