Tele
Ulster need a title after their name, insists Pienaar......................
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 82288.htmlRuan Pienaar has insisted that Leinster's greater big game experience will not be a factor when they meet Ulster in Saturday's RaboDirectPro12 final.
Joe Schmidt's side have won three of the last five Heineken Cups and on Friday night lifted the Amlin Challenge Cup after a 34-13 win over Stade Francais.
Meanwhile, Ulster have not won a trophy since a last minute David Humphreys drop goal against Ospreys won the Celtic League back in 2006.
Pienaar, himself a World Cup winner with South Africa back in 2007, however does not think that previous successes will play a part come kick-off.
The scrum-half commented: "They've been quite successful recently and know how to win these type of games.
"A lot of our players have been in finals too though and while it's maybe not been on the winning side we've gained a lot of experience from them.
"In these type of games anything can happen and the bounce of the ball can mean a lot.
"It will be a great occasion for us but we're probably only going to be happy if we can get away with a win."
With Brian O'Driscoll expected to return to the Leinster side, their formidable line-up could include six players who will represent the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer as well as the winners of the ERC European Player of the Year Award from the previous two seasons.
Pienaar stresses however, that Ulster are now capable of matching the side who beat them so resoundingly in last year's Heineken Cup final.
"They've got game-breakers all around so we know it's going to be a tough one but we're a team who is now confident going into a game against anyone," he said.
"We've worked hard this season and we've done outstandingly. To reach the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, although we were disappointed with that loss (to Saracens back in April), and now the final of the Rabo is a great achievement.
"Everyone is excited and hopefully we can get a good result."
If Ulster do defy the odds and beat their interprovincial rivals to lift the trophy it would represent a first honour for Pienaar since he made the move to the Northern Hemisphere back in 2010.
In his three seasons with the province, the 29-year-old has been one of Ulster's stand-out performers and would love to repay the fans who welcomed him so warmly with a trophy.
"The support is very loyal and that is fantastic," he added.
"Through the tough times and the good times they're always behind the team and as a player that's something you really enjoy every year so we would all like to win for them."
The final could well be the first in a series of big games for the man from Bloemfontein as he readies himself for yet another full summer with his national team.
June sees South Africa meet Scotland and Italy in Durban before the Rugby Championship begins in August.
On his international commitments, he reflected: "I'm not too sure if I'll be involved yet but if I am it will be a busy couple of months back home and then straight back into the season here. Hopefully if I'm fit and healthy I can be involved in all of that."
A routine Pienaar has followed in recent years, many observers have questioned whether his commitment to both club and country could leave him exhausted but the seemingly indefatigable Springbok refutes any such notions.
"There was maybe a point this season when I felt a bit tired and then didn't play as well as I would have liked but when you're healthy you just want to play as much as you can.
"I know there will be a time when I do have to be a bit more careful with it but for now I'm fit and enjoying my rugby."
There had been suggestions that with the 2015 World Cup on the horizon, Pienaar's desire to stay in the international fold could see him return to South Africa when his Ulster contract expires at the end of next season.
However, Ravenhill's star attraction maintains that he would be happy to extend his Ulster stay beyond the summer of 2014.
"I've got one more season on my contract, I'll give it my best go and hopefully it goes well," he revealed.
"After that is something that I think will be decided in the next few months. If I were to stay with Ulster I certainly wouldn't be disappointed with that."
First and foremost, however, is the game with Leinster on Saturday.
When told of Humphreys' late heroics that sealed Ulster's last title, Pienaar chuckles and responds: "We've trained hard and the kicking has gone okay so if it's needed I'll give it my best shot but hopefully it isn't close enough to come down to that."
If it does there is no man Ulster fans would rather see lining up a shot at the posts.
Veteran Brady to test himself at French club................
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 82285.htmlAs he stood amidst the construction work currently ongoing on at Ravenhill, Nigel Brady reflected on the changes made to the home of Ulster rugby since he first turned out for the province 11 years ago.
