Sean Farrell reports from Kingspan Stadium
WHILE THE MAKEUP of the teams will rightly temper celebrations, yesterday’s win over Leinster was an important step for Ulster.
Next weekend, with Glasgow awaiting in the semis, they face a crucial inter-provincial clash at home to Connacht. And even if you were to overlook the Westerners’ first win in Belfast since Michael D Higgins was an ebullient teen, derby days have been a cause of much consternation for the northern province this season.
While Dan McFarland’s first campaign as a head coach is defined by marked improvements in structure and performance, the most domestic of results have yielded just two wins from six against Irish sides – both coming in hard-fought fashion at home to a rival packing far from their full array of weaponry.
On the road they have lost to Connacht and suffered a heavy beating from Leinster at the RDS. But the worst result and performance came first, the record 64-7 thumping sustained in Thomond Park.
“We had a team meeting after and we said, ‘that’s the end of that and that’s the turning point.’ It did hurt a lot,” said Mike Lowry, whose reputation has leapt forward in giant strides in tandem with his province since he made his debut that dark night in Limerick.
Yet while the pain of defeat may have helped drive standards through the season as a whole, the turning point in inter-pros was not quite as easy to pinpoint as that.
After helping Ulster beat Leinster for the first time since Ruan Pienaar’s rowdy farewell, Alan O’Connor offered a sensible explanation for Ulster’s patchy derby form. Resources.
“A lot of young guys get chances around those periods because there are Champions Cup games coming up afterwards, it’s about growing the squad. Some of the same lads got a chance today and look what happened.
Everyone’s learning, we’ve a young team and building well since then.
“Against Connacht (at home), we had 14 men for a half and 13 men for 10 minutes. I don’t think we’ve anything to fear coming up.
“Obviously, inter-pros are really important, but we worry about the performance more and we performed well today and the result looked after itself.”
O’Connor remembers the run of play from the home loss to Connacht well, not just because he had his sleeves rolled up in the engine room with Iain Henderson, but because McFarland’s men have succeeded in making Kingspan Stadium a fortress in this campaign. So defeats sting.
Connacht’s first win in Belfast for 58 years was their sole loss on home turf. And while Benetton took a draw, Leinster yesterday were added to Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Scarlets and Edinburgh as sides who were unable to get one over Ulster in Ravenhill.
While McFarland has his fair share of injury concerns, the Ulster who slumped to thrashings in Thomond and the RDS will not be the side facing up to Connacht next Saturday. They have grown throughout the season and the close-run-thing against Leinster in the Champions Cup quarter-final has given them a taste for knockout rugby.
“No one thought we’d win five out of six in the group in Europe,” said Jordi Murphy this week.
Then to come down to Leinster and put in a really big fight at the Aviva, and just come up short at the end, it was just a mixed feeling afterwards; it was incredibly disappointing to come out at the wrong end, but very pleasing to have seen the group stand up.
“Especially a young group where a lot of young guys wouldn’t have played in that type of game before with that kind of crowd, that kind of environment, against the European champions.
“To a man, all the boys stood up and on a different day maybe we would have got a result.
“It was one of those things that, I think, will really stand to the group going forward.”
Having held back Murphy and the rest of the big guns yesterday, Ulster are primed to show just how far they have come.
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The belief and momentum are growing, however there is still a long way to go.
The squad is stronger and the additions next season will enhance it.
The first fifteen can hold their own up front and the backs can be effective against most opposition.
The age profile is excellent and a lot of the players could be there for years to come.
The coach is to be applauded for his achievements, which have exceeded all the supporters expectations and we all have an air of optimism moving forward.
As mentioned elsewhere Ulster feel like they have rolled year 1 and 2 of development into one year, the big defeats early in the season are like the year one side and can be forgotten as its like a different team since then. QF against Leinster with a young squad and only one NIQ shows the potentional. DMcF hasnt even had a full season yet, add Grant and its a top class coaching ticket in place and Dans first full pre season next year. The additions of McGrath, Carter and Faddes will improve the first 15, the acadamy is still turning out quality players (Rea getting MoM on debut), and the others having had one years more experience. This team has so much potentional, the best acadamy in years some fantastic additions, a top class coaching ticket, and the futures bright.
@Kingshu: Forgetting the future for now and onto the present, it feels like a different team since that early season defeat to Connacht, Ulster were still favourites going into it, and had a red card. Connacht have improved under Friend since then, but not at the same rate that Ulster have under DMcF. Ulster are the big favourites, and I think its prob correct, as good as Connacht have become I cant see them winning for a second time in 56 odd years.
@Kingshu: bold statement. No one would’ve ever given them a hope of winning one. Shows you once there’s consistent collective desire and positive attitude anything can be achieved. That’s the beauty of rugby. Who wants it more wins.