We'll see what they're made of now

The Osprey’s had just scored and these words while not as significant as the immortal ones uttered by Kenneth Wolsthenhome 40 years ago, “They think it is all over, well it is now!” They were at the time non expectant and indeed we did see what Ulster were made of. For they marched down the pitch to obtain field position and orchestrated by Davy Humphries won the Celtic League in the most exciting finish anyone could or could not have wanted depending on your threshold for masochism. That was the trigger for the most amazing scenes of jubilation imaginable for those fans lucky enough to be able to make the journey over and those left at home, all over the world. The greatest secret of the rugby world was kept hidden for another while as events in Dublin the week previously shrouded the Ulster victory from one flank the emergence of the World Cup and an English victory over a third rate side covered the trail on the other. Meanwhile in the middle Ulster rugby was largely ignored by both the Northern and Southern media save for a few trusty souls of the local rugby press. Neil Francis in the Setanta Studios further aided this camouflage while Mark Robson nearly blew the gaffe as he sung Ulster’s praises.

The secret is the concept of Ulster rugby and what it means to play for Ulster and what it means to support Ulster. Simple; I think not. Take the meaningless lap of Lansdowne Road by Munster when they won the now defunct Celtic Cup and off to the warmth of their changing rooms. Take Andy Ward in Edinburgh when during the warm up to the 2002 Final when he put his hand on the red hand of Ulster. Cue a deafening and emotional roar from the large Ulster contingent and the tears on grown men’s face as they all knew they were going to beat a team with 14 International Players starting. Bring on Justin Harrison who forgot about the niceties of protocol ignoring the waiting media and gave the cup to the fans. He then returned after the official photographs with the trophy to spend time with the fans until they had all gone home. Although practically an Ulsterman, Harrison is a world class Australian lock who has played in a World Cup Final for his country. This is an extraordinary phenomenon.

The synergy that abounds between the Ulster fans and their team for it is more than a set of people supporting a team it has developed into ownership of that team by the fans but the significant other factor is that this is reciprocated by the team who have come to adopt us as their fans. And it is a relationship that has grown from strength to strength despite the apparent lack of success of Ulster teams over the last couple of years. Indeed the team finished a lowly eight last season but still won the award for the best-supported team in the Celtic League. Playing for Ulster is more than playing for a club or a professional rugby team in the same way as Bath have lost their roots or Toulouse have opened their chequebooks and bought in players. Alan Solomons was quick enough to spot that if Ulster was to survive the professional era they could not buy a team but had to grow their own and thus set up what has now become the Academy under the watchful and keen eye of Allen Clarke. Although Gary Longwell runs it in nominee Allen is de facto the boss who still oversees what goes on. Although I have often been a critic of Allen’s praise where praise is due for without his foresight the likes of Stephen Ferris and Andrew Trimble may not be the players they are today. Solomons was also astute enough to point out that we would experience some lean years from his departure until the current crop reach some sort of maturity. That was 2 years ago and here we are the Champions of the Celts unbeaten in Celtic competition outside Ireland although we have lost a few within the island.

Thirteen of the side that started the game in Swansea were born and bred Ulstermen. One was a Kiwi who had thrown his lot in with Ireland and the other was the incredible Australian who is in awe at the passion of the supporters. It is Justin Harrison who has accelerated the development of the likes of Matty McCullough and Neil Best as they have dived into his slipstream and grown far quicker than could have been be hoped for. It is also unfair of me to call Harrison the Ulsterman, for while he may be, it is forgetting the contribution the likes of Paul Steinmetz has given to the side, as this again has been colossal. Time and time again Steiny has created and organised the chaos into creative and demonic play. All of these guys not forgetting Isaac Boss have bought into the Ulster concept in a way no other import has done for any other team.

Maybe it is the political and geographical isolation that Ulster finds itself in that leads to the splendid sense of togetherness and identity given from isolation that causes Ulster players to think that they are not playing for just another team but for their country. Ulster has always been outside the mainstream Irish spectrum ever since the days of legends. Continually referred to as the Black North, a phrase that goes back to pre Cromwell days it has served to remind all of the bellicose Northerners that lie beyond the gap at Slieve Gullion. Neil Best said in an interview with Ross Galbraith that if you pull on the jersey and need motivated you should not be wearing it. Too often in professional rugby it is the cheque at the end of the month that is the motivating factor. It is a deeply emotional thing for these boys and seasoned professionals who have seen it all and done it all have bought into it in the most wholesome way possible.

