Ulternative Alster Fan Club

 

The Great Ulster Malaise

It was good to be back at Ravenhill on Friday. To smell the turf, listen to the gargling of wisdom in the beer tent and generally take in the ambiance of familiarity. Familiarity may breed contempt but not in this case as chatting to folk and pressing the flesh filled my sole with great excitement at the prospect of the forthcoming season. My liver was grateful of the reprieve I had given it after a few weeks sampling the delights of the vine in northern rain swept Europe and it was back for another 11 or so months of reality interspersed with hopefully memorable nights watching and shouting myself hoarse cheering on my beloved Ulster.

After all of the doom and gloom as a result of surreal expectations we were all wondering what lay in store for us this evening. Four year Eddie had seemingly dropped Mark McCall in the preverbal brown stuff by not allowing him to play his senior players but at the last hour before the dawn a stay of execution insured that some of them were to be available for at least half of the match. It was by no means vintage Ulster or technically brilliant Ulster but a second half blitz krieg by a very fit Ulster side put the opposition away in a ruthless manner missing in previous years. But it was intent and a mind set that seemed to be different. There was a hunger for the ball and a desire to play rugby, fast open rugby that was clear from the outset.

Neil Kelly must have woken up on Saturday morning a very happy man indeed. He had promised us that we would be surprised at how defence could be turned into attack. The Ulster boys were swarming around the loose ball on the deck that a swarm of angry wasps. The continuity was better than before and the ball coming back was fast if at times not a little uncontrolled. But that should get better as the season progresses. Without doubt there was the desire to run from everywhere. Admirable in the extreme but when Jonny Bell looses the ball in contact in his own 22 and the opposition score the warning lights come on. But then again Jonny last season did not hold on to much ball at all so maybe there is a moral there.

But I would be surprised if they adopt such a running game in Cardiff or at the Sportsground on a cold wet windy day in the middle of winter. But the same defensive systems have to stand us in as good a stead. However beware the great Ulster malaise. The move slows up, the defence realigns and poor ball is slung willy nilly down the backs and hey presto it is dropped or intercepted and we get kicked 70 yards back down the pitch if we are lucky. The difference between Ulster and the likes of Leicester and Munster is that when that happens they start again. The pack takes it on and grind out a few hard yards before moving it and stretching the defence at a more appropriate juncture. Ulster for quite a few years now have failed to grasp this principle. Patience is a virtue and is something Solomons tried to teach us.

And they need to be more in control of the ball otherwise vast quantities of yardage will be lost and a desperate race to save the try during the inevitable frightening chase to kick the ball into touch and away from the marauding opposition winger wanting to make a name for himself at our expense. Having said that I do have a lot of confidence in Neil Kelly, as he was one of the few bright spots in a our management setup last season.

One of the big problems of last season was not having a back line that could do any real damage or cause Gavin Henson’s quiff to lie down. With the absence of the Bullocking Stewart and Maggs off form it was very much left to Steinmetz to salvage some morsels of comfort from a disorganised shambles and get us out of one hole after another. But with some of the famed academy players now beginning to come into the system it would be hoped that Trimble would partner Steinmetz in the centre and then we might have something to write home about. There also 2 very exciting young wingers in Tommy Bowe and Scotty Young. Scotty may not have the pace of Maxwell but he is fast enough and is a wonderfully intelligent footballer that offers much more in attack and is normally sound in defence although Friday night would not have made you think that.

For the first time it seems that the young lads that have gone through the Under 21 setup with Ireland are not being lost to the memories of cyberspace and hidden somewhere but no one knows where never to reappear again. We are seeing the Hennessey’s of this world, Fitzpatrick, Caldwell, Marshall et al and not forgetting Mr and Mrs Heads little boy Henry, to name but a few, appearing in the squad and creating a competitiveness for places that can only be good for the club. No more comfort zone for the senior players.

There have also been a few good signings with another antipodean gracing our shores and the return of Justin Fitzpatrick. The latter of course returns to Ulster after an invigorating spell in France where in his own words the front row play is personal. Harrison has been what Ulster has been crying out for. He brings with him a steely edge to the pack and will facilitate the marauding of sheriff, the incredibly abrasive Mr Best and the dynamo McMillan. Harrison turned down more lucrative offers to play here. A great coup and no doubt one inspired by Rod Moore and Paul Steinmetz who have both settled well here. Harrison’s wife has also come with him and they also are talking about starting a family. He is turning out to be the model professional and not at all a premadonna always willing to help out in training and leaving people in no doubt as to what is expected. Harrison has lifted the entire squad with his presence. Maybe this will take some of the weight of the shoulders of Clarke who struggles to impose his wishes on the senior players. Thankfully there are the makings of a cull of players who played with Mark McCall, as there is a consensus that the guys were not putting their complete effort into training or performing on the park. It is not completed but hopefully by the end of the season we should be saying farewell to some people who have done us proud on occasions but it is there time to grow old gracefully and no longer wear the white of Ulster.

I liked what I saw on Friday night but it is far from being the finished article. The bones are in place and the systems seem to be working. But all plans fall to pieces during first contact with the enemy. Cardiff and Edinburgh will be meaningful tests. Rotherham may not be a premiership side but Ulster were vastly superior in terms of technical ability, if not a little stuttering, fitness and raw aggression. There are still some very good players who did not play against the Titans awaiting in the wings and they will be wanting to nail down their places and show the younger lads why they are the senior players. Confidence is bound to be better than this time last year but we will only find out in Cardiff what is really what. Fitness levels will not be so forgiving nor defensive lines as willing to give up their honour and integrity.

Yer Man In The Stand.