Last week, the man who is about to call time on his Ulster career, was at the ground to pass on a few tips to the stars of the future hoping to follow in his footsteps.
Speaking at the Domino's Pizza Primary Schools' Mini Rugby Festival, he said: "My first game here was a long, long time ago now but the stadium's a lot different from when I arrived."
It's not just the surroundings of course, there has been much change throughout Ulster Rugby since he made his debut in 2002.
Brady however has been a constant, racking up 119 appearances despite playing understudy to Rory Best for the majority of his time with the side.
This season however marks the end of his Ulster career as he embarks to pastures new with a move to Stade Aurillacois in the French D2.
While there is obviously a sadness that he will no longer represent the province he has served so well, Brady is excited for a new challenge both on and off the field.
"I've had a lot of good years here, thankfully I've been lucky with injuries so I've been able to have that longevity," he commented.
"But I'm very fortunate to get the chance to go over to France at this time of my life and it's something that I'm really looking forward to."
And while the surroundings may be unfamiliar next term, there will be one instantly recognisable face, that of former teammate Jeremy Davidson who is coach at the Auvergne outfit.
Unsurprisingly the Ulster connection was instrumental in the move, as noted by Brady: "I've played and worked with Jeremy for a fair number of years at Dungannon and at Ulster so I have a massive respect for him.
"Once he had initiated contact and we had a few chats on the phone I really started to think about it and in the end he was a massive influence on my decision to move away."
With the signing announced earlier this month, the Ravenhill faithful, with the help of the 33-year-old's Ulster team-mates, were given a final opportunity to give the hooker a fitting send-off as he took to the field for the final eight minutes of the RaboDirect Pro12 showdown with Cardiff Blues two weeks ago.
His substitute appearance was met with a rousing round of applause and it was an experience the 2006 Celtic League winner admits meant a lot to him.
"It was incredible and very humbling," he admitted.
"I didn't really feel I was going to feature for the rest of the year but I think a few of the boys had something to do with it. It was a nice touch and it's something that I'll take with me forever."
Before travelling to sunnier climbs, there is the matter of this weekend's Pro12 final with Leinster and, while he is not expected to be involved in proceedings, the former Dungannon man admits it would be special to conclude his Ulster career with a victory.
"It's been a long season, right from the start of August and there have been so many people involved, so if we could cap it off with winning the title outright it would an be awesome way to end, especially in the RDS against Leinster," he added.
Times
Andrew Trimble seeks final piece of validation for Ulster in Pro12 final .........................
Beating Leinster in decider will prove Ulster have truly arrived as a force
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/a ... -1.1401991Irish rugby finds itself in the ideal situation; three provinces consistently operating at the business end of Europe and the Rabo Pro 12 league.
That’s not enough for Ulster. If they lose Saturday’s league final, they will feel like the third child yet again. Leinster have won a trophy, while Munster, against all odds, almost made the Heineken Cup final.
What do Ulster have to show for going to Thomond Park and winning a European quarter-final last year or being the only team to beat Leinster at the RDS this season?
Belief, maybe. Nothing tangible. Andrew Trimble knows better than most that they must do it all over again on Saturday.
“It took every single bit of what we had in us to get over the line at the RDS (in March),” said Trimble. “Leinster have performed in big games like this week in, week out for a long time. We got to get that consistency, we’ve got to back it up.”
Leinster destroyed them when it really mattered, in last year’s final at Twickenham, while Saracens did something similar at the same venue in the quarter-final last month.
Unforced errors
That was as bad as Ulster have been in about three years, unforced errors ruining any chance of living with the English club’s huge South African forwards.
“It just wasn’t a reflection of us at all,” Trimble continued. “We didn’t approach the game the way we wanted or anticipated they were going to play the way they did. Saracens are a tough side to express yourself against and play against with any kind of width. They really shut us down and wrecked any gameplan that we had.
“If we hadn’t been able to move on, being in such a great position in the Rabo, it would’ve been a really tough defeat to take. This gave us something to go after.”
