Ulster aim to follow up on Ospreys win
Last season brought unprecedented success for, with a Grand Slam, Heineken Cup, Magners League and a first ever Churchill Cup win rounding off a great year.
But with Leinster and Munster taking the European and Celtic titles respectively and contributing significantly to the Grand Slam and Churchill Cup victories, Ulster face the most challenging of seasons.
With and bounding ahead in terms of playing success and financial strength, Ulster simply cannot be contemplating, let alone settling for, a situation whereby they are scrabbling around with the and at the bottom of the Magners League table.
Munster and Leinster's financial strength has come from playing success and, with a number of Ulster players out of contract at the end of this season, it is crucial that they be retained.
was, understandably, encouraged by pre-season wins against Newcastle, Viadana, and significantly, away to Worcester, but was less than enamoured with an insipid display in the Magners' opener against the Dragons.
It was a different story against an side bulging with internationals with Ulster producing one of their best away performances in the professional era. But is it going to be a one-off as was the case with the victory over Munster last season at Thomond Park?
A season without is hard to contemplate, yet new signing Andy Kyriacou and stalwart Nigel Brady have been filling the hooker role with success and with Stephen Ferris, denied a Lions Test series because of a minor injury, back in harness against Edinburgh this weekend, and a new-look Ravenhill to catch the eye, we are back to standing up for the Ulstermen.
Let me know what you think. What do you feel would be an acceptable season for Ulster?
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.
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