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O'Sullivan aiming at high benchmark after smashing through this season's targets

The Ulster loosehead was hoping to make five appearances this season, but has excelled to make a serious impact.

‘I MIGHT NEED to be more optimistic,‘ says Eric O’Sullivan with a self-depreciating laugh.

He’s on the subject of goal-setting, because – frankly – he has smashed through every personal target set in front of him this past year.

Eric O’Sullivan in action with Nicolas De Battista O'Sullivan making a carry against Zebre this season. Matt Mackey / INPHO Matt Mackey / INPHO / INPHO

Entering his second year in Ulster’s academy, the Dublin native set what now looks like an incredibly modest bar. His short-term mid-summer outlook centred around getting to train with the seniors and, from there, building himself up in search of five appearances with the red hand on his chest.

He completed that before September turned to October and sitting in Dublin for media duties in the name of Ulster’s main sponsor Kingspan last week, he ought to boast about his 23 caps, six of them in the Heineken Champions Cup.

O’Sullivan’s push for caps was, as is always the case in rugby, aided by injury. Kyle McCall’s misfortune was his gain, but after impressing with his insatiable work-rate, he took stock, reset his goals and promptly blasted through them too.

By Christmas, his name was one of just two to pass the lips of Joe Schmidt when the Kiwi was asked to offer hope for beyond his own tenure as Ireland head coach. For O’Sullivan it’s still crazy talk. He’ll accept the slap on the back, but he’s not yet ready to slide ‘Japan 2019′ in among his target range.

“That was a total shock,” the smiling O’Sullivan says of Schmidt’s compliment.

“No contact or anything (beforehand), but it’s flattering when you get that kind of namecheck. He’s obviously a great coach and to know you’re on his radar in any way is pretty special.

“I think my (Templeogue College) principal might have been at it (the Phillips manager of the year presentation) and she text me… it was pretty special, yeah.”

Eric O'Sullivan Eric O'Sullivan will play a key role for Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

“I know myself, I’m focused on playing well for Ulster week in week out, if that gets me  anywhere else I’m happy for that to happen. It’s just about playing hard and getting results for Ulster.”

Playing hard has certainly been at the core of O’Sullivan’s rise and he has consistently hit high marks in tackle count and ruck involvements, while as a former back row, his skill-set has allowed Dan McFarland more variety emerging from his pack.

When it comes to improvements, though, he has lofty goals indeed. Scrummaging can always be improved, he insists – “if you think you’ve made it you’ll get punished pretty quick” – but in open play he is working towards the benchmark set by Lions props from his native province.

“Breakdown work, if I can get to a stage when my breakdown is like Tadhg Furlong then it will be good for me and Ulster,” says the 23-year-old.

Between himself and Cian Healy, as a loosehead he’d be the example of what you can achieve. Tadhg Furlong is probably the best tighthead in the world, so I think they’re two guys to take inspiration from.

“When you see them just down the road in Leinster that adds a bit of spice, if you can be better than them Ulster will be in a great position.”

Of course, O’Sullivan is not long removed from being pitted head-to-head with those standard-bearers as he played 71 hard-fought minutes of Ulster’s narrow Champions Cup quarter-final loss to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium last month.

Ulster’s Eric O'Sullivan O'Sullivan runs at Cian Healy in the Champions Cup quarter-final. Inpho / Billy Stickland Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland

He will hope to see a better outcome in this weekend’s inter-provincial clash, when Connacht go to Belfast with a Pro14 semi-final on the line. Ulster will hope to see Rory Best fit and able to pack down alongside O’Sullivan and add some much-needed experience to a front row which will be short Marty Moore’s power on the tighthead side.

O’Sullivan speaks of both in glowing terms and credits their influence with improving his set-piece work, but with the Poyntzpass legend playing his final provincial matches this month, Ulster would dearly love to see him hoist an overdue trophy before leading Ireland in his fourth World Cup.

“He’s been very good for me personally. He helps everyone in the squad, he’s been there done that. He has so much knowledge.

Marty Moore, Iain Henderson, Rory Best and Eric O’Sullivan O'Sullivan, right, with Best, Henderson and Moore in the Champions Cup win over Scarlets. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

“I don’t think there’s any problem you can go to him with that he hasn’t seen before. If you need help scrummaging, he’ll help you, he’ll go into the review room and have a look at it with you.

“Then on the pitch he’ll give you little cues that keep you right. It’s great to have him there in some of the bigger games when you might be a bit nervous. He gives you confidence.

He wouldn’t be one to lose the head or shout, but if he gives you a look in training you know you’ve messed up and you won’t do it again.

“He’s very good that way, stays calm and has a word when it’s appropriate.

“It’s obviously going to be tough for Rory. He’s been such an integral part of Ulster for so long. I’m sure he’ll miss it and we’ll all miss him.