That brings more pressure still, because failure now will taint Mark Anscombe’s first season as head coach.
“We had a massive run there at the start of the season, stuttered around the Six Nations then we came back and hit form again after beating Leinster down in the RDS.
‘Small goals’
“But there is no point doing what we did this season, accomplishing all those small goals unless we have something to show for it. People are talking about us being the best Ulster side in a few years and that’s great but we need to back that up.”
Anscombe has proved a good fit for Ulster, and especially for Trimble, who responded to being exiled from Ireland camp by running in a personal best of 12 tries for his province.
The reward has been a recall by Les Kiss for the North American tour next month.
Was he worried, despite being only 28 that the international ship had sailed? “No, I certainly don’t think it is over. I’ve been in this position before and I have bounced back. I will do the same again. I was delighted to find out I was picked.”
The natural wheeling pace of Simon Zebo, Craig Gilroy and even Andrew Conway will always make it tough for Trimble, more the Shane Horgan-type winger than a Denis Hickie, to break into an Ireland team that promises to play a pacy, counter-attacking style under the Kiss-Joe Schmidt ticket.
Instantly improved
That said, Trimble’s form instantly improved when faced with the prospect of not being considered an international rugby player.
“I would agree with that. I am quite competitive and I want to make the most of any opportunities I do get. They have been few and far between this year, in a green shirt that is, but fortunately I’ve been able to really commit to Ulster.
“I haven’t been too concerned about going up and down the road too much so I have put everything into it, and it’s been good for me,”
He’ll be going down that same road to Dublin as a confrontational Ulster man this weekend. Trimble, again, much like Horgan before him in Leinster, epitomises all the good traits of an Ulster player.
He looks at how Leinster evolved and uses it as motivation to drive Ulster down the same path. “I think this weekend will go a long way to showing how far we are away from the standard Leinster have set.
“You can have one off big performances but having beaten them twice this year, and if we manage to get over the line and beat them a third time in a final it would show we are kicking on. It’s such a big challenge, similar to Munster in Thomond Park two years ago.
“It’s a chance to lay claim to being the best side in Ireland.”
Everyone ready? We know Trimble is.
Joe Schmidt and Mark Anscombe keep cards close to chests for Pro12 final.............................
John Afoa only major doubt for Ulster while Brian O’Driscoll looks fit to start for Leinster
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/j ... -1.1401975This being the last week of the domestic season, mind games between the rival New Zealand coaches, desperate to capture the Rabo Direct Pro 12 title, go up a notch.
For Joe Schmidt it’s about leaving Leinster without the stain of three consecutive runner-up finishes in league finals. That would represent the only black mark in an otherwise phenomenal tenure.
For Mark Anscombe it’s about backing up Ulster’s perfect start to a campaign, which faltered during the illogical international window and was almost ruined by a chronically overcrowded infirmary.
This week his only concern is All Black tighthead prop John Afoa’s hamstring.
“Yeah, he’s progressing nicely,” said Anscombe. “It’s not a tear, just a slight strain, just been niggling and in the position he plays you got to be careful it doesn’t go.”
Leinster also refuse to rule Seán O’Brien out of contention, despite a knee injury that prompted British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland to say on Monday his club season was over.
Gatland went so far as to state O’Brien would be doing well to be fit for the Queensland Reds game on June 8th. And that he would be in Lions camp henceforth.
‘Better condition’
Those comments angered the Leinster machine. Sure enough, late Monday night we got the following “update” from the Lions after “consultation” with Leinster: “Given the proximity to the tour we are grateful to Leinster for being able to assess Seán. He is in better condition than we thought and he continues his recovery at pace.”
With nothing definitive conjecture reigns. Afoa is expected to play, O’Brien is not. Either that’s the case or Gatland was telling fibs. But why would he?
All told, it left a bad taste in the mouth.
Chris Henry is expected to recover from a knee strain/knock to start Saturdaybut Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy have been put on ice due to a triple-concussion and a groin strain respectively.
