Tuesday 27 August 2013

BACK LINE BRILLIANCE

Not a bad start to the season is it? No matter what the game, everybody loves to see their team win, and Friday night was no exception as a capacity Ravenhill crowd watched a thrilling friendly win for Ulster over interprovincial rivals Leinster, courtesy of a late try from replacement scrum-half Ian Porter.

I don’t think any Ulster fan will deny that if we had lost that match there would be a little bit of disappointment. On a night that the new stands at Ravenhill were “officially” opened, the stage was seemingly set for the Ulstermen to get their season off to a positive start and if the away side had come away on the right side of the scoreline then the crowd would have left with something of a sour taste in their mouths.

To tell the truth, Ulster probably were the better team, as outlined by the fact they outscored their opponents by three tries to one. The attacking play by Ulster was very impressive and with a stronger backline they could have had a few more as well – a few opportunities butchered at the Aquinas end could have made the game safe.

In the end I was rather disappointed in Leinster. Usually in friendlies sides will turn down kickable penalties to instead go for tries and run pre-planned moves. However, Leinster relied on fourteen of their points from the boot of new fly-half Jimmy Gopperth and seemed to be focused on the win. While it was good to see them making a contest of the match, it left fans wanting to see more – they only threatened the line once or twice.

Regardless of the opposition, Mark Anscombe will be happy with what he saw. His side came from behind twice to snatch the victory and the game also saw the return of a few players from injury, ready to make up for lost time this season. Expect Roger Wilson to put pressure on Nick Williams at number 8 and Chris Farrell to be pushing for a few starts at outside centre.

Speaking of outside centre, Jared Payne looks set to be having a few games there this season as the IRFU prepare for life after Brian O’Driscoll. With Payne becoming Irish Qualified at the end of the season, it is likely that Payne will be the one whom Joe Schmidt will turn to as O’Driscoll’s replacement. Expect to see Jared at 13 more often this year.

It’s a good job he impressed on Friday then. Playing alongside Chris Farrell at centre, he ran good lines and took his try well with very impressive strength. I don’t think any Ulster fan would complain if Payne played like that every week at 13. And with Peter Nelson looking like he could be the real deal at full-back, the void that Payne would leave would be filled very quickly.

In fact, the competition in the Ulster back line is starting to really heat up. Just look at inside centre with Luke Marshall and Stuart Olding (both Ireland internationals) fighting it out for one shirt, and that’s still with the veteran Paddy Wallace to return from injury later in the season! And at outside centre, as I have already mentioned, there’s Darren Cave, the returning Chris Farrell (who was probably Ulster’s best player on Friday) and you could probably factor Jared Payne into that battle too.

Meanwhile at wing, you would be forgiven for thinking that the two spaces are easily filled by British & Irish Lion Tommy Bowe and Ireland international Andrew Trimble. But another international in Craig Gilroy is there as ample back-up to those two and there is also the ever impressive Michael Allen who was a livewire on Friday night and was a constant thorn in Leinster’s side. We should see a lot more of him this season too.

And that’s leaving out a host of young players who can play across the back three if needed – Chris Cochrane, Ricky Andrew, David McIlwaine and Rory Scholes were all on show on Friday night and all four certainly did their chances at getting a competitive start no harm. It just shows what strength in depth Ulster now have in the back line, it is amazing compared to what they had only a few years ago.

So I think we’re more or less in agreement that Friday night was a success for Ulster – a win to start the 2013-14 season over Leinster and proof that Ulster have a very strong squad, not just a good 1st XV. Now to take that momentum to Welford Road next weekend to take on Aviva Premiership champions and Heineken Cup pool opponents Leicester in the final friendly before the real season starts.


It’s good to have rugby back!

Thursday 22 August 2013

REVENGE MISSION

I don’t know why I’m so excited.

Possibly because it’s the first game of the new season (albeit non-competitive). Possibly because I will take my place in the new Aquinas stand at Ravenhill for the first time this season and I will get to see the brand spanking new stadium being built. Possibly because I will get to see some great rugby once more after three months in the proverbial wilderness of the summer months also known as silly season.

Or possibly there is the motive of revenge.

Without sounding like a cheesy 1960’s murder mystery film, I would say there are still some long-lasting scars that are lingering from May’s final defeat. The pain of deservedly finishing top of the league, then coming agonisingly close to defeating Leinster in Dublin for the second time in less than two months, is a very difficult thing to digest. Luckily there is a chance to put it all right again this season.

That starts tomorrow, only to a much lesser extent than what it would do if it was later in the season. While tomorrow’s clash may only be a warm-up match for the upcoming season, it is a chance for Ulster to prove to the rugby community that they haven’t lost that hunger or belief that they showed throughout the 2012/13 season, from the first ever win in France last August to the final whistle at the RDS in May.

Obviously it won’t be two full strength teams on show at Ravenhill, but even so it will be an early chance for Ulster to get a (limited) one-up over their interprovincial rivals at the start of the season. However, don’t expect there to be much kicking at goal – rather it will be a game that will focus on the backs moves, where the coaches will look at what should be tried again, and what should never feature in a competitive match – ever.

Ulster supporters will recall the friendly at Ravenhill against Leicester last season where it ended in what was a thrilling 14-all draw as both sides went all out in attempt to score as many tries as possible, yet only managing two each. Despite the low score, it was an entertaining match in glorious Northern Irish sunshine, and if the attacking play was replicated in tomorrow’s match then I don’t think may fans will leave Ravenhill upset, regardless of the scoreline.

That is really what matters for the fans about friendlies in the end – they are the only games of the season where fans can show up and enjoy the game for the rugby on show, rather than worrying about the result as well. And usually the fans are not left wanting, as proved by Montpellier’s impressive 52-point haul against Leicester just less than two weeks ago.

