Greater depth the key for Ulster

Even listening to the gentle northern tones of the genial Harry Williams evokes memories of those crazy days in Ravenhill and, finally, Lansdowne Road last season when sport usurped politics and, with the final symbolically held in Dublin, a nation united behind the travelling hordes from Ulster for one unforgettable January day . . . Did it really happen?

"Oh dear me," says Williams, endeavouring to encapsulate something that belongs more in a novel or a movie than a sound bite. "It's lovely the way the public recognition remains. But when you think back on it, it still seems like make believe."

Which, of course, begs the question: how on earth do you follow that Harry? "It's not easy is the obvious answer," Williams says. "But we've gathered ourselves together with a new squad of players and are hoping to do even better." Even better? "Well, we didn't win the interpros."

Nonetheless, with "second season syndrome" comes the risk of "complacency", Williams accepts, added to which the mantle of European champions makes them more of a prized scalp. Mindful of their successive defeats at the Sportsground for the last two years, and especially Connacht's comeback from an 18-0 deficit to win 21-18 in the corresponding fixture 12 months ago, Williams dismisses last season's finale of eight consecutive wins.

"We'll just leave that one in the past. Going to Galway is a whole different proposition. We know they're going to be up for this game and that it is going to be very, very difficult for us."

Connacht's improvement in latter years is evidence of the evening out in standards amongst the four provinces, according to Williams, which is how he wants it.

"Everything went down to the wire last year and hopefully it will be even more competitive this year. If the interpros aren't hard fought it doesn't really get us prepared for the European Cup and it doesn't do Ireland any favours either. The other three provinces all beat us last year and we got a rude awakening when we were well beaten by both Leinster and Munster. It gave us a good shaking and focussed the mind. The intepros aren't as predictable as they used to be."

Ulster are unlikely to lack for leadership. The arrival of the prodigal Paddy Johns and Dion O'Cuinneagain gives them the current Irish captain and his predecessor. "It's great to have a good, wise old head like Paddy in there if the going gets tough," says Williams. "And as for Dion, not only is he a classy player, but he's a lovely person and an absolute gentleman as well."

Williams speaks just as fondly of the man who led Ulster to European glory last season, David Humphreys. But for "superstitious" reasons, in light of Mark McCall "getting crocked last season", Ulster's captaincy will be decided on "a match by match basis".

In addition to former England under-21 winger Spencer Bromley, and their other overseas recruit Riaz Fredericks, Tyrone Howe and Simon Best have returned to the Ulster fold.

On top of which, Eric Miller and James Topping might as well be considered as new players, given both were confined to just one match each for the province last season. Topping, with a World Cup spot to play for, is "absolutely flying" according to Williams, while Miller is "rehabilitating well".

"We've beefed up in a number of areas and we now have a bigger squad, with more depth than last year," Williams says. "We went into the European Cup final on a wing and a prayer, with just two backs as cover, and one injury away from total disaster."

The preparations have been encouraging, culminating in Saturday's 31-19 win away to Glasgow, who had hosted Ulster at short notice after the Spanish Barbarians had pulled out of a proposed fixture in Ravenhill last Friday night.

Williams reckons a group containing Bourgoin, Llanelli and Wasps is "an even tougher European Cup draw than last year". Furthermore, Ulster's scalp will be even more prized on the European scene, where Ulster will have lost their "element of surprise" and will be studied more closely in advance.

Ulster's goals are clearly set and probably don't vary that much from those of their rivals. "We want to qualify for Europe by finishing first or second in the interpros and we want to get through our group in Europe. We know that's one hell of a target."

Mentally, an infusion of fresh faces has been no bad thing. That they also add a few new arrows to Ulster's quiver is no bad thing either, for as Williams confessed, they need to add "a greater dimension to our game this year."

Aside from the frequent aerial bombardments and the willingness to go for three-pointers, last season Ulster barely outscored their opponents in tries (39 to 38), while the respective right boots of Simon Mason and David Humphreys accounted for 208 of the 403 points Ulster scored.

"Last year's was a very simple game plan in part because of the personnel available to us and we were limited by what we had. We need to be more varied."

Williams laughs a little and concludes: "the theory's easy."