Monday 25 January, 2021
The Ulster wing has shown his promise in three starts over recent weekends.
The second row admits it’s ‘surreal’ but the games importance is writ large for the reigning champions.
Leinster are in the unfamiliar position of looking up at Ulster in the standings ahead of Friday’s showdown.
Dan McFarland and Ulster’s attention switched to the RDS immediately after last night’s win over Munster.
Ulster scored two first-half tries, but were unable to build their way to a bonus point. Instead, Munster grabbed a late losing bonus.
The English side have brought back most of their frontliners for the clash at Kingsholm.
The northern province travel to Gloucester in a bid to rebound from last weekend’s defeat to Toulouse.
The Ulster head coach’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
The second row’s injury is major blow for Ulster in their Champions Cup pool campaign.
John Cooney and Ian Madigan fill the half-back roles in Murrayfield.
Billy Burns made an impact during his cameo off the bench last weekend in Twickenham.
The Ulster scrum-half admits building relationships in a squad is difficult when time in their company is so limited.
The 22-year-old kept a high tempo throughout the 9-try demolition of Zebre, Ulster’s sixth straight win.
Ulster’s 22-year-old Michael Lowry is comfortable at either out-half or fullback.
The academy back has impressed off the bench in recent weeks.
‘It’s probably the least I’ve ran in a game in the last month, but definitely, the most fatigued I’ve been.’
‘When your mates are texting you saying ‘Are you alright?’, you kind of know that you are getting destroyed on social media.’
Mike Lowry claimed Ulster’s crucial try in Rodney Parade.
The 23-year-old waited 18 months between his first and second Ulster caps. He is intent on building momentum for his third.
The 29-year-old has been working hard on his reads out on the edge of the defence.
Michael Lowry, Stewart Moore, and James Hume impressed against Benetton.
“If you forget about it, you won’t learn from it. When we need that hurt, we’ll use it.”
Meanwhile, John Cooney gets the nod at scrum-half ahead of Alby Matthewson.
The northern province claimed just one win in their five matches since rugby restarted in August.
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland believes who you’re with is more important than where you’re from.
The northern province were left deflated by Leinster’s complete dominance of Saturday’s final.
A tight first half could have been tighter if Ulster had made the most of their penalty chances.
The first trophy of the restarted season is up for grabs and we’re going minute-by-minute.
Rob Lyttle was nine when his native province claimed the Celtic League and craves some silverware he can lift himself.
Ulster’s Mr Saturday Night talks through his process for a dramatic winner to set up a Pro14 final against his native province.
Dan McFarland spoke passionately yesterday about the weird occasion ahead, being written off and how Ulster worked to make sure everyone knows they ‘give a shit’.
Dan McFarland’s Ulster are 10-point underdogs for the Pro14 final against Leinster.
Dan McFarland’s side have yet to show their best since rugby restarted. Tonight’s the night they must change that.
Dan McFarland questioned whether he was putting enough emphasis on Ulster’s ball possession in contact. But he is willing to change quickly.
The Ulster boss found reason to be optimistic through his team’s second-half showing when they pulled within a score of Leinster.
Both sides are qualified for the Pro14 semi-finals, but the players involved will be keen to stake a claim.
The Ireland wing has been getting test runs at 15 for his province.
Ulster’s first game back ‘won and lost on the sofa last night,’ says head coach Dan McFarland.
It’s time for provinces west and north to re-enter rugby and we’re going minute-by-minute.
Dan McFarland won’t be caught complaining if Ulster force their way tosix consecutive massive matches in the six weeks ahead.