“Hopefully we’ll have a good run-in and get some silverware at the end of it.”

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 1:37 PM

    You liat the KO at 14:30…. isn’t it 15:00? I’m booked in for a full head of highlights at 1 and won’t make a half 2 kick off……

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    Mute Boo Radley
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    May 9th 2019, 1:41 PM

    @Bungee Aky: no it’s been changed to 2:30! You’d wanna tell the hairdresser to get a move on

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 1:46 PM

    @Boo Radley: you can’t rush perfection

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 9th 2019, 1:36 PM

    Anybody got an update on the Bill Johnston move to Ulster? Asking for a friend.

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 1:37 PM

    @Jim Demps: is your friend Rochelle?

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 9th 2019, 1:40 PM

    @Bungee Aky: don’t be silly Rochelle has no friends

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 9th 2019, 1:41 PM

    @Jim Demps: is it a case of use it or lose it.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 9th 2019, 1:44 PM

    @Chris Mc: I’m all for it, hope it’s happening. It’d be a great move for him, Ulster and for munster.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 9th 2019, 3:51 PM

    @Jim Demps: I’m not sure how it’s good for munster but he does need rugby at this stage.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 9th 2019, 5:12 PM

    @Chris Mc: no point in having a 28, 26, 23 and 22 year old all vying for the same position. If Johnston moves on we’ve got a good balance there. At the moment with carbery the same age as him Johnston isn’t going to be given a fair chance so a move will suit him. For munster they can break in Ben Healy and give him the exposure as a young talent. It’s too easy for people to look at Johnston and say he was never given a chance but you can’t ignore his injuries. Two dislocated shoulders and a broken leg for a 22 year old is an awful lot of injuries and it’s bound to slow down his progression. Van Graan has shown that he will give young talent the chance it needs and I’d expect that to continue.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 9th 2019, 7:25 PM

    @Jim Demps: fair enough.

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    Mute Andrew H
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    May 9th 2019, 7:54 PM

    @Jim Demps: ‘exposure as a young talent’

    When are you going to see what happens at Munster??

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 9th 2019, 8:39 PM

    @Andrew H: I see it every game I go to Andrew. I’ve seen wycherley, loughman, Shane Daly, Gavin Coombes, o Connor and more all excel. You’re just using Bill Johnston as a tired old excuse to beat munster with. Too easy to compare young lads to Ryan and larmour, once in a generation talents who have as much international as club games under their belt. Try comparing them to their peers, Conor o brien to goggin, josh Murphy to wycherley, abdaladze to loughman and the picture might be a bit clearer for you.

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    Mute Thomyk
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    May 9th 2019, 1:47 PM

    2:30pm? My ticket says 3pm

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 2:00 PM

    @Thomyk: game will be over by then and Munsters season finished.

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    Mute Thomyk
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    May 9th 2019, 2:05 PM

    @Bungee Aky: could be right there lad , win r lose it’s supporting them that matters

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 2:26 PM

    @Thomyk: naw, nothing beats winning, you just forgot that it’s been so long

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    Mute Thomyk
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    May 9th 2019, 2:31 PM

    @Bungee Aky: won last Saturday pal , and I’m fairly sure we won a few games this season to, so maybe your talking through your anus now ?

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    Mute mrbryanrussell
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    May 9th 2019, 3:19 PM

    Are you two done? Now up to your rooms and do your homework and leave your phones down.

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 3:22 PM

    @Thomyk: winning wars not battles

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    Mute Rory D
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    May 10th 2019, 2:30 AM

    @Bungee Aky: grow a brain

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    Mute mrbryanrussell
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    May 9th 2019, 3:01 PM

    Should be a belter and intimacy of the RDS for such a big game is again great as opposed to 3/4 full Aviva. Re KO info came out earlier for 2.30 KO on PRO14 Twitter

    “Semi-Final KO Update: @leinsterrugby v @Munsterrugby to kick off at 14:30 on Saturday May 18 – live on @eirSport & @PremierSportsTV
    #GuinnessPRO14”

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    May 9th 2019, 3:59 PM

    @mrbryanrussell: if lowe plays it could be a rout

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    Mute mrbryanrussell
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    May 9th 2019, 4:59 PM

    @Eoin Murphy: don’t think so, one thing is for certain let’s hope they don’t get sucked in like last time and focus on getting the job done. Should be a great match hopefully JVdF is back in the squad too as well as Joey

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    Mute sup
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    May 9th 2019, 9:02 PM

    Will be tough for Leinster. Either they’ll all be hungover after winning the European cup, or in a sad shitty mood with no desire to play.

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    Mute Richard James
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    May 9th 2019, 10:42 PM

    @sup: They’re highly motivated to do the double and if they lose to Saracens their determination will be even greater to win a trophy this season.

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