Ulster flanker Diack all out to ensure he’s not a one-cap wonder

GUINNESS PRO12:

The 28-year-old Johannesburg-born flanker loved the experience of rugby at the top level and wants more. Diack came to Ulster from the Cape Town-based Stormers back in 2008 and for the last few seasons has been a formidable member of the province’s back-row amassing a total of 125 caps.

Now, with the usual fight for places beginning again when Ulster take on the Scarlets tomorrow night in Wales, he knows he cannot sit back on his laurels and he is determined to make the province his showcase for more international appearances.

“I really enjoyed the experience in Argentina,” said Diack who is now entering his seventh season with Ulster. “It was an intense couple of weeks and it was everything I expected it would be. You are talking about the hype, the build-up to the day, the travel, the preparation. Everybody was very supportive of me in making my debut, and to be honest it was a long, long week. From the Monday when we were told the team, you were trying to avoid sickness or injury. You had the whole build-up and then the 80 minutes were up, so it was fairly hectic.

“When I knew I was going to start, there was pressure on me to perform, and I was very happy the way I performed. So I hope I put some doubt into Joe Schmidt’s mind going forward into the next games. I loved the experience and I want more obviously. I always dreamt of getting an international cap, now that I have got that, the hunger and determination to get more is really burning inside me.

“I think maybe it was a little bit quicker than what you would get in the European Cup and the room for error was a lot smaller. You had to be on the ball all the time as errors are ruthlessly punished. So it was certainly an experience and I learned a lot, got through the 80 minutes and best of all, we won.”

Diack has seen a host of changes at Ulster since his arrival back in 2008. “It’s unbelievable the changes... the stadium, the management, recruitment, players that have come and gone, and just where the team is from seven years ago. We have had a couple of great pre-seasons in the past but they get you nowhere in the end. We judge ourselves in getting silverware. With that in mind, there is a general feeling that this could be a big year for us.

“We don’t have to re-invent the wheel, it’s just we have changes the small percentages and up our accuracy during training and it will follow on to our game. That has happened in the last couple of weeks and it does increase the confidence,” said Diack who believes the new recruits will have a big influence.

“Everyone was disappointed to lose Johann [Muller] with his leadership and line-out ability, but Franco van der Merwe has come in and has done a magnificent job in the two games we have played. Wiehahn Herbst had a good time in the scrum against Leinster last week, and he will get even better working with Allan Clarke while Louis Ludik has gelled in well and scored a try on his debut and could have got one last week as well.

“But all the new recruits have come in and really bought into the system here at Ulster and people are enjoying them and their enthusiasm,” he said.