Time is now for emerging Ulster

It’s hard to escape the sense that the time must be now for Ulster.

Problem is, of course, that this feeling has been expressed before and the northern province have won just one of its previous half-dozen Celtic League play-off games down the years — a damning indictment of how they have consistently flattered to deceive.

This time should be different. It has to be.

Rory Best spoke this week about how his side have always tended to peak mid-season before losing their way due to a catalogue of injuries and sheer attrition. Not this time. Not with an all-clear from the medical department and an unchanged, settled side in a rich vein of form.

Four wins on the trot since their defeat away to Glasgow, including that 24-point defeat of Leinster late last month, speak well of a team playing with greater width and invention under Les Kiss and one with Paddy Jackson assuming greater responsibility.

Ulster bring a back-line brimming with ability and heft to the RDS, and the suspicion is that if they can do no more than break even against Leinster up front, then they will have established the platform on which to become the first side to win a Pro12 semi-final on the road.

Leinster may not be the team of old, but the RDS remains a daunting citadel on which to launch an assault. Add in the fact that so many of their 23 have league and European medals — not to mention Test caps — and it makes for an imposing collection of individuals.

The question is whether they can gel like they used to in that blue jersey. Matt O’Connor had his critics, and rightfully so, but his title-winning Leinster side of two years ago produced sublime performances that year, away to Northampton in Europe and in the home league final against Glasgow.

That alone is two more than Leo Cullen’s Leinster, for all their manifold plus points, have managed.

Sean O’Brien sees a specialist in the UK today about the hamstring injury that has destroyed his season and ruled him out of Ireland’s summer tour to South Africa, while Cian Healy is unlikely to feature again this season with neck and knee problems. The same holds for flanker Josh van der Flier. Rob Kearney is another missing out with an ankle injury, though Leinster say it may clear up in time should they make the final.

At least Luke Fitzgerald returns from injury and his presence on the wing improves Leinster’s attacking arsenal.

Here’s a little extra sport: BallTalk TV preview the FA Cup Final between Crystal Palace and Man United: