BALANCING ACT

Would I be right in saying that seven players is the biggest Ulster contingent on the Ireland team for a very long time? Genuine question by the way, I don’t know for sure, but that’s the most Ulster players I can remember being in an Ireland squad from the province up north.

The good thing is, they all performed well. I’ve already heard plenty of excuses for the performance this week: “It’s only Scotland.” True, the away side ran around the Aviva pitch without much of a purpose for about three-quarters of that match, but even so, you can only play what’s in front of you, and deservedly Ireland took the two points this week.

It was a game that was always a potential banana skin for Ireland. With Scotland having won the last three meetings between the two sides, there was always that niggling doubt in the back of Ireland fans’ minds even with the home advantage. However the doubt was misplaced – Scotland threatened I think once in the entire eighty minutes, and but for the accurate kicking of Greig Laidlaw, they would have gone home with no points to show for their half-hearted efforts.

Nevertheless, Ireland did have a few stand-out performers (and please excuse me if my slight Ulster bias shows!). In the back row both Peter O’Mahony and Chris Henry were imperious at the breakdown. From the first minute to the last they were effecting turnovers and providing quick ball for Conor Murray, who is my third stand-out performer. For a while he was criticised for being too slow with his passing, but alongside Sexton (who was also good) he controlled the game from half-back. It was very good to see Trimble score as well having made his first start for Ireland in a long time (well overdue too).

But the two best performers of the game were Cian Healy and Dan Tuohy. Healy was his rampaging best, making yards with ball in hand and being destructive in the scrum too. He’s widely touted as the best loosehead prop in the world. With a performance like that, you would be a fool to argue. On the other hand, Tuohy was thrust into the game on Sunday morning after Paul O’Connell went down with an infection, and he didn’t disappoint. Imperious at the line-out, fervent at the breakdown, and also making his fair share of yards with ball in hand too, Tuohy proved that he belonged in that Ireland 23.

Wales are next up for Ireland, and despite the win, improvements will have to be made. Wales are a much more serious prospect than the Scots, and with England losing to France at the weekend, it’s a great chance for Ireland to knock another Grand Slam rival down out of the running. Wales are there for the taking though, Italy came pretty close to it and but for one horrible defensive error, there could have been a huge shock at the Millennium Stadium.

However, a good start to Schmidt’s Six Nations campaign, and if the performance is raised by 10% then another win should be on the cards come Saturday.

Domestic demons

Ulster vs. Ospreys is usually a very good fixture. Usually very closely contested too, especially the games at Ravenhill. So you will excuse me for feeling semi-optimistic for this Friday’s game.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still think Ulster will win. Hopefully by more than seven points too, denying the Ospreys a losing bonus point would be brilliant. But the Ospreys are a dogged team – they can drag teams down a level while still maintaining their own and if they are allowed to come to Ravenhill and play rugby then they will be a real handful. Their back line has been left rather intact by Wales, and they are lethal – Eli Walker and Richard Fussell being two of the best attacking players in the Pro12.

This is probably the most Ulster have ever been decimated by call-ups, and our strength in depth will be severely tested over the next few weeks. However, we can still call upon the influential duo of Pienaar and Muller, and we will need all of that experience and talent to see off one of our title rivals.

It will be a great match, as every Ulster-Ospreys game tends to be. I still wish they would schedule it so that this match doesn’t take place during international breaks – imagine the crowds this game would pull if it was two full strength teams battling it out near the end of the season.

Ah well, a man can dream – instead we can look forward to two slightly under-strength teams fighting it out for third place in the league as the race for the play-offs begins to heat up. Expect some big hits, big plays, and hopefully some big scoring too, as Pro12 rugby returns to Ravenhill!