Ulster are aiming higher this season, warns skipper Muller

Ulster skipper Johann Muller admits the disappointment of last season’s defeat to Northampton Saints will motivate his side in Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Munster at Thomond Park.

Former Springbok skipper Muller is convinced the northern province set the bar too low last year after making the last eight. And he feels their priorities have changed 12 months on.

Muller said: “The prospect is exciting because 12 months ago we were perhaps just happy to get out of our pool because that was something that Ulster had not managed for 12 years. Now we are totally focused on going as far as possible in this season’s tournament and we believe we have the quality to upset any side. Playing another Irish team in the quarters is a bit of a Catch 22 situation — it has both good and bad points. Munster are the top-seeded side coming out of the pool stages and are the leading team in Europe.