Expect Afoa to be added to the starting XV that beat the Scarlets 28-17 on May 10th, with Declan Fitzpatrick making way.
Iain Henderson will probably be benched as Anscombe goes with Robbie Diack on the blindside and Dan Tuohy partnering Johann Muller in the secondrow.
Ulster’s impact options look inferior to Leinster’s, although Henderson and scrumhalf Paul Marshall can arrive if more urgency is demanded.
Brian O’Driscoll will return after recovering from a back spasm.
‘Good shape’
“Yeah, yeah I’m feeling miles better this week,” he told the Second Captains podcast on irishtimes.com. “At a push I could have played on Friday but with this coming up and the next six weeks I would hopeful I will be in good shape to take the pitch.”
O’Driscoll left us in no doubt about Leinster’s feeling of unfinished business. “The previous year against Munster when we won the Heineken the week before I think we just got out played but I think we threw it away last year (against the Ospreys). It really took the gloss off winning back to back Heineken Cups. I hope we are going to use that hurt.”
On the flip side, Anscombe’s men will use an even fresher open wound.
Their comprehensive Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Saracens in Twickenham on April 6th stalled any talk of Ulster progress.
They didn’t make any, but there were plenty of excuses. Muller tore his bicep in the opening minutes, Afoa had just come off a long haul flight, Marshall was knocked out for the third time in a month and Tommy Bowe wasn’t fit enough to start.
“If we had the preparation we’ve had this week I would have been a lot happier going into the Saracens game,” said Anscombe. “We’ve got no excuses, if we don’t do the job Saturday we will have been beaten by the better team.”
Indo
Afoa losing fitness race for Ulster's final date...................
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/a ... 85983.htmlUlster's World Cup winning tighthead prop John Afoa may have to settle for a place on the bench in Saturday's Pro12 final against Leinster at the RDS.
Afoa did manage to train at the club's Newforge base yesterday but he limped from the fray in the aftermath and coach Mark Anscombe must decide whether it is worth the risk to thrust his fellow Kiwi in from the start.
Complicating matters is the fact that, on the other side of the scrum, Callum Black left the session with his knee heavily bandaged. Otherwise, Ulster have a clean bill of health.
Meanwhile, Rory Best has revealed that Tommy Bowe did not even celebrate his second Lions tour call-up – such was Bowe's disappointment that his Ulster team-mate Best had been passed over by Warren Gatland.
Best will, however, captain the Irish team that tours North America, which offers him some consolation, particularly if he can help Ulster win their first trophy in seven seasons on Saturday.
"Tommy said he felt so gutted for me that he didn't really want to celebrate," revealed the Banbridge man. "It meant a lot to me, that others were hurting as well. Everyone rallied around.
"The amount of support I got was phenomenal and the way we have played since then has been great and it certainly brought the enjoyment back into rugby for me.
"Around the time when I got the news it was hard to see myself playing any more rugby.
"Now the prospect of captaining Ireland again – which I love to do – is exciting, particularly with a very good bunch of boys, and a good number of them from Ulster.
"Those sort of things get you going again. I don't think anybody should underestimate what playing for Ireland means to me.
"Ulster are now very much focused on winning silverware this year. The big thing is that this team, compared to other teams I've played with, is filled with real self-belief and confidence and we need to show that this Saturday."
Newsletter
Ulster giving nothing away ahead of date with PRO12 destiny.........................
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby ... -1-5112337The absence of a provisional squad list at Tuesday’s Ulster Rugby media session was practically the normal routine ahead of a big knockout game.
It did leave a bit of head scratching and quizzical looks as to if the main injury concerns for Ulster ahead of Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 final with Leinster, John Aofa and Chris Henry were going to be involved.
Ulster coach, Mark Anscombe, said both were expected to be involved.
Henry suffered a knock to the knee against Scarlets in the semi-final victory, but it was not expected to keep him out of the showdown between the Provinces this weekend.
