‘Wounded’ Exiles a threat: Dawson

ULSTER’S former London Irish flanker Kieron Dawson has warned his teammates to “beware of the wounded animal” ahead of today’s decisive Pool Five clash at the Madejski Stadium in Reading (3.30pm).

It’s a must-win game for Dawson’s side — third in the group — against their bottom of the table hosts.

And though the Exiles are struggling in the Premiership, the flanker warns that they can be a very dangerous outfit on European duty.

“The Magners League is definitely as strong, or even stronger than the Guinness Premiership,” enthused Dawson, who played 10 years with the Exiles after his move to London. “The brand of rugby that is played in the League is certainly better than that played in England.

“There are more attacking games as the Premiership becomes even more stifled. Games over in England are not really that interesting any more. Teams are just afraid of losing. It’s all about the fear factor of looking up at the scoreboard at the end of the game to see the result.

“To be honest it is a quick-fix, win at all costs rugby, and it’s detrimental to the whole product right through to the very top of the game in England. That has been proven in the recent run of poor results at international level.”

Dawson, who finally made his Ulster debut at the start of the season on his return from London in the summer, remains cautious, however.

“Always beware of the wounded animal,” he said.

“Even though there are not many homegrown players in the squad now, I know what it will mean to most of team to play against an Irish province.

“Brian Smith is a shrewd coach and he will attempt to minimise the potency of Ulster back-line particularly with Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble back.

“Again we will be looking to the wise old head at fly-half to mix the game up a little. David Humphreys will be well aware of the Exiles’ blitz defence and he will be very clever in keeping them fully focussed by putting the ball behind them.

“I found that London Irish struggle if you kick well against them in attack and defence. But there again, if you do not kick well, they can be lethal on the counter.

“I always wanted to play for Ulster when I was at school at Bangor Grammar. I never got the chance when I was younger and I thought at one stage it would never happen. Naturally when the opportunity came along during the summer I jumped at it, and am really enjoying every minute of life here. The rugby in the province is bubbling and the Ravenhill crowd is something else. Ulster is a great place to live and to play. It will be even better if we can just get this win away from home. It will give us the chance to finally get out of what is a very tough group.”

LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; J Bishop, S Mapusua, M Catt (capt), S Tagicakibau; S Geraghty, P Hodgson; N Hatley, R Russell, T Lea’aetoa, N Kennedy, R Casey, K Roche, S Armitage, J Leguizamon.

Replacements: M Collins, D Coetzee, F Rautenbach, J Hudson, P Murphy, G Tiesi, B Everitt.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, P Wallace, A Trimble; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best (capt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, K Dawson, R Wilson.

Replacements: P Shields, J Fitzpatrick, T Barker, N McMillan, K Campbell, K Maggs, M Bartholomeusz.

Referee: Joel Jutge (France).