Are we Norn Iron in disguise? That is the question everyone is asking about Ulster Rugby. Well alright it was me wandering in my thoughts when I awoke slightly hungover, shortly after 7a.m. on a bright clear Sunday morning last. It’s a fair question after Saturday night’s performance against the Ospreys though and comparisons are apt. Northern Ireland, the soccer team can produce the big wins when least expected but fail to achieve the expected against the ordinary. Are Ulster the same, winning games no one gives them odds for and losing to the journeyman teams in the League?
The Rosetta had a potteresque air to it on Saturday evening as Ulster supporters gathered in an atmosphere more akin to a pre death post mortem, if there could be such a thing. Potteresque with Dewi Barnes declaring he was wearing his lucky shirt, a Kukri red number which he claimed he’d only ever worn once before and Ulster had won on that very occasion. Dewi’s charm shirt aside, magic was all around as the Boys on Tour appeared within touching distance from Swansea albeit through the medium of the big screen, whereas last Sunday they had been in touching distance on seats in front of me watching the TV.
Magic remained thick in the atmosphere as the match began and Ulster unexpectedly, but with some panache, produced a try off the back of quick ball from the pack. There was a renewed zest about how they were playing though many like me, were waiting for the illustrious O’s to wake up and retaliate with a vengeance. From the Tuohy try, made in Fiji, it just got better as Ian Humph living off a high tempo game produced a splendid piece of anticipation to pick off an Ospreys pass and realising his legs wouldn’t make it to the tryline, offloaded to the paceman Danielli. The O’s did retaliate with a try of their own which owed much to Ulster failing on a rare occasion to make their first up tackle. Such is the game at this level that if your first line of defence is breached you rarely recover and so it was, a very good try to the O’s.
At that point it seemed the writing was on the wall for Ulster as one expected the O’s to press forward. They did score again from an unfortunate mix up over time to the end of the half and despite Alan Lewis going all out to prove he was not in any shape or form biased towards Ulster we were still well in the game at halftime.
The rest is as they say is history as Ulster defied the odds and went to record the win for which they were good value. It is true the O’s played into Ulster’s hands by insisting on running the ball through umpteen pairs of hands in an effort to suck in Ulster’s defence. Were last year we caved in against such tactics by running out of defenders, it seems that this season superior fitness is leaving us competitive the full 80 minutes. Were last week the front five wore invisibility cloaks, this week they were a revelation with special mention to BJ who put in the hard yards in the tight and in the loose. He along with the front five in general redeemed themselves after a lacklustre display against the Dragons. The back row were outstanding in my opinion, playing as a unit unlike their multi capped opposite numbers and competing relentlessly. Falloon was outstanding in his workrate and ability as a groundhog openside though it is perhaps unfair to single him out for praise given Henry and Diack’s contribution.
In the backs I Humph, the Tom Hanks lookalike from Castaway, thrived on the high tempo game that suits his temperament and instinctive style of play. The standout for me though was Cave’s defensive display which brought stability to the backline and anchored the midfield. The intensity which Ulster played was impressive but one wonders if they can repeat that intensity week in week out. We have been here before as at Thomond Park last season when we crashed to Edinburgh at Murrayfield the following week. The haggis munchers are our opponents this Friday and look a very useful team this season with their off load game. One would hope that Ulster realise the intensity shown last Saturday has to be repeated if they are to gain any credibility as a growing entity in the league.
By full time the Rosie was awash with a sea of happy faces as supporters suddenly believed the team could perform. It is a pity then that we have to put up with nonsense on the UAFC site from Red Hand Hero letting himself down with his neigh sayers posts which simply reeked of the cordite of revenge against anyone who dared express an opinion that Ulster were up against it in Swansea. The experts were saying Ulster were on a hiding and realistically that was the correct analysis giving the gulf in experience between the teams. Therefore when Ulster have defied the odds it is a cause for celebration, not a witch hunt by those who dared defy perceived opinion.
During the course of the evening Dewi Barnes I advised repeatedly to keep his shirt on, all in good taste of course as the shirt’s charm appeared to be working to perfection. One wonders how long he can wear it to matches henceforth before the charm wears off it and the the beer stains grow on it!! Hopefully he’ll make it through to the Autumn internationals. All eyes switch to Friday night and what I believe will be a sterner test from an Embra team high in confidence on the back of two wins including a creditable performance at Cardiff. Can we do it? Yes we can but anything less than last Saturday evening’s commitment will not see us through no matter a strong home crowd.
As BJ Botha might say, watch me go – again!!!!!!!
Corrections, comments or questions?