Court: It just feels like all the pieces fit

Tom Court has never earned a piece of silverware in eight seasons with Ulster, but the prop’s experiences as part of Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam-winning squad tells him that may be about to change.

Declan Kidney’s side eked their way through that campaign, one culminating in the narrowest of wins over Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Court saw three minutes of playing time that day as well as 25 on his full debut in Italy.

Ireland earned their title the hard way five years ago but were aided by a benevolent absence of injuries and a growing belief. They are among the reasons why Court clearly feels Ulster’s time may have come.

Key cogs such as Johann Muller, John Afoa, Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe have all returned to something like full fitness in recent times and take on Saracens tomorrow at a recently-renovated Ravenhill that will be packed to the gills.

Court was speaking prior to last week’s blip of a defeat away to Cardiff but the sense of expectation is only added to by the fact he, along with Muller and Afoa, will be departing the club and the city when season ends.

It just feels like all the pieces fit.

“It does have that sort of feeling about it,” he told the Irish Examiner. “I would relate it to the year we won the Grand Slam in 2009. It’s just something in the pit of your stomach that says it is coming together.

“I don’t know, it is just a vibe you get in the dressing-room. It’s a lot of things, I suppose. Yeah, it’s the guys coming back but it’s the stadium being completed as well and just in time for the quarter-final.

“Fez [Stephen Ferris] too. He is just such an inspiration to us. A lot of people thought he would have retired by now. The Ireland guys are back in now as well and there is so much competition all around for places. Some guys are going to miss out.

“You have Johann and John Afoa leaving too. I’m not a big believer in faith but that kind of stuff does have an effect. Hopefully that positivity can pay off like it did with Ireland and Brian O’Driscoll. We have to use it like they did and not be overawed by it.”

In Ferris they may well have their own lightning rod. The Ireland flanker has made just three appearances since his return from a 16-month injury absence and would feature in a Heineken Cup fixture for the first time since Leinster had their number in the final almost two years ago if he faces Saracens. His comeback against the Scarlets last month was somewhat overshadowed by a certain game in the Stade de France the next day but his status around Belfast is immeasurable and Court was fulsome in his praise for his team-mate.

“A lot of people would have said ‘that’s it, I’m done’. I’m sure the insurance company was probably waiting for the papers to be signed and come in, but Fez is one of those positive guys and we saw him do sessions twice a day every day.

“There were some days where you could see that he was a low as he could be and we would try to gee him up, but he is back playing now and not only that he is back playing well again as we knew he would.

“To be honest, it was inspirational to see what he went through to come back. It does have a massive effect on you and Stephen Ferris is probably to us what Brian O’Driscoll is to Leinster or Paul O’Connell is to Munster.”