HEINEKEN CUP: IF THE Ulster team were a building it would be purposeful and sober.
Like the Portland stone of Stormont that on a bright day flashes across the sprawl of east Belfast to the old Stand at Ravenhill, Ulster is a side of measured dimensions.
Wearing the Andy Warhol- inspired pink uniform of Stade Francais would take them far beyond their comfort zone; the showbiz veneer of the Parisian team’s impresario owner, Max Guazzini would be far too high a left-field wattage for the Ravenhill faithful.
The Ulster players have never been about dating Uber-babes or posing nude for calendars like the Stade beef-cakes have done but go to work with understated flair and efficiency. They draw the curtains on ostentation. Paddy Wallace once dyed his hair blond but it is his scars that sit easier with Ulster folk, those and the courageously worn Rasputin beard of Ian Humphreys.
Then you wonder why, after the Heineken Cup final against Colomiers in 1999, did Ulster stop performing in the most important European tournament of all. Harry Williams, Alan Solomons, Mark McCall and Matt Williams came and went as coaches with just a Celtic League and a Celtic Cup to show.
Colomiers sits in Ulster’s history as a monument to both potential and squandered years. Coach Brian McLaughlin says he does not like looking back but as an honest broker he must do so occasionally and can hardly like what they sees.
Since that historic Heineken Cup win at Lansdowne Road, Ulster have played 60 matches, won 23, lost 35 and haven’t once reached the knockout stages of the competition. Ten years corralled in the pool does not, like many other things, sit easy with those who push the turnstiles in Belfast. But even since last year, when McLaughlin arrived with helping hands there has been a discernible change in mood.
“I think the self-belief and the way we’re playing has changed,” says Simon Danielli. “I think we’re playing a good brand of rugby. We’ve brought a variety to our game. We need that against different opposition. I think the belief is there that if we play well we know we can be a match for any side . . . .”
“It’s just that self-belief that has helped us get some big wins. We weren’t expected to beat Stade Francais last weekend, we weren’t expected to beat Ospreys away earlier in the season in the Magners League. I think other teams are now saying that Ulster are a very tough team to play against,” adds the Scotland and Ulster winger.
“It’s not our overriding drive but obviously we haven’t got out of our group in ten years. As a club we believe we have the ability to do that.”
Danielli, has been with Ulster for a couple of seasons now. Edinburgh-born, the Cheltenham student and Oxford graduate in religion and philosophy signed for Richmond when he was a student, largely to fund his less disciplined undergraduate years in Trinity. Then a series of clubs brought him on. Bristol, Bath and three years with the now defunct Border Reivers took him to the notice of the former Irish centre and Ulster coach, Mark McCall. He arrived in Belfast in 2007.