The war poet Wilfred Owen famously wrote in the mire of the Somme that no greater love has man than the love he has for his comrade when he lies down his life for him. The point being that when it comes down to hardy knuckles and the wee round things are on the line the motivating factor is not the jersey, it is not the fans nor indeed is it the reward but is not letting your teammates down. It is not allowing your team-mates to be left alone but to bust your gut and help him out to be prepared to ignore all pain that your racked body may feel as your sole intention is to save the situation. That does not come easily nor does it come from a team bought in. It can only come from a team of guys who have grown up with each other and suffered adversity together in the most inhospitable places on the rugby world such as Musgrave Park or in Strady Park with the wind and the rain howling in your ear and a hard ugly git trying to knock your melt in. It is a brotherhood as can best be described as a Band Of Brothers with all of the connotations that that brings. A senior member of the Ulster team echoed these views to me late on in the season in a frank discussion.

It is a hugely complex relationship but one that is set to continue and develop over the next few season with season ticket sale booming. These young men that once promised so much are now beginning to deliver. We have sent the character of the side. Mark McCall has delivered the bacon or at least the first cut of it. Mark is definitely the Boss earning the total respect of his charges while the humility comes from the man that Peter Bills reckons should not be playing rugby. Justin Harrison is always quick to point out to the players to remember their injured captain to remind them that the fans are the greatest assets. Neil Best epitomises this more than most. When awarded the MOTM Award in Swansea his first reaction was to say he had not played well enough. With honour and humility etched deep in his heart Neil has since found his forte on the international field where Gerry Thornley described his performance in the second test against the All Blacks as thus: “ …. and the rangy, ball-carrying, hard-working, big-hitting Neil Best flourished out here.” Praise indeed.

The Irish Tour to New Zealand has been a great success with success measured in terms of points beaten by rather than the wins gained. Such is the difference between the Southern and Northern Hemisphere and was clearly demonstrated in the Autumn Internationals. Eddie O’Sullivan has almost achieved the impossible dream but disappointed players want the realisation of the dream not to be yet another almost man. The defeats were seen as opportunities lost. The ambition of the Irish side under O’Sullivan has gone beyond what any other side could ever have possibly dreamt of. Playing with a narrow pool O’Sullivan has had a very difficult juggling act to perform. Being a master poker player like Richard Nixon, O’Sullivan will not bet unless he is certain of a victory. He is not prepared to take a chance on younger players on the bench. He puts his total trust on the known quantities of the senior players no matter what their deficiencies. A key insight into his thinking came after the Autumn test when he said: “Playing at this level is all about experience.” True to himself he has lived up to his philosophy only sending in players in the last five minutes or when someone has been injured. Heavily criticised for not using his bench more O’Sullivan in unrepentant but now knows that he must use it more, a little at any rate. But being ultra conservative and the master of soft spin do not expect too much from him. With phrases such as “ A full bag of chips,” and “ We have got to keep the football” he protects himself with this soft spin. But at the end of the day it is results that count in the fiercely intense cauldron, unimaginably fierce to the uneducated, of Test Rugby O’Sullivan has learned key lessons and is now translating it into results and that is all that matters.

Mark McCall has bought wisely too and I have no doubt told what to buy as the recent test appearances by Messrs Best, Young, Trimble and Boss have proved. Although in the case of the latter no purchase was necessary due to Kieran Campbell and Paul Marshall being in the squad. It is now to the summer and a break that we all look to. The season virtually over the league won and we can now bask for a little while in the glory of it all. However this is only the first and an essential step in a long journey over the next 3 or 4 years towards the Holy Grail of European stardom. Put away the rain proofs the cameras, the woolly pulleys enjoy the summer for next season will be tougher with everyone now looking to knock us off our perch. On that perch is inscribed the words. “Ulster Celtic League Champions and Number 1 Seeded Team In Ireland.” See you in the autumn.

Yer Man In The Stand.