Will the real Ulster please stand up?
I don't know exactly how and his coaching team feel about the season so far, but from where I have been sitting, it has been something of a topsy-turvy start as have alternated between exhilarating and exasperating.
A woefully flat performance against the brought a tough response from Ulster's new coach with a few P45s brandished, resulting in a great win against the , thanks to a display of guts and sheer bloody-mindedness.
Onward and upward?
Well, it was just that for the opening half hour against , last year's Magners runners up. What a joy to see Ulster's latest Lion, Stephen Ferris in majestic form, and his early try sent the fans at a new-look Ravenhill into raptures. And when Clinton Schifcofske got Ulster's second try, we all thought that it was done and dusted.
Ian Humphreys' shortcomings with the boot cost Ulster dear as the ever-reliable Chris Paterson popped them over from all angles, and there was a lot of head shaking as a great chance to secure valuable league points, especially at home, went a-begging.
Ferris, incidentally, was pretty explicit when it came to his assessment of how the game was lost, Should he have been as openly critical of Humphreys' failure to kick the goals that might have nailed a win?
Games against have become doubly significant, given Heineken Cup qualification is dependent on Magners League performances. So last Friday's win in Galway was crucial.
More inventive with ball in hand, thanks in no small part to the return of Paddy Wallace at inside centre, Ulster were far too creative for Connacht and, with a strong set piece, McLaughlin's men deserved their bonus point win.
Oh, and let's not forget that Ian Humphreys, who varied his game very cleverly, kicked a couple of vital penalties!
But, can they maintain that momentum when they play the Scarlets at Ravenhill on Friday night?
The Scarlets won in Belfast a year ago, and look a better side than last season, despite their three losses to date.
With the Heineken Cup opener against Bath at Ravenhill coming up, McLaughlin has a few interesting selection decisions to make, given that he has serious options in certain positions.
Does he go for Brian Young or Tom Court at loose-head prop? If Ryan Caldwell is fit again, should he displace either Ed O'Donoghue or Dan Tuohy? Assuming Stephen Ferris will come straight back in, will it be Chris Henry or Robbie Diack at number eight? Wallace or Ian Whitten at 12, Bryn Cunningham or Schifcofske at 15, and should there be a starting place for Andrew Trimble?
Roll on Friday!
You can hear commentator Jim Neilly's coverage of Ulster v Scarlets live on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Ulster medium wave and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport website, kick-off is at 1905 BST.
Hello, I'm Jim Neilly and I have been covering Ulster and Irish rugby for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ for 30 years. I also cover boxing for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Television.
