Ulster Rugby v London Wasps

ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST @RODNAWN1

renowned for their attacking firepower. And with Louis Ludik, Darren Cave, Paul Marshall, John Cooney, Peter Nelson and a raft of young Academy products anxious to press their claims for senior recognition Peel will be a key figure this season. Lions Rory Best and Iain Henderson will be pillars of the pack, with Wiehahn Herbst, new boy Jean Deysel, Chris Henry, Sean Reidy, Kieran Treadwell and a fully-restored Marcell Coetzee at flanker poised to fulfil their individual and collective talents in powering Ulster to the top of the Guinness PRO14 and to a really decisive impact in the Champions Cup. Wasps and Ulster will field some of their biggest ‘names’ this evening, and with competitive rugby but a fortnight away fans of each side will be looking for evidence that the summer recruitment and the weeks of pre-season training together provides genuine grounds for long-term optimism. In Ulster’s case, Les Kiss has never hidden his disappointment at the failure to bring silverware to Kingspan Stadium - in the last two seasons in particular - and he knows the frustrations which have been suffered by the PRO14’s persistently fervent and largest home support. With Gibbes, Peel, Dundon and Niall Malone his handpicked lieutenants the Director of Rugby knows that his squad of players and his management team is expected to be more than just occasionally thrillingly competitive in the new-look PRO14 and in Europe. Yes, the challenges of a very different league format, and the exotic addition of two South African teams will be considerable, particularly as other clubs have strengthened their ranks, notably Scarlets, Cardiff and, inevitably, Leinster. So this evening’s contest has real substance, players can lay down ‘markers’, coaches can come to some important judgements, and the supporters will at last have the chance to exercise their vocal chords again in urging on their favourites. Ulster must start the competitive season on the first day of September ‘running’, and the visit of

the Cheetahs that Friday evening will provide a myriad of reasons to pack Kingspan Stadium terraces and stands once more. This evening, though, look for the portents for another exciting season of action, a real step forward in the ambition to achieve world-class status in the game. That is the stated mission of Ulster Rugby, the journey should be as breathlessly spectacular as the ambition.

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