‘Trench warfare’ as McLaughlin lauds Ulster victory

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin put down his team’s success in Italy on Saturday night to sheer doggedness.

The error-strewn game was a hard slog, but McLaughlin will not mind that as victory over Aironi in Viadana saw Ulster recording wins in the opening two Magners League games for the first time in four years.

McLaughlin got what he expected from the Italians, a physical battle that hinged on who would win the arm-wrestling up front. Ulster just about did that with Robbie Diack the pick of an over-worked pack.