The province is making progress, but tonight's showdown with Connacht will give a good idea of just how much. GAVIN CUMMISKEYreports
THE FIRST question about rugby for Mark Anscombe at this week’s ERC launch in Dublin didn’t go down so well. Considering Ulster make up Pool Four of the Heineken Cup along with Northampton, Glasgow and Castres, they would be expected to qualify for the quarter-finals for a third year running. Right?
“Everyone expects. I’m sure they all expect to as well. What are you judging your decision of that on?”
Well, for starters, Ulster reached the Heineken Cup final last May.
“That was last year. This is this year. We’ve brought in a couple of new players, we’ve got a new coach, we’re a bit different as a team. I’m sure if you go look at those teams they will have done the same so not everything is going to be the same as last year.
“I think we’ve got to be careful. Respect the past but don’t get caught up with what they used to do.”
Nobody likes this phony war stage of the season. Only when the tanks roll into Polish territory on Friday week – Castres come to Ravenhill – will we know more.
“Yeah, that’s huge but we want to keep our momentum going in the Rabo. If we do not keep our focus going for Connacht they will beat us. It’s as simple as that.”
Anscombe’s caution is understandable, but some salient observations are unavoidable. Ulster should make another leap in progress this season. The All Black signing Jared Payne is fit again and Tommy Bowe has returned. The pack is largely the same, with either Nick Williams or Roger Wilson to nail down the number eight slot.
One potentially huge problem is Ruan Pienaar. Arguably the best play-maker and pressure kicker in the world right now (according to team-mate Johann Muller), Pienaar recently won back the Springbok number nine jersey. He starts against New Zealand tomorrow in Johannesburg.
This places huge expectations on Paul Marshall and Paddy Jackson to accelerate their already impressive development as a halfback partnership.
Jackson shot to prominence last season, displacing Ian Humphreys as the starting outhalf, only to struggle in the Heineken Cup final.
Comparisons to Anscombe’s son Gareth are easily made. Anscombe junior made a similar meteoric rise from 2011 Under-20 World Cup winning number 10 to a disastrous Auckland Blues Super Rugby campaign. The 21-year-old Kiwi has been de-listed by new Blues coach John Kirwan, who said he needs more time to mature. He has the option of declaring for Wales if a contract doesn’t come along in New Zealand.
“I see an outstanding young man who has got a lot of potential and a lot of talent,” said Anscombe of Jackson. “The fact is 20 years of age in a Heineken Cup final must have come a little sooner than expected. But he is only going to be stronger and better for that.
“We’ve already seen in a couple of games this season how he has benefited from that.
“He is still growing. Paddy’s three or four years away from producing what his potential is going to be.”
All things considered, the Anscombe era has started very well. Four wins from four Pro 12 outings should become five as Connacht visit Belfast this evening.
Ulster are near full strength. But what are these strengths?
Anscombe was recruited to help them evolve, much like Rob Penney was in Munster. With Muller becoming the strongest personality in the squad – some achievement considering the presence of Stevie Ferris, Rory Best and John Afoa – they have become a forward-oriented team with Pienaar adding the points.
Anscombe comes from Auckland and the New Zealand underage system, with both priding themselves on a fluent, 15-man attacking style.
“People talk about style, but what is style?” Anscombe rhetorically ponders. “To me it really comes down to you’ve got to play to your strengths. It’s important to understand what the strengths of your squad are.”
Tonight’s team squad has an established set-piece. Muller and Afoa are on big money contracts to ensure as much. The threequarter line are all Irish internationals, with Payne at fullback, so it appears that Ulster’s strengths are everywhere.
That’s how it appears right now anyway. Full scale warfare will tell us more.
