Gerry Thornley hears coach Alan Solomons wax lyrical about the home-grown talent coming along

The perception from outside has been that Ulster haven't had the same growth from within as, say, Leinster and Munster. What indigenous talent there has been has tended to fly the coop, though according to coach Alan Solomons, the situation has largely been of their own making. They didn't tend to their roots.

Accordingly, at face value the Ulster squad seems almost the most settled of the four provinces with little in the way of significant change from last season. But compared to the squad which started out the season this time last year, one which Solomons mostly inherited, there actually has been significant change.

Admittedly, most of those who've been upgraded to full contracts had already broken into the squad by the end of last season. But for all Ulster's tendency to bring in from abroad, and somewhat profligately at that, the biggest boon from last year was the stunning emergence of Paddy Wallace.

His flawed, but at times brilliant and always cheeky displays made him an immediate cult hero alongside the standard-bearers David Humphreys and Andy Ward, and also pointed the way forward. As much as the acquisition of esteemed former Springbok prop Robbie Kempson, ex-Crusaders hooker Matt Sexton and one-time Sharks back-rower Warren Brosnihan, it's given Solomons even more pleasure to reward former Irish under-21s such as Neil McMillan, Matt McCullough and the exciting Scott Young with full contracts, as well as the likes of Bryan Young on development contracts.

"We've made enormous strides in this area, thanks in the main to the work of Allen Clarke, our full-time performance development manager, and Cecil Watson, the chairman of our rugby committee, My own personal opinion is our young talent wasn't being looked after, (a) because they were leaving, but (b) because they were not being played. It was an ageing Ulster team," Solomons admits candidly, "and Ulster must become self-generating."

Solomons is quite prepared to admit Ulster now have a stronger squad than last season. "There's no question about that. The squad is stronger. You match those who've come in against those who've gone and apart from Paddy Johns, who was a great servant to Ulster and Irish rugby, we are an improved squad in each instance."

Reflecting on last season, there's no doubt either that Ulster made significant strides in terms of performance and results. Where before they were hugely reliant on the inspiration and kicking game of Humphreys, who actually upped his contribution with his best season ever, they added a few more strings to their bow. They pushed Munster all the way in a Lansdowne Road Celtic League quarter-final, coming within a whisker of winning, even if, by Solomons' own admittance, Munster deserved their victory.

They came within five tries of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, thanks in the main to Llanelli being able to dip their bread with 19 tries in two games against Calvisano, though also blew it away to Wasps when Humphreys played on until half-time with an ankle injury.

"I was very, very happy with last season," admits Solomons. "Ulster had won only one game in Europe over the previous two years and hadn't beaten Munster in four years. With the squad I inherited I felt that if we made the play-offs of the Celtic League and were competitive in Europe they were realistic goals. And the heartening thing for us is the longer the season went on the better we got. In the interpros we also beat Munster for the first time in four years when Munster were at full-strength and we were without David."

The flip side of all this, of course, is expectations will be understandably higher within Ulster this season, and Solomons accepts that is how it should be. Nevertheless, the former Western Province coach and Springbok assistant coach points out that the Celtic League will be a different kettle of fish this season.

"The Welsh and the Scots weren't ready for it last season and weren't up for it. This season, there's been no Lions tour and they're ready and raring to go."

He also stresses the Irish provinces will be "seriously disadvantaged" by Ireland's World Cup qualifying programme, even if Ulster will not be handicapped quite as much as Leinster and Munster. Ulster have also been given the toughest European draw, being pitted with the new French champions, Biarritz, a star-studded Northampton side who were easily the second best side in England last season after Christmas under Wayne Smith, and Wales' most illustrious outfit, Cardiff, who will be mindful of their mugging in Ravenhill last season.

"So while it's quite right to have higher expectations of us, a good season would be to make those play-offs in the Celtic League and then we've got to play from there. As far as Europe is concerned, we have a tough draw, so I would like to think that it will be a cut-throat, competitive section. The problem is whoever finishes second is unlikely to make the quarter-finals, even though it will be a better achievement than finishing second in some other sections. No-one can convince me that six pools of four can produce a fair quarter-final line-up. Quite why there aren't four pools of six, with more games for everyone and the top two in each group going through, escapes me."

INS: Neil McMillan, Neil Doak, Paul Shields, Matt McCullough, Scott Young (all upgraded to full contracts), Robbie Kempson (Western Province/Stormers), Matt Sexton (Canterbury Crusaders), Warren Brosnihan (Natal Sharks).

OUTS: Niall Malone (Bangor player-coach), John Campbell, Michael Haslett, Richie Weir, Mark Crick (all uncontracted), Paddy Johns (retired), Aidan Kearney (Leinster), Brad Free (USA).

ULSTER FIXTURES

30th August: Celtic League - v Ebbw Vale (a), (7.15)

6th September: Celtic League - v Edinburgh (h) 7.30.

14th September: Celtic League - v Swansea (a) 2.30.

20/21st September: Celtic League - v Neath (h).

27/28th September: Celtic League - (and interpros) v Munster (h).

5th October: Celtic League - v Caerphilly (a) 3.00.

12th October: Heineken Cup - v Northampton (a) 3.00.

18th October: Heineken Cup - v Cardiff (h) 7.15.

25/26th October: Celtic League - v Llanelli (h).

30/31st October: Celtic League - Quarter-finals

6/7th December: Heineken Cup - v Biarritz (h).

14th December: Heineken Cup - v Biarritz (a) 6.30.

4/5/6th January: Celtic League Semi-finals.

10/11th January: Heineken Cup - v Cardiff (a).

17/18th January: Heineken Cup v Northampton (h).

1st February: Celtic League final.

5th April: Interprovincial Championship - second series.

19th April: Interprovincial Championship - third series.

LAST SEASON: Played 17, Won 11, Drew 1, Lost 5. Points for 478. Points against 378.

LEADING POINTS SCORER: David Humphreys 204, Paddy Wallace 88.

LEADING TRY SCORER: Ryan Constable 6; Tyrone Howe, Andy Ward, Humphreys 4 each.