LAST SEASON OFTEN seemed like one landmark after another for Ulster Rugby.
And anybody in the vicinity of Ravenhill will be sure to issue reminders of a first ever win in France and an overdue win in Dublin.
However, arguably a more valuable indicator of the consistency reached by the northern province was the 100% record achieved in Wales. Four wins out of four provided he platform for their record-breaking 13-game winning streak.
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On Friday, Johann Muller will lead a side hoping to extend their Welsh wins to five, but knows that the struggling Welsh province will be eager to impress after a summer shake-up.
“It doesn’t matter where you play, you’ve got to go in there and you’ve got to win it.
“We’ve a tough start. They’ve got a new setup there, a new coaching staff in place, a new stadium and I think it’s exciting times for them as well.
“It’s a tough place to go and play rugby at. I think you can ask every side in this league, it’s one place that you really have to play well to start well. But like I said it’s going to be tough, but we’re excited about the prospect.”
While Darren Edwards remains as head coach at Rodney Parade, bodies have been parachuted in around him with Lyn Jones installed as director of rugby.
By contrast, there is next to no change around Ulster with only second or third tier players exiting the province and replaced by academy products who had sought out experience in the the unforgiving English Championship.
Exciting
“We’ve had a great pre-season so far,” The Springbok adds. “Obviously we had a huge amount of injuries last year. To have almost everybody back from injury and everybody training again, all of a sudden there’s a squad of 35-40 guys fit and training. I think that’s really exciting from a player’s point of view, but also from a coach’s point of view as well.
“There’s a great buzz within the squad and I think everybody’s really looking forward to the season starting now and basically playing rugby and getting to do what we love.”
Muller wary of Dragons despite winning run in Wales
LAST SEASON OFTEN seemed like one landmark after another for Ulster Rugby.
And anybody in the vicinity of Ravenhill will be sure to issue reminders of a first ever win in France and an overdue win in Dublin.
However, arguably a more valuable indicator of the consistency reached by the northern province was the 100% record achieved in Wales. Four wins out of four provided he platform for their record-breaking 13-game winning streak.
On Friday, Johann Muller will lead a side hoping to extend their Welsh wins to five, but knows that the struggling Welsh province will be eager to impress after a summer shake-up.
“It’s a tough place to go and play rugby at. I think you can ask every side in this league, it’s one place that you really have to play well to start well. But like I said it’s going to be tough, but we’re excited about the prospect.”
While Darren Edwards remains as head coach at Rodney Parade, bodies have been parachuted in around him with Lyn Jones installed as director of rugby.
By contrast, there is next to no change around Ulster with only second or third tier players exiting the province and replaced by academy products who had sought out experience in the the unforgiving English Championship.
Exciting
“We’ve had a great pre-season so far,” The Springbok adds. “Obviously we had a huge amount of injuries last year. To have almost everybody back from injury and everybody training again, all of a sudden there’s a squad of 35-40 guys fit and training. I think that’s really exciting from a player’s point of view, but also from a coach’s point of view as well.
“There’s a great buzz within the squad and I think everybody’s really looking forward to the season starting now and basically playing rugby and getting to do what we love.”
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