Anscombe: We’re now their equal

A year ago, Brian McLaughlin sat in a Twickenham media briefing trying to process a defeat to Leinster in a Heineken Cup final.

Two days ago, his successor did something similar.

That Mark Anscombe was filtering through the ashes of a RaboDirect Pro12 loss rather than that of the European variety suggests that, at first glance, Ulster’s graph has begun to turn in the wrong direction.

Not so, said captain Johann Muller, who detailed the greater depth the squad has developed through key signings, as well as the continued work with the academy in Belfast, while Anscombe was just as keen to accentuate the positives.

“Long, enjoyable, cold, wet, but a good bunch of guys,” said the Kiwi when asked to sum up his first season in charge.

“I’ve heard the guys talk a fair bit about last year’s Heineken Cup final and how they got cleaned out.

“The thing is, we haven’t played brilliantly [on Saturday]. We have played well in pieces, but I think we have shown that we are the equal of Leinster now and that gives me a lot of heart. I look forward to next year as a province.”

Yet they will look back with regrets. And misgivings.

Coach and captain alike admitted their discipline simply wasn’t up to scratch and that Leinster had ‘played’ referee John Lacey better, but some of the Irish official’s decisions clearly rankled.

Muller didn’t disagree with the assertion that the breakdown had been a “lottery” while Anscombe bemoaned the refusal of the referee to penalise Isaac Boss for the frequency with which he impeded Nick Williams at the back of the scrum.

“Some of the decisions at the breakdown — I would have to see them again ... Were they getting done for the same things we were? That is questionable as well. Not to take away from them, they deserved to win, I have no grumbles about that.”

There were other peccadilloes besides, but Anscombe wrapped them all up into one neat bundle when asked if maybe an all-Irish decider should have been overseen by someone without such strong ties to the island.

“Maybe. It’s not my decision. That’s for the powers-to-be. I’m not by any means bitching about John Lacey, He is a promising referee. I just think the showcase of a tournament surely should have the most experienced referee available to do the job.”