And Afoa, who missed the semi-final due to a hamstring problem, was back training as normal this week, running and looking good to go.
The New Zealand tighthead’s presence in the RDS on Saturday is crucial if Ulster are to clinch their first major silverware since last winning the Celtic League in 2006.
Stade Francais gave Leinster a tough time up front and Ulster will be looking to do the same so Afoa’s inclusion will be crucial to that.
With Afoa’s expected inclusion in the starting XV again, Declan Fitzpatrick would drop to the bench.
And that would mean rising talent in the front row, Ricky Lutton, who impressed in the last visit to Leinster at the end of March would not be included in the matchday 23.
Anscombe said: “We have got nearly a full hand to deal with ahead of the final, so that is a good position to be in.
“We have had our troubled periods over the season with injuries and absentees for other reasons, so it is great to be able to go into the final weekend of the rugby year in a strong position.
“We want to finish on a high and that means winning the RaboDirect PRO12 title.
“Yes we have finished top of the league after the regular season, but we want to go on and finish the job now.
“We feel we let ourselves down in our first big test this season when we faced Saracens in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.
“There is a real drive to make sure that we do not let ourselves down this time.
“Everyone is excited about the prospect of playing Leinster in a big final and the chance to finish a tough year with some silverware.”
Examiner
Rejuvenated Best puts Lions letdown behind him.........................
Ireland hooker Rory Best felt so down after his omission from the Lions tour party he just wanted to forget about rugby.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/reju ... 31961.htmlBut he admits that friends and family, and, in particular, his Ulster team-mates, brought a smile back on his face and the return of that competitive spirit. He is now looking forward to captaining Ireland on their summer tour to North America and seeing off Leinster in the Pro12 final at the RDS on Saturday.
“I was absolutely gutted I didn’t make the squad,” said Best.
“But in many ways I didn’t want it to affect me too much, particularly with so many big games left in the season. In that respect, the boys and the management were incredible in the way they got behind me.
“Boys like Tommy [Bowe] who was selected for his second tour, said he felt so gutted for me he didn’t really want to celebrate.
“It meant a lot to me, that others were hurting as well. Everyone rallied around. The amount of support I got was phenomenal and the way we have played as a group since then has been great and it certainly brought the enjoyment back into rugby for me.
“Now the prospect of captaining Ireland again which I love to do, is exciting, particularly with a very good bunch of boys, and a good number of them from Ulster. I don’t think anybody should underestimate what playing for your country means to me,” stressed Best.
“Ulster are now very much focused on winning silverware this year. True, there has been a lot of ups and downs since the season started, more than I have ever known during my time in an Ulster jersey.
“There have been times when it was the best place in the world to be, which it is, and then other times it has felt a very sad and emotional place,” said Best reflecting on the death of fellow farmer and colleague Nevin Spence.
“The one thing this particular season has done is pull us all together as a group of true friends.
“The big thing is that this team is filled with real self-belief. Whenever we really need massive performances we have pulled it out of the bag. We have gone to hard places and won, like Franklins’ Gardens, and of course, the RDS where we won earlier this season.”
Tuesday Press Conf Pics..................
All from Presseye.
http://presseye.com/assignment/UJUnATq6 ... 0pT6Fkg..a
OamaruMail
Bronson Ross...............
http://www.oamarumail.co.nz/news/irish- ... r/1877352/Oamaru-born Bronson Ross has signed with Ireland professional rugby team Ulster.
Ulster, one of four professional provincial rugby sides from Ireland that compete in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup, announced the signing of the Coventry tighthead prop on a one-year development contract on Monday.
Ross was born in Oamaru and attended St Kevin's College. He played for the North Otago under-16 rugby training squad in 2001 and for the North Otago under-18 team in 2003.
At St Kevin's College, he was part of the First XV, awarded the Robinson Cup in 2003 for being the best and fairest player in the first XV, and was also a cultural captain for Whyte House. He also played in Dunedin, before moving to Europe at 22.
