Ulster blow as Muller misses Munster test

Ulster have been rocked by the loss of influential skipper Johann Muller ahead of tonight’s RaboDirect derby shoot-out with Munster at Ravenhill.

The World Cup winner was due to return after being stood down for last week’s lacklustre defeat at the hands of Leinster, but Muller picked up a leg injury yesterday in training that sees him miss what is being termed a must-win game for Mark Anscombe’s side who could drop down the league pecking order if they fail to see off the men in red.

Defeat to Leinster ended Ulster’s five-game winning run in all tournaments and have not lost at the new-look Ravenhill for 11 months. However, Muller knows that the side must step up to the plate if they are to give an in-form Munster side a bit of grief.

“These are the games that define our season and in three weeks time we will be able to know exactly where we are at. It’s very exciting, but daunting at the same time, and obviously you are slightly nervous about it. We want to test ourselves against the best and over the next three weeks we will be playing against the best,” said the disappointed Springbok, who knows that Ulster must step up a few gears from last week.

“It was one of those games that you really want to forget as quickly as possible, but I think we’ll make sure it is a one-off. We didn’t match that and even if you have all the players and names in the world if you don’t show that will to win, then you’re going to struggle.

“We didn’t deserve a losing bonus point from that game, never mind a win, and Leinster got the four points they deserved so credit to them.

“The thing about rugby is you have a six-day turnaround and then you’re into another massive game against a quality side and an opportunity to put things right. There was lot of soul searching during training. Everyone in this group wants to be out there on Friday and you can see that in the edge there has been to training this week.

“It doesn’t get any better than playing Munster in front of a sold-out Ravenhill, and it is great to have some of our other injured players back. It’s a difficult time of year with Christmas and New Year and you have players out injured and other players away at camp so it’s great that we’re getting to a point where everyone is coming back just in time for the next few weeks.”