Ulster getting back to normality

Rugby will return to Ravenhill for the first time since the tragic passing of Nevin Spence when Ulster host Connacht on Friday and coach Mark Anscombe spoke sensitively yesterday about the need to move on and play rugby.

Sport may dwindle in importance at such times but its restorative powers don’t and the province’s players clearly welcomed the return to normality that came with training and playing by racking up seven tries last weekend away to Cardiff.

“It has been tough but they knew that Nev was a doer and getting back to work and what they are paid to do is what he would have wanted and they respect that,” said Anscombe. “Their performance showed that.”

Understandably, Ulster’s fine early season form has been somewhat overshadowed of late but they lie atop the PRO12 table with four wins from four and face into their first interpro of the season with Roger Wilson and young centre Mike Allen their only injury absentees.

Beyond that lies a Heineken Cup opener against Castres in Belfast before a trip to Scotland and a date with Glasgow Warriors. Northampton complete the foursome but Anscombe bristled at the notion that Ulster will be expected to emerge with ambitions intact next January.

“They will expect too,” he said of the pool four opponents. “Last year has gone. This is this year. We have a new coach, a couple of new players and are a bit different as a team and I am sure if you go and look at those teams then they have all done the same thing. Not every team is going to be the same as last year. And in every competition, you have to ensure you respect those. Each team each year grows and you cannot fall into thinking it will be the same as last year.”

Anscombe has parked up at a club which has been doing all the right things on and off the park in recent years, one which strengthened its playing pool in the off-season but with a decision to make at nine and ten. Ulster remain in the unusual position of possessing a nine (Ruan Pienaar) who can play ten, not to mention a 12 (Paddy Wallace) who can do the same, but all eyes remain on young Paddy Jackson and his ability to progress this season.

The 20-year was surprisingly elevated to the starting role by former coach Brian McLaughlin in place of Ian Humphreys last season and struggled in the European semi-final and decider, but Anscombe was fulsome in his praise yesterday. “I see an outstanding young man who has a lot of potential and a lot of talent. The fact is that, at 20, a Heineken Cup final came a bit sooner than he expected but he is only going to be strong.

“He is still growing. Paddy is three or four years from producing what he is going to be. That is what you expect. You don’t gain that as a 10 when you need him to control the game, direct the game, boss people around. That doesn’t happen in five minutes.”