YOU WON’T FIND NEIL Doak getting over-excited much this season.
The newly promoted Ulster head coach gives the impression of a man who feels the gig is well within capabilities. Indeed, according to some, his job description is changing less than his actual title.
After claiming his first win as a head coach – a scalp of the highest order in the shape of Glasgow Warriors – Doak ensured his pokerface never slipped as he deflected praise to the players, to Les Kiss and to defence coach Jonny Bell.
His go-to phrase is ‘platform’, and the more the word is repeated the more he portrays Ulster as a well-organised hierarchy, with each layer benefiting the next.
Platform one: Les Kiss
Aside from predicting a few phone calls, Doak was unwilling to give any hints as to exactly how he will dovetail and share duties with his director of rugby next year. However, he did praise the Australian for the way in which he has made what should have been a period of real turmoil for Ulster in to relative plain sailing.
“He’s massively experienced. From him knowing the system and being in the system before that was, I suppose, in essence a pretty easy transition for the players,” says Doak.
“It was a new face, but it wasn’t a new face – guys know Les and the work that he produces. That’s maybe why it was an easy transition and they were able to focus on the performance.
“He massively helped the other coaches and steered us in the right direction and gave us a platform to work off. He’s obviously going to Ireland, we wish him well with that – we’ll dig in over the next few weeks and look at Europe.”
Platform two: His pack and his defence
Doak may be a backs-focused coach, but as head coach he now has to take responsibility for the entire team.While Ulster showed flashes of open flowing rugby in their willingness to run the ball from deep, Saturday night was an arm wrestle that made the so-called basics an absolute necessity for success.
The maul and scrum paved the way for Ian Humphreys to keep nudging Ulster further clear and Craig Gilroy’s game-breaking try also came off the back of a rolling maul. Yet when asked what had pleased him most about the 29 – 9 win, Doak pointed at the defence.
Presseye / Stephen Hamilton/INPHO
Presseye / Stephen Hamilton/INPHO / Stephen Hamilton/INPHO
“We talked about these few games going to be physical. We knew Glasgow were going pretty well. With a bit of tempo and keeping the ball alive we were able to negate them for a large part of the game. To give them only nine points after the start of the season they had is tremendous.”
“The players put the performance in. At this level we’re just trying to manage the players. We know the quality we’ve got – we’re just trying to give them a platform to perform and express themselves. Tonight was a platform and it’s a massive credit to them.”
Platform four: The interim period sets up for the real thing
“It’s been a bit of a hectic week,” was Doak’s dry assessment of high-profile build-up to Saturday’s win.
Until Tuesday, Doak was the interim head coach while Ts were crossed and Is dotted on the deal to bring he and Kiss together next year. That trial run is now over, as is the traditional phony war of early season games building up the unforgiving intensity of European Cup fixtures.
Brian Little
Brian Little
“We said at the start of the year that we just wanted to focus on the games and make sure we were putting the performances in. That’s a credit to the players, they haven’t let the off-field distract them and tonight’s performance was absolutely tremendous. Glasgow’s always going to be a tough game and it’s a credit to them, the performance they put in and gave us a great platform.”
After Warriors at home come Tigers away. Then the might of back-to-back Heineken Cup champions Toulon. The quality of opposition is steadily rising week by week and Doak is trying to ensure the platforms are in place to make the climb.
Ulster coach Doak giving players platform to 'express themselves' on the field
YOU WON’T FIND NEIL Doak getting over-excited much this season.
The newly promoted Ulster head coach gives the impression of a man who feels the gig is well within capabilities. Indeed, according to some, his job description is changing less than his actual title.
After claiming his first win as a head coach – a scalp of the highest order in the shape of Glasgow Warriors – Doak ensured his pokerface never slipped as he deflected praise to the players, to Les Kiss and to defence coach Jonny Bell.
His go-to phrase is ‘platform’, and the more the word is repeated the more he portrays Ulster as a well-organised hierarchy, with each layer benefiting the next.
Platform one: Les Kiss
Aside from predicting a few phone calls, Doak was unwilling to give any hints as to exactly how he will dovetail and share duties with his director of rugby next year. However, he did praise the Australian for the way in which he has made what should have been a period of real turmoil for Ulster in to relative plain sailing.
“He’s massively experienced. From him knowing the system and being in the system before that was, I suppose, in essence a pretty easy transition for the players,” says Doak.
“It was a new face, but it wasn’t a new face – guys know Les and the work that he produces. That’s maybe why it was an easy transition and they were able to focus on the performance.
“He massively helped the other coaches and steered us in the right direction and gave us a platform to work off. He’s obviously going to Ireland, we wish him well with that – we’ll dig in over the next few weeks and look at Europe.”
Platform two: His pack and his defence
Doak may be a backs-focused coach, but as head coach he now has to take responsibility for the entire team.While Ulster showed flashes of open flowing rugby in their willingness to run the ball from deep, Saturday night was an arm wrestle that made the so-called basics an absolute necessity for success.
The maul and scrum paved the way for Ian Humphreys to keep nudging Ulster further clear and Craig Gilroy’s game-breaking try also came off the back of a rolling maul. Yet when asked what had pleased him most about the 29 – 9 win, Doak pointed at the defence.
“We talked about these few games going to be physical. We knew Glasgow were going pretty well. With a bit of tempo and keeping the ball alive we were able to negate them for a large part of the game. To give them only nine points after the start of the season they had is tremendous.”
Platform three: Coaches allowing players thrive
Somewhat mischievously, Doak was asked whether Saturday’s win could be credited to him or Les Kiss. He had already deflected praise to defence coach Jonny Bell, so it was the players’ turn.
“The players put the performance in. At this level we’re just trying to manage the players. We know the quality we’ve got – we’re just trying to give them a platform to perform and express themselves. Tonight was a platform and it’s a massive credit to them.”
Platform four: The interim period sets up for the real thing
“It’s been a bit of a hectic week,” was Doak’s dry assessment of high-profile build-up to Saturday’s win.
Until Tuesday, Doak was the interim head coach while Ts were crossed and Is dotted on the deal to bring he and Kiss together next year. That trial run is now over, as is the traditional phony war of early season games building up the unforgiving intensity of European Cup fixtures.
“We said at the start of the year that we just wanted to focus on the games and make sure we were putting the performances in. That’s a credit to the players, they haven’t let the off-field distract them and tonight’s performance was absolutely tremendous. Glasgow’s always going to be a tough game and it’s a credit to them, the performance they put in and gave us a great platform.”
After Warriors at home come Tigers away. Then the might of back-to-back Heineken Cup champions Toulon. The quality of opposition is steadily rising week by week and Doak is trying to ensure the platforms are in place to make the climb.
Gilroy primed and ready to take big chances in Ulster’s big games
Doak delights in negating Glasgow as McCloskey provides heart of defensive effort
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