Neil Doak urges Ulster to be consistent after European success over Toulouse

Ulster head coach Neil Doak doesn’t have much time to dwell on his side’s tremendous back-to-back victories over Toulouse as the province’s European adventure was brilliantly kept alive with their first win in Toulouse last weekend.

With Connacht waiting at the Sportsground this afternoon, precious league points are at stake with Ulster sitting fifth and looking to continue a long winning streak against the Pro12 table-toppers.

Ulster make four changes for the tie with captain Rory Best among the absentees. Pat Lam, meanwhile, has made no fewer than 12 changes from Connacht’s last outing against Newcastle on Sunday.

Doak was thrilled with his side’s European wins and is keen to carry that form into the Pro12.

He said: “To win back-to-back games against Toulouse is a credit to the players and it has set up the group nicely for us. But we have moved quickly on to the Connacht game this afternoon.

“It is certainly going to be a massive challenge. However, we have been getting not only good results of late, but the performances have been good.

“The players have been keeping the ball well and playing the type of game that suits us. The conditions over the past couple of weeks have obviously suited us, and we are creating opportunities and now taking them.

“Every game now gets bigger and particularly this time of the year with the derby matches. It’s massive across the league and we know all too well it is going to be a huge challenge for us at the Sportsground.

“What we need at Ulster now is consistency. If we keep performing at that level on both sides of the ball it is going to be key, particularly this week. Connacht are not afraid to play with ball in hand and I suppose defensively we have been really solid and what we have to do is put them under severe pressure and spoil their quality ball. That’s what they will be looking for at home where they haven’t lost this season.

“It’s a case of negating them with their ball in hand, and for us to put away our chances. The Connacht strength however is in their collective. Obviously, like us, they have a few injuries at present, but we haven’t really targeted anybody in their side,” said Doak, who is pleased with the way his so-called reserve players are performing.

“Some of the younger guys have come in and done really well. Take Alan O’Connor at the weekend, playing like a fly-half and putting Luke Marshall through the hole for the deciding score against Toulouse.

“You cannot beat that, it shows that we have a quality in our squad at the moment that if the game is broken up there are good decision-makers which is a key aspect within our squad.”