Ulster Rugby v La Rochelle

ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST @RODNAWN1

Big, mobile forwards like Victor Vito, Afa Amosa, Kevin Gourdon and Dutchman Zeno Kleft will need very careful attention from the Ulster unit. The cliché that rugby matches are won up front is a truism, and Ulster cannot afford to doubt its own ability against the French who faltered badly and surprisingly in the group last time out when losing emphatically at Wasps. Many felt that was a good result for Ulster, reckoned to be chasing one of the three best runner-up spots. This observer wasn’t one of them, because now Wasps – beaten well by a below-par Ulster at Kingspan – suddenly finds itself back in the qualification hunt. Victory at Harlequins this weekend, and an Ulster win over La Rochelle, would set up extra unwanted drama when Wasps entertain Ulster in the final Pool 1 game next Sunday. Coaches and players cannot plan for bonus points, but how a try-bonus win would assist Ulster this afternoon: with five sides – four of them at the start of this round of fixtures in runner-up spots – on 13 points anything extra would keep the contenders ‘honest’! For the Ulster coaching team Europe will come as something of a relief. It will be viewed as very, very important, but the scrutiny which it has endured over the side’s worrying PRO14 form is – like the fixture itself – ‘different’. Les, Jono, Dwayne, Aaron and Niall will give, and ask for, focus. Ulster’s rugby dream would be for a performance and a result of which these fine, intelligent players are immensely capable. And to burnish that dream? The marvellous Christian Leali’ifano controls the game, as he has so masterfully at times in his brutishly short stint in Belfast, and then bounds over to clinch five points and takes his leave of Ulster as the hero he has been in his life. If such things as motivation are needed in the home dressing room perhaps one thing might strike a chord with all the players who have come to admire and respect the Australian who always gives his all. Let’s win this for Christian!

demand that the professional focus and skills so obviously surrounding him be demonstrated with a controlled passion and rugged determination. Iain Henderson is key now to both his club and country, already he’s captained Ulster and proved his long-term capacity to lead. Kieran Treadwell has broken into the international set-up, Rob Herring, Chris Henry, Sean Reidy and Robbie Diack have worn the green jersey, so the quality of the forward pool is proven. It will be boosted further next season with Marty Moore and Jordi Mutphy signing in, but the players in the squad now must know that, collectively and individually, fans can expect high-calibre performances. Behind the scrum a healthy Ulster can choose from the sort of classy performer few European clubs can match: Trimble, Luke Marshall, McCloskey, Ludik, Stockdale, Gilroy, Piutau, Cooney and – for his final game at Kingspan – Christian Leali’ifano. La Rochelle – or more properly Stade Rochelais – brings an internationally-strengthened squad to Belfast, and fly-halves Brock James and Ryan Lamb are examples of a successful rotation strategy in a key position. Ulster won’t have any inferiority complex in attack, indeed the tries scored have often been things of multiple beauty, but the defensive frailties which have so undermined this season cannot be countenanced today: wingers Jeremy Sinzelle and Vincent Rattez have been prolific in the Champions Cup and in the Top14 from which the visitors arrive, slightly disappointed, following a 38-38 draw with bottom-of-the-table Oyannox last weekend. That contrived to knock the club into second place in the domestic title race, not quite what it had in mind entering an important phase of that competition. There is a keen determination at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, to match last season’s historic finish as league leaders, only to fall at the semi-final play-off hurdle. The attack at the disposal of coaches Patrice Collazo and Xavier Garbajosa, international players both, can be devastating, as Agen found out when seven tries were blasted home, with the back-row a potent creative instrument.

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