Advertisement
Roddy Grant speaks to Ulster players during the Pro14 final. James Crombie/INPHO

Ulster take solace in battle-hardiness and fresh start of new season

The northern province claimed just one win in their five matches since rugby restarted in August.

THE OLD SEASON will be just 12 days dead and buried when Ulster kick off the new 2020/21 campaign.

It’s scarcely enough time for the ground to settle on their painful lessons against four-time European champions, let alone allow green shoots to take root.

“It’s the start of a new Marathon,” says forwards coach Roddy Grant of Friday’s Pro14 commencement at home to Benetton.

The way Ulster’s hopes of challenging at the top table unravelled in Dublin and Toulouse leave some to welcome the prospect of a fresh start.

In truth, aside from a sensational second-half comeback in Edinburgh to dramatically edge the Pro14 semi-final, they have moved from one disappointing performance to another since rugby restarted in August.

One win in five matches, just as well that ‘one’ was a make-or-break knockout clash away to tough opposition. For Grant, that performance is a platform to work from. Indeed, so is the rest of the playing time they have amassed. The squad, he expects, are fully battle-hardened and ready to hit the ground running in week one.

“I feel it’s great we’ve had games, our bodies are hardened, it allows you to get into a routine, a rhythm of how you want to play,” says Grant, whose pack this week may well contain many of the men who helped Ulster A beat their Leinster counterparts on Friday.

“Hopefully we can make that rhythm count, where we have had games and Treviso haven’t.  It’s a tough game either way.”

Widening the focus to the longer term, the former Scotland international is keen for Ulster to take the hurt of their Pro14 final and European quarter-final losses and channel it towards going one better next time around.

“Being in a final and a quarter-final, that’s certainly good on paper. We’re happy with that achievement but disappointed obviously in how we went out of both.

“For this season, we have to kick on and do better than how we finished. In terms of goals and whatnot, we want to be competing like we did last season.

“There’s a lot of things we’ve to improve on. It’s the start of a new Marathon.”

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Crowe
    Favourite Sean Crowe
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 6:55 PM

    COYBIB

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B Collins
    Favourite B Collins
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:01 PM

    Such a joy to watch ulster this week compared to Munster. So much variety in their play. Mathewson sniping, passing, kicking. Forwards carrying with impact but also offloading when appropriate. Much more effective. Hume and McCloskey look great in the centre.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gabs90
    Favourite gabs90
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:05 PM

    Let’s go Leinster!! Big day out for Ringrose

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute T Dawg
    Favourite T Dawg
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:22 PM

    @gabs90: ya, biggest day of his career

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute rugbyanbeer
    Favourite rugbyanbeer
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:24 PM

    Leinster lineouts are keeping Ulster in the game

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David
    Favourite David
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:24 PM

    Looking forward to a good game and hopefully no injuries for both sides for next week. . Super selection from Leinster and what a bench. Leinster by 10+ for me.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Just Some Guy
    Favourite Just Some Guy
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:19 PM

    Leinster will win

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marty H
    Favourite Marty H
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:35 PM

    I see Van Der Flier is Liam Tolands man crush this week

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lance Write
    Favourite Lance Write
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:12 PM

    He’s a gas man. Giving Stockdale grief for crawling with the ball. But sure it was perfectly fine when a Leinster player did it to score against Munster.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:22 PM

    Half time and the leinster lineout is easily the worst in professional rugby.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Finn
    Favourite David Finn
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:44 PM

    @Chris Mc: I think we need to end the hype that’s been surrounding Kelleher right now. Cronin is a better lineout thrower and that’s saying something!

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:57 PM

    @David Finn: his throwing is pants but he’s a massive present arround the pitch

    9
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Johnston
    Favourite Trevor Johnston
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:30 PM

    @Chris Mc: yeah good around the pitch but on that performance about Irish no 4. He needs time.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Sep 13th 2020, 9:15 AM

    @Trevor Johnston: the leinster lineout has been too complicated for a good few seasons now. Far too many moving parts. Most of the balls lost yesterday came without any real presure from Ulster, lifters missed the jumper, some times the jumper didn’t even jump. A lineout should be very simple, your jumper gets into the air before theirs or get higher than theirs. Your hooker throws the ball to the big guy been lifted by 2 other big guys. All the dummies, moving arround and decoys just allows the line to close and the lifters to be obstructed or miss their position or timing.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute rugbyanbeer
    Favourite rugbyanbeer
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:40 PM

    Game on great try

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lance Write
    Favourite Lance Write
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:16 PM

    It’s good to see Ulster taking a leaf out of the Leinster playbook. Holding opposition players in nearly every ruck and starting to milk some penalties.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute rugbyanbeer
    Favourite rugbyanbeer
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:24 PM

    Another trophy the invincibles
    Leinster Congratulations

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan Finlay
    Favourite Dan Finlay
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:03 PM

    People effuse about this morphing Leinster game plan, kicking on their terms and their love for defending but Ulster have been playing the better rugby for the majority of the game. I know Leinster are still winning but as a Leinster fan I expected a good bit more from Leinster tonight in preparation for Saracens. Doris has been quiet, Conan was petulant in the first half and it is not a day for Kelleher at line-out time. There have been moments when Leinster have shown good running rugby but the last phase fizzles out with an attacking penalty or picking the wrong option. We’ll need a better performance against Saracens, even without Farrell and Mako.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan Finlay
    Favourite Dan Finlay
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:11 PM

    @Dan Finlay: and moments after posting Doris goes and scores.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B Collins
    Favourite B Collins
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 10:42 PM

    @Dan Finlay: Conan coughed up three penalties. Can not afford that against saracens.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor HF
    Favourite Conor HF
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:14 PM

    Atrocious lineout from Leinster.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David
    Favourite David
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:50 PM

    Great response.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David
    Favourite David
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:10 PM

    Brilliant try.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony O Connell
    Favourite Anthony O Connell
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:45 PM

    Great try! Very well worked. Come on ulster!

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Taz Donohoe
    Favourite Andrew Taz Donohoe
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:47 PM

    Would be grand if Brace actually reffed Leinster. Let’s them away with murder at the breakdown

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Johnston
    Favourite Trevor Johnston
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:51 PM

    @Andrew Taz Donohoe: fussy but fair

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David
    Favourite David
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 8:56 PM

    Here he comes. The Boss.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute rugbyanbeer
    Favourite rugbyanbeer
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:52 PM

    Great try …..game over ..joking

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rudiger McMonihan
    Favourite Rudiger McMonihan
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:00 PM

    Anyone know if tg4 are showing this live or is it just discussions about the game starting at that time and the kick off being shown later on?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donogh O'Laighin
    Favourite Donogh O'Laighin
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:04 PM

    @Rudiger McMonihan: I’m pretty sure it’s live

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nathan Fulham
    Favourite Nathan Fulham
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:11 PM

    Ulster happy to be in final, same as Heineken cup a few years back they failed to throw a punch… embarrassing

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Johnston
    Favourite Trevor Johnston
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:27 PM

    @Nathan Fulham: you can only play as well as you are allowed. Leinster in total control.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Hayes
    Favourite Michael Hayes
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 7:55 PM

    SUFTUM

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Cully
    Favourite Jimmy Cully
    Report
    Sep 12th 2020, 9:54 PM

    Terrible commentators

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel