THE SEMI-FINALS OF the Pro12 are still almost a month away, but Ulster can make the competition reach an early knockout phase for Leinster on Friday.
The mood around the respective camps could scarcely be more different at present.
Ulster have been given a positivity boost since Ravenhill was confirmed as the venue for the Pro12 Grand Final. Leinster meanwhile, despite reaching extra-time in a European semi-final, are counting the cost of a dip in form since the start of the year – a cost that could take the form of an early summer sojourn.
Given the stranglehold the eastern province has had over their rivals to the north in the games that really mattered in recent seasons – finals of the Heineken Cup, Pro12 and two Pro12 semi-finals – there must be an element within the Ulster squad that would take immense pleasure in bringing Leinster’s interest in this season forward by a few weeks.
That element is not Bowe, not outwardly at least.
Rory Best leads his side off after last season's semi-final loss at the RDS. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“It’s a bonus for us to get the win,” the wing contends.
“They’ve obviously had a good record over the last couple of years of putting an end to our hopes of silverware.
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“We always have a good history with them. It is always a tough match. Unfortunately, over the last couple of years, we’ve definitely been on the wrong side of it.
“This weekend is an enormous match for us. We want to be playing for a home semi-final. To do that, we pretty much have to win the remainder of our games. We have three enormous matches.”
To judge by the league position of their opponents, Ulster face the toughest run-in over the next three games. After facing fifth-place Leinster on Friday, it’s second-place Munster before finishing off the regular season against leaders Glasgow.
What continues to give Bowe, his team-mates and supporters enormous confidence though, are the venues.Their inter-provincial rivals will hit the road to Belfast leaving Glasgow as the only remaining away trip for Neil Doak’s side. Play their cards right, and it could be the sole away game between four in Belfast.
Whereas some teams complain of a lost magic when an old ground is redeveloped, Ulster are on a run of nine straight wins at home in the Pro12 this season. And only Connacht and Scarlets have gone away with losing bonus points.
BrianThompson
BrianThompson
“There was always a thing of ‘Fortress Ravenhill’. We always feel it should be a tough place to come. Certainly with the crowds we have been having over the last year or
two it makes it an intimidating stadium to come to.
“It’s now become one of the top stadiums in European rugby and with that comes a superb atmosphere. It makes it a stadium that teams enjoy playing in. If they are on your back it might not be ideal, but as a player I always want to play with a loud, vocal crowd either cheering or against me.
“For us as a team we pride ourselves on our home form. We don’t think we should ever lose at home. We want to make it difficult to come to Belfast.”
It will be difficult for the visitors, sure, but won’t it won’t be one way traffic.
Leinster still have an opportunity to influence the playoff picture and scupper that Ulster plan of playing a crucial semi-final on home turf. History tells us that away semis are not a good position to win a league title from. Indeed, the 20 Celtic League semi-finals that have taken place since 2010 have all produced home victories.
“It does give us a bit of a carrot, something to aim for,” Bowe says of the Kingspan Stadium final.
“The fact there is going to be a final played in our stadium, it’s something we have to aim for. It would be such a shame to have this final going on and us not to be involved in it. We would be devastated.
“It’s something amazing for us to aim for. As a team we have always lacked that small bit – I don’t know whether it is motivation or what it is to get ourselves over that finish line -maybe this could be the thing to push us on.”
Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE
“We have had a difficult season, but with the likes of Mark Anscombe leaving and the prospect of Les Kiss coming in after the World Cup next year gives us something to look forward to, but if we can manage to win the league this year it would be a huge boost for the team.”
“We are in a great place, we had a super win against Connacht two weeks ago. To go down to the Sportsground and come away with a bonus point shows that we are hungry for it.”
Tommy Bowe: 'We shouldn't ever lose at Fortress Ravenhill'
THE SEMI-FINALS OF the Pro12 are still almost a month away, but Ulster can make the competition reach an early knockout phase for Leinster on Friday.
The mood around the respective camps could scarcely be more different at present.
Ulster have been given a positivity boost since Ravenhill was confirmed as the venue for the Pro12 Grand Final. Leinster meanwhile, despite reaching extra-time in a European semi-final, are counting the cost of a dip in form since the start of the year – a cost that could take the form of an early summer sojourn.
Given the stranglehold the eastern province has had over their rivals to the north in the games that really mattered in recent seasons – finals of the Heineken Cup, Pro12 and two Pro12 semi-finals – there must be an element within the Ulster squad that would take immense pleasure in bringing Leinster’s interest in this season forward by a few weeks.
That element is not Bowe, not outwardly at least.
“It’s a bonus for us to get the win,” the wing contends.
“They’ve obviously had a good record over the last couple of years of putting an end to our hopes of silverware.
“We always have a good history with them. It is always a tough match. Unfortunately, over the last couple of years, we’ve definitely been on the wrong side of it.
To judge by the league position of their opponents, Ulster face the toughest run-in over the next three games. After facing fifth-place Leinster on Friday, it’s second-place Munster before finishing off the regular season against leaders Glasgow.
What continues to give Bowe, his team-mates and supporters enormous confidence though, are the venues.Their inter-provincial rivals will hit the road to Belfast leaving Glasgow as the only remaining away trip for Neil Doak’s side. Play their cards right, and it could be the sole away game between four in Belfast.
Whereas some teams complain of a lost magic when an old ground is redeveloped, Ulster are on a run of nine straight wins at home in the Pro12 this season. And only Connacht and Scarlets have gone away with losing bonus points.
“There was always a thing of ‘Fortress Ravenhill’. We always feel it should be a tough place to come. Certainly with the crowds we have been having over the last year or
two it makes it an intimidating stadium to come to.
“It’s now become one of the top stadiums in European rugby and with that comes a superb atmosphere. It makes it a stadium that teams enjoy playing in. If they are on your back it might not be ideal, but as a player I always want to play with a loud, vocal crowd either cheering or against me.
It will be difficult for the visitors, sure, but won’t it won’t be one way traffic.
Leinster still have an opportunity to influence the playoff picture and scupper that Ulster plan of playing a crucial semi-final on home turf. History tells us that away semis are not a good position to win a league title from. Indeed, the 20 Celtic League semi-finals that have taken place since 2010 have all produced home victories.
“It does give us a bit of a carrot, something to aim for,” Bowe says of the Kingspan Stadium final.
“The fact there is going to be a final played in our stadium, it’s something we have to aim for. It would be such a shame to have this final going on and us not to be involved in it. We would be devastated.
“It’s something amazing for us to aim for. As a team we have always lacked that small bit – I don’t know whether it is motivation or what it is to get ourselves over that finish line -maybe this could be the thing to push us on.”
“We have had a difficult season, but with the likes of Mark Anscombe leaving and the prospect of Les Kiss coming in after the World Cup next year gives us something to look forward to, but if we can manage to win the league this year it would be a huge boost for the team.”
“We are in a great place, we had a super win against Connacht two weeks ago. To go down to the Sportsground and come away with a bonus point shows that we are hungry for it.”
Tommy Bowe was speaking at the launch of Subway’s #TrainWithTommy competition. For information on how to win a €1000 worth of training gear as well as a training session with the Ulster, Ireland and Lions wing visit Subway’s Facebook page here or find them on Twitter @SubwayUKIreland
‘Against Habana, you have to expect him to attempt an intercept’ — Bowe on Leinster heartbreak
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