Ulster boost as key duo extend deals

ULSTER’S preparations for tomorrow’s crucial Heineken Cup tie against Leicester have been given a welcome boost with confirmation that scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar and Paul Marshall have both signed contract extensions.

The duo have penned two-year deals which will keep them at Ravenhill until June 2014 when the IRFU’s controversial rule changes regarding the use of foreign players by Ulster, Munster and Leinster kicks in.

Pienaar was named Ulster and Magners League player of the year after his first full season in Belfast while the homegrown Marshall has been superb since grabbing his chance for more game time during the Springbok’s World Cup absence.

“Scrum-half is such a key position within the team that every squad needs two quality players in this position and we are delighted that both have chosen to remain with Ulster,” said Director of Rugby, David Humphreys.

Eight years have elapsed since Humphreys was part of an Ulster team which racked up 33 unanswered points against the Tigers at Ravenhill on the first, and still the only, Sunday game to be played at the venue. Others among the cast that day were Tyrone Howe, Andy Ward, Neil Best, Austin Healy, Graham Rowntree and Martin Johnson. Only Paddy Wallace and Louis Deacon remain on the books as players at the respective outfits.

Just a week later at Welford Road, Ulster were mauled 49-7 by the Tigers.

That six-day turnaround summed the Ulster of that vintage up in a nutshell: liable to attain any heights at home — just as likely to sink to crippling lows on the road.

Leicester are still a heavyweight but lack the punch in Europe they possessed back then while Ulster have spent three seasons raising their stock to a level where they are top of a group containing the English side and Clermont Auvergne, with two rounds to go.

“The squad that we have assembled now is on a par with any of the top squads in Europe,” Wallace explained earlier this week. “We have a great record in Europe now. Ten years ago we were always confident of winning our home games but the difference with this squad is that we have great confidence going on the road to the bigger clubs.”

Wallace has had to watch the squad’s more recent successes from the sidelines after a succession of hand injuries which necessitated surgery and a seven-week recovery period that ended last week when he left the bench against Edinburgh.

“It is great to be back, and to be back in a winning squad. It drives you on to get back for the Heineken stuff. I have worked very hard on other sides of the game like strength and conditioning so hopefully the hand will be up to it. It certainly was last week when I got 25 minutes against Edinburgh so I am fairly confident it will.”