Diack focused on Scarlets but still believes Ulster can make an impact

IRELAND flanker Robbie Diack is itching to prove that Ulster are not yet out of Europe, despite the fact that they have only accrued one point from their two opening games in Pool 3.

After defeats by Leicester and defending champions Toulon, the chance to prove that point starts tomorrow night at the Kingspan Stadium with the first of the back-to-back games with the Scarlets.

Diack certainly believes it is not impossible to win the remaining four games, but it’s about taking a step at a time.

“We have had two disappointing results in the opening games, but we know the importance of winning and especially our home games, and that starts this weekend.

“We cannot really think of bonus points we just want to win and we’ll have to be at our best. The Scarlets have a strong team, we’ll be able to see where things are on the field and whether we can push for the bonus point or not,” said Diack, who knows all too well how dangerous a team Scarlets can be, with the defeat by Connacht last week still hurting.

“We have had a good look at them and we played them earlier in the season and it was a tough game over there and luckily we came back and got a draw. All told there were eight tries scored in that game in Llanelli.

“They have a huge and experienced pack, a lot of them played against the Springboks at the weekend to physically bully the Springboks is a huge feather in their cap. So we know what we are up against and we have to be at our best to compete with them,” said Diack, who has broken into the Ireland squad and is bubbling to get out on the park again.

The in-form Cape Town-born Diack won his second cap for Ireland against Georgia in the autumn series and returned to Ulster last weekend against Munster and produced a stunning energetic final 20 minutes off the bench against Munster at Thomond Park.

“It was great to be back with Ulster. I had a fantastic couple of weeks at the Ireland camp. It was fantastic to be involved in the Georgia game. Even though I wasn’t part of the two big games with South Africa and Australia, it was just great to get 80 minutes and contribute to a successful series,” explained Diack.

“I was excited to be back with Ulster and be around my friends and the team environment, to get 20 minutes to try and contribute and do what I can was great but we lost the game which was disappointing and we should have won the game.

“We are totally focused about Europe. We still want to finish the competition strongly, starting on Saturday in front of our home fans.”

* Roger Wilson has signed a new two-year contract with Ulster that will see him remain at Kingspan Stadium until the summer of 2017.