So what will Mark Anscombe be looking for most? Well if, as predicted, he goes for two different XVs for each half then he will be expecting each player to impress  since tiredness should not be a factor. There are many players with a point to prove for several reasons, and they will all get their chances either tomorrow or next Saturday at Welford Road.

Players such as Chris Farrell and Sean Doyle are coming back from long-term injuries with a lot to prove, while James McKinney and David McIlwaine are returning to Ulster for their second spells with the club after years away in England playing for Championship clubs. New signing Bronson Ross will be hoping to impress at prop too since making his move from Coventry.

I will sit in my seat at the top of the Aquinas stand and I will thoroughly enjoy the first pre-season friendly of Ulster’s long season. We have nine long months of Pro12, Heineken Cup and international rugby ahead of us, so it’s time to strap in and prepare ourselves for the long haul – luckily our entertainment systems are working just fine!

Let’s just hope they put on a good show…

Ulster Rugby vs. Leinster Rugby
Friday 23rd August, 19:30
Ravenhill
Pre-season friendly

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Peter Nelson, 14. Rory Scholes, 13. Jared Payne (captain), 12. Chris Farrell, 11. Michael Allen, 10. James McKinney, 9. Michael Heaney; 1. Kyle McCall, 2. Niall Annett, 3. Declan Fitzpatrick, 4. Lewis Stevenson, 5. Neil McComb, 6. Mike McComish, 7. Sean Doyle, 8. Nick Williams.

Subs: Callum Black, Jonny Murphy, Bronson Ross, Alan O’Connor, Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack, Roger Wilson, Ian Porter, Chris Cochrane, Luke Marshall, David McIlwaine, Ricky Andrew.

LEINSTER RUGBY
15. Darren Hudson, 14. Darragh Fanning, 13. Brendan Macken, 12. Noel Reid, 11. Andrew Boyle, 10. Jimmy Gopperth, 9. John Cooney; 1. Jack O’Connell, 2. Aaron Dundon, 3. Martin Moore, 4. Tadhg Beirne, 5. Quinn Roux, 6. Rhys Ruddock (captain), 7. Dominic Ryan, 8. Leo Auva’a.


Subs: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Michael Bent, Tadhg Furlong, Ben Marshall, Jordi Murphy, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, Colm O’Shea, Adam Byrne, Thomas Daly, Billy Dardis, Thomas Farrell, Cathal Marsh.

Tuesday 20 August 2013

THE SEASON STARTS HERE

The end of the holidays means one thing for everyone. No, not the return of school. And no, not the end of great summer weather either (which actually applies to Northern Ireland for once). Rather, it is the return of the rugby season after a long drawn out three months of a wait for those dedicated fans.

“Silly season” as the summer months are branded, are close to unbearable for many rugby fans and whenever the pre-season friendlies roll round in August once more, the excitement is undeniable – rugby action is back again! But the friendlies do not pose the same excitement as a competitive match, there aren’t the nerves of a league or Heineken Cup match to get the blood pumping.

Therefore I feel it is slightly fitting that rather than focus on the friendlies with my first blog post of the 2013/14 season, I will focus on what I want to see from Ulster in this upcoming season, and not just on the pitch, but off it too. What many don’t realise is that Ulster stretches beyond what we see on the field – it is a full-blown organisation with the goal of turning a profit at the end of each year.

Therefore, target number one of the new season has nothing to do with the team, but more with the organisation:

1) Spread the Ulster Rugby brand

You might think I’m being slightly too vague but this one is exactly what it says on the tin – get the Ulster team, name, logo, everything about the club known to more people both in the province, and outside of it. Be that through advertising, open training sessions or through other means, it doesn’t matter. But Ulster need a strong fan base and they will gain that through the spreading of the Ulster brand. Much like the well known Manchester United or Real Madrid brands, that is where Ulster want to be as a club.

Target two is one which I stated around March last season and it is one which I will maintain for the whole of this season too:

2) Win a trophy OR reach two finals

The brightest of you eagle-eyed readers will work out that either Ulster will win the Pro12 or the Heineken Cup, or they will reach the finals of both the Pro12 and the Heineken Cup if this objective is to be fulfilled since there are only two competitions Ulster are entered in. But this is where I (and many others) believe Ulster are at right now: they are one of the best teams in Europe, as highlighted by two finals in as many seasons.

Unfortunately defeat at the hands of Saracens at Twickenham last April meant that objective two was sadly not achieved last season, but this season they will get another shot at it. Certainly one final is a minimum goal for the Ulstermen – anything less now will be a disappointing season by their standards.

And it is a very positive thing that those standards are very high. Four seasons ago a realistic aim was simply qualifying for the next season’s Heineken Cup. Fast forward to today and winning the competition is considered a target for Anscombe’s players. As I have mentioned many times, it is incredible how far Ulster have come in such a short space of time and this is again mirrored in these aims.

Youth is integral to any side – it is where the future of the team lies. Every team wants to have a core base made up of good young players to make sure that they will be successful for many years to come. So my final target for Ulster this season is that:

3) Create a good youth base

Ulster’s success over the past few years cannot simply be short-lived – there must be a continuity plan in place so that they will be competitive for a long time into the future. Mark Anscombe has already laid the foundations with plenty of young guys featured in teams last season, but this must now continue for many seasons after that in order to give Ulster the best chance of bringing back a trophy to Ravenhill soon.

2013/14 begins on Friday as Leinster come calling in Belfast. While not imperative, it would be good for Ulster to get off to a positive start and they will be looking to do just that. It’s good to have rugby finally back at Ravenhill isn’t it? So here’s to a great new season – and hopefully one with a trophy at the end!


SUFTUM!