THE OLD FOES

A couple of weeks ago Ulster were staying grounded after a very impressive win over Leinster, this week they need to do the same.

Not to belittle their achievements, because a bonus point win in Swansea is never something to be turned down, but the Ospreys were shorn short of 14 players for the final round contest. Perhaps not all of them would have featured for the Welsh side, but a good portion of them would have – Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric among them.

You can only play what’s in front of you though and to that end Ulster were excellent in attack, if not a little bit lethargic in defence. But the game was always going to be an open and fast-paced affair that, coupled with two of the best back lines in the PRO12 that were both desperately searching for a bonus point, would yield tries.

And in that sense the visitors outplayed their hosts with some scintillating play at times. Andrew Trimble’s try, fortunate as it was that Rhys Webb was unable to keep his feet at the crucial moment, was a piece of individual brilliance that turned the tide just before the half and was the catalyst that Ulster needed to go on and be assured of the victory.

If it was Trimble’s try that turned the tide in Ulster’s favour, it was Chris Henry’s quick thinking that got them that place in the playoffs.

It was a case of quick thinking combined with an intricate knowledge of the rules of rugby that provided Henry with the opportunity to score the bonus point try (not needed in the end as it turned out) by diving in at the side of a ruck to place the ball down after it had been rolled back over the line by the aforementioned Webb. The lengthy TMO process was unnecessary and, quite frankly, ridiculous – an excellent and astute try from the openside flanker who is now very much back to his best.

In fact, for the second time in two weeks, it was Ulster’s much maligned forwards who were the better of the two. The back row were instrumental in turning over plenty of ball in dangerous areas when the Ospreys were threatening and, coming into the most important part of the season, it will come as a great relief to Ulster supporters across the island to see Henry recapture the form we know he is capable of alongside Iain Henderson at blindside.

You hope Stephen Ferris was watching the game because Ulster are providing him with ample proof that a team does not need a plethora of big ball carriers in order to be successful. Les Kiss has devised a game plan circulating around Ulster’s lethal back division and, as long as they are getting the quick ball they should from a back row containing two opensides, then the need for several guys to make big yards is effectively negated.

It would be nice to have a few big ball carriers, don’t get me wrong. But when you boast an all-international back line it makes sense to utilise it to the full, right?

It is there that Ulster will fancy their chances against Leinster this week. Don’t let their half century against Treviso fool you into thinking Leo Cullen’s men are back to their best – in actuality they are the team in the worst form of the final four. If Ulster can keep Leinster’s bulldozing forwards quiet then the semi-final is definitely there for the taking regardless of the Ulstermen’s poor record in Dublin.

Ulster should take every confidence heading down to the RDS on Friday – they know they have the necessary components to beat Leinster after their victory at the Kingspan Stadium a few of weeks ago and they should draw from that experience. Leinster will be out for blood after that defeat, but if Les Kiss can mentally prepare his side for another difficult away game then this is a fantastic opportunity for a side to finally pick up an away win in a PRO12 semi-final.

But they must stay grounded. Ulster still haven’t won anything yet and they know that.

That said, this year it looks like they really could go all the way.