The 2003 North Otago under-18 team manager, Ross Lory, said Ross, the vice-captain for the team, was a "good solid" player.
"He was very mobile on the field," Lory said. "He was willing to learn and turned into a leader."
Lory said he always saw potential in Ross. The 2003 team also included fullback Luke Devcich, who went on to play for North Harbour.
"That was quite a good team that year. They beat Southland for the plate," Lory said. "They walloped Southland [winning] by about 40 to 50 points."
Ross, 27, spent two years at Boroughmuir in Scotland before representing Spanish side Guernica for a year.
He joined Coventry at the start of the 2012/13 season and played 26 times for the National League 1 outfit.
TheFlipSide
Tele
O'Brien tops injury issues for Leinster............................
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport ... 82289.htmlLeinster have injury worries ahead of Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final against Ulster at the RDS.
Flanker Sean O'Brien (bruised knee) and utility back Fergus McFadden (neck) are concerns, with the former unlikely to want to take any risks ahead of the forthcoming Lions tour.
But although hooker Richardt Strauss picked up a shoulder injury after replacing Sean Cronin in Friday night's Amlin Challenge Cup victory over Stade Francais, Leinster's medics are hopeful the Irish-qualified South African will be available.
The Amlin Cup winners also expect Brian O'Driscoll to have recovered from his back spasm problem and wing forward Kevin McLaughlin is also likely to be in the reckoning.
There is a further plus for Leinster, too, with Dave Kearney having made an incident-free return to action following five weeks out through injury. He, too, will be in contention.
Saturday's PRO12 final will be the last outing for Jonathan Sexton and Isa Nacewa before they move on.
Sexton broke through the 1,000 point barrier on Friday night, his haul of 14 against Stade Francais taking him over that milestone.
Examiner
O’Brien confusion continues..........................
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/obri ... 31962.htmlThe official line from the Lions camp in Carton House yesterday was that Sean O’Brien continues to make progress with the knee injury that is threatening his participation in Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 final against Ulster.
A quick read between the lines, however, would suggest that the flanker will not play again until the Lions’ third tour appearance, against the Queensland Reds on June 8, after the mixed messages from Warren Gatland and the province on Monday.
Leinster said he was doing just dandy, Gatland said he wouldn’t be good to go until the Brisbane game and then a Lions communique later that night said, hey presto, the guy is coming along great, don’t you know.
“It’s my understanding with Sean that he is getting a lot better,” said Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree. “He has got a lot better over the last 24-48 hours and with regards to this weekend’s game you will have to watch this space.”
If that smacked of a PR spiel, then what followed was infinitely more interesting when the Englishman was asked a fairly routine question as to what he perceived to be O’Brien’s best position.
“I’m not trying to be funny here but back row,” said the former Lions Test prop. “I think he will play all three positions. He will be a good impact player and I think he is an exceptional talent.”
The term impact player’ is one dreaded by every player and only a handful of weeks have passed since O’Brien himself declared his intention to avoid the bench on the forthcoming tour Down Under.
With O’Brien absent this weekend, that still leaves 13 of Gatland’s squad expected to feature in the Pro12 and English Premiership deciders (Leicester and Northampton contesting the latter) and the suspicion is that will prove unlucky for some.
The Lions have been strangely fortunate in the lack of cry-offs thus far but, as Rowntree intimated, give it time. That said, he denies that those currently in camp are at an advantage over those absent, although Dan Lydiate thinks differently.
The Welsh flanker is expected to beat O’Brien and Tom Croft to blindside role for the first Test against Australia and the fact is that both the Englishman and Irishman have been otherwise engaged this past ten days with Leicester and Leinster.
“Yeah, it’s harder for them boys to come in because as soon as they come in we’re flying straight away,” he admitted. “They have to get up to speed straightway whereas we’ve had a couple of weeks to run the patterns and plays and stuff.
Indo
Leinster refuse to give up hope of Bent revival..................
