Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Far from Friday being a shot to nothing, Ulster's trip to Glasgow is a match they must win

By Neil Best
Ulster fans who know their rugby know the importance of getting a win at Glasgow on Friday (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

His resolve is not to seem the bravest, but to be.

I’ve recently heard Ulster’s away PRO14 semi-final against Glasgow described as a “free hit” for the Belfast side, meaning they have already reached their season targets and anything else is a bonus.

ADVERTISEMENT

I couldn’t disagree more. Some teams go for years without a sniff of a trophy and this Friday presents Ulster with the chance to reach their first competition final since 2013 – far from being a shot to nothing, it’s a match they must win.

When I played at Ulster we pretty much took wins against Scottish sides for granted, but times have changed somewhat. Only a matter of weeks ago a near first-choice Ulster line-up were comprehensively beaten by Glasgow despite scoring first.

Ulster struggled to get go-forward, struggled at the set-piece, conceded too many penalties and offered too many soft shoulders in defence. For a team that has made fighting for every inch their mantra, they seemed to lack resolve.

Despite that loss there are sound reasons for Ulster fans to be optimistic. Jacob Stockdale is back alongside fellow Ireland duo Rory Best and Iain Henderson who didn’t feature in Glasgow in April. Having those names alone on the teamsheet will lift the confidence of the players around them.

Ulster have won three on the bounce since the Glasgow defeat, with the Connacht quarter-final win showing they are capable of reversing results that have gone against them earlier in the season.

The Connacht reversal was off the back of a much improved set-piece, something we know was a weak point against Glasgow last month. Most importantly of all, last month’s Glasgow game came only days after a heroic but physically and emotionally-draining European encounter with Leinster. This time the team should be confident, recovered and ready for the Warriors.

ADVERTISEMENT

Add to that the Luke Marshall factor. Injured for most of the season he only started his first game at Scotstoun in April. Marshall has got sharper in every game since and was instrumental in Ulster closing out the win over Connacht.

Will Addison may have been the early-season star for Ulster, but there is something rather comforting about seeing Stuart McCloskey and Marshall line up alongside in midfield. Tried and trusted, they are as intelligent in their play as they are physical and abrasive.

Ulster’s last two finals have been losses to Leinster in Europe in 2012 and in the PRO12 in 2013, but Leinster are not the Leinster of old and the gap has closed. If Ulster can navigate the tricky Scots to set up a likely final against the Dubliners, the outcome will be far from a forgone conclusion.

ADVERTISEMENT

With my old man in Singapore town this week it’s the first time in a while we will have three generations of Bests nestling down alongside each other to cheer on Ulster. This is a great chance for this team and squad to make a name for themselves, to make bit of history. With a few of them not going to be around next season, they need to step up, believe in themselves and really grab this opportunity.

Nurture your minds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes.

WATCH: Part five of The Academy, the RugbyPass documentary series on the Leicester Tigers

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 38 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

27 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Louis Rees-Zammit signs for Roc Nation ahead of his Kansas visit Louis Rees-Zammit signs for Roc Nation ahead of his Kansas visit
Search