Ulster Rugby vs Leinster

This evening’s visit to Kingspan by table-topping Leinster means the prospect of another intriguing and riveting contest with Ulster’s longstanding Inter-provincial rivals. ULSTER FACING UP TO HARSH REALITIES

But mouth-watering as that duel always is, there is no evading the sense of disappointment which most home supporters will feel as they take their places in the seats and on the terraces of the state-of-the- art stadium for the last game of the regular season. It was one which promised so much, started well, alarmingly ‘dipped’, then appeared to recover its momentum and some of its style before reaching the vital run-in to semi-final qualification before stuttering frustratingly once more. Last weekend’s hugely uninspiring display in defeat at the Ospreys has effectively ensured the hosts will end another campaign with a whimper rather than with the roar and gusto which might have been anticipated. The form and results of the three games in April yielded a paltry three points and ceded ground to the Scarlets and the out-of-form Ospreys in the race for a Top Four finish. Given that six successive wins in the Guinness PRO12 since January had given grounds for genuine ambition the last month has been one to test the mood of the most resilient supporters. A fateful home draw with Cardiff Blues – in hindsight – meant that trips to Thomond Park and Liberty Stadium were unlikely to offer a rich harvest given the uneven displays and the morale-sapping catalogue of injuries which has definitely prevented the necessary consistency of selection which most will accept is a formidable tool at critical stages of the year. Indisputably there have been performances by individual players which offered more than a hint of what this talented and carefully-assembled squad might achieve, and Rob Lyttle, Jacob Stockdale and John Andrews are just a few of those who are sure to be handed important roles as Ulster – as it must now – looks forward to another assault on the PRO12 and on Europe in August. Les Kiss and his coaching staff wouldn’t point at the list of casualties as a reason for the failure to realise the potential at Kingspan, but the long-term absences of such as Stuart Olding, Peter Nelson, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Wiehahn Herbst, Chris Henry and Marcel Coetzee does provide an insight into the wounding damage their particular gifts and experience might have offered if they had been consistently available. Leinster, today’s visitors, has been hit hard by injuries but there has been a depth to the pool at the disposal of Leo Cullen and his assistant Stuart Lancaster which Ulster is attempting to build but can only envy as it ponders ‘what might have been’ while the men in blue contemplate a home semi-final

in the PRO12. Only the most startling of twists in this evening’s final round of games would see the teams meet again competitively this campaign, and only a thumping Scarlets win over the Ospreys, a bonus- point win for Ulster and the unlikeliest scale of points ‘swing’ could deliver a Top Four spot for a third Irish side. That won’t be happening, and home fans will admirably hope for the truly miraculous intervention of fortune but should instead translate that misguided hope into fervently, vocally urging one final demonstration of what the Ulster players can produce and will be already determined to provide consistently when serious combat is renewed in late summer. Director of Rugby Les Kiss and Head Coach Neil Doak have never hidden their disappointment that the hard work the coaches and players have done has not been matched in terms of a persuasive sequence of displays and results which a club such as Ulster can expect. With Allen Clarke and Niall Malone – and for a short time Joe Barakat - the coaching ticket has invested not just time but no little invention in preparing and encouraging individuals to perform to their very, very best. And, at times, their best has been very, very impressive. A squad providing three British and Irish Lions this summer, which can call on uniquely-gifted players such as Charles Piutau, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, Alan O’Connor, Sean Reidy and so many more topline professionals does not lack quality. Whatever the factors which have contrived to prevent them realise the aspirations they share with the supporters and the administrative set-up at Kingspan the bottom line is that Les Kiss will accept that continuing and overlong under-achievement is unacceptable. A side which can produce wondrous European nights against giants like Clermont Auvergne, swat away the challenges of the PRO12’s best when in the right frame of mind is not to be dismissed as unfit for purpose. Anyone who might suggest the latter face- to-face with an intelligent, dedicated warrior like Rory Best would be as misguidedly brave as wrong! Of course there will be ongoing reflection and deliberation in the management, but when Jonno Gibbes arrives as Head Coach in the summer, with Dwayne Peel taking the responsibility for the attack, the human playing material with which they will work is already identified and signed up at Kingspan.

ROD NAWN

54

www. ULSTERRUGBY .com