Feek believes 'loosehead could be option' to revive forgotten Ireland import
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/l ... 85985.htmlIt seems like only yesterday that Michael Bent was having a shamrock stamped on his chest and a sliotar stuck in his hand in the most bizarre display of forced faux Irishness since Tom Cruise destroyed the Irish accent in 'Far and Away.'
Despite his Irish lineage – his maternal grandmother hailed from Rathmines – the 26-year-old ex-Taranaki front-rower wasn't exactly showered with a thousand welcomes.
Keith Wood led the charge with a declamatory yowl: "How in the name of Jesus are we getting to the point where a guy flies into the country and he will play for Ireland?"
Initially, Bent appeared to skew the perceptions; starting for Ireland before lining out for Leinster, he thieved a penalty from South Africa's Heinke van der Merwe; the Irish camp subtly planted lines that Mike Ross was gulping for air.
A month later, however, and the same Bent was being concertinaed by an Academy loosehead in Galway and, most damningly, by Tom Court, another Antipodean-turned-Ireland international, who he had so spectacularly usurped in the November squad.
Since then, Bent has quietly slipped off the radar.
Last Friday, as Leinster won European silverware in front of the bright lights and the huge audience, Bent was also winning a medal, albeit in the less rarefied confines of the B&I Cup.
From a position seven months ago where he was expected to challenge Ross for a starting berth in green, Bent (pictured below) won't even tour with Ireland this summer.
Instead, he will be asked to confront the latest collection of grizzly Georgian monsters in Tbilisi for 'Emerging Ireland' in June; let us just say that, as he slumps to around fifth or sixth-choice tighthead for his adopted country, this ain't the glamorous life he signed up for.
An indigenous tighthead, Jamie Hagan, has been promoted ahead of him for Leinster and, by dint of touring North America, Ireland as well, just as he is preparing to walk out on Irish rugby and pitch in with London Irish.
It will be curious to see whether Joe Schmidt will slavishly persist with the prevailing official stance that "out of sight means out of mind", especially now that his first-choice out-half is domiciled in Paris.
"Jamie wanted more game time," says Leinster and Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek. "We got him knowing he had potential to go further. Sometimes you've got to go backwards to come forwards. Jamie is a good case.
"Maybe, if he was a bit more patient he might still be here. We weren't going to hold him back. It is important for a tighthead to be playing week in, week out. We could understand that.
"You can see that he's certainly come on. It is a massive credit to him in terms of the work he has put in. He has been massive on his extras. His habits are really good.
"You never know what will happen. It is not going to be easy for him over there. It is just a shame for Leinster that we lose someone we've put a lot of work into.
"You want to make the player better. This is a position where it doesn't happen overnight. If they are prepared to put the work in and they have the right attitude, like Jamie has shown, then they work away.
"He has got physical attributes that he has worked on hard. That doesn't happen by just sitting on the couch eating popcorn."
CONFIDENT
Feek, the most prominent person in terms of recruiting Bent, remains confident that there is room for development for the former Hurricanes prop also, as he and Hagan jostle for selection behind Ross this weekend.
Given the traditional late developments of tightheads, Feek is not worried about Bent's progress; his adaptability to play loosehead, where he once won a Ranfurly Shield, may also be a bonus in time.
"If you look at Jamie's situation, he came in and you didn't really see him for the first year," explains Feek.
"Benty has been able to float in and out. He was a part of the winning B&I Cup team at the weekend against a probable Premiership team.
"I think it was better for him to play in that and experience that. He played 80 minutes and there was 20 minutes of extra-time.
"These things take time. There are different elements over here for him. He is around 117kg; Jamie is around 123kg, so there is a big way for him to go if he wants to make the next step.
"But, I think he has got a lot of other attributes already in place. Hopefully, we can grow him and the same thing might happen.
"He played a lot of loosehead before he came over. He played tighthead and loosehead. To be chucked in and just told, right you are tighthead ... loosehead could be an option."
http://balls.ie/rugby/video-ulster-have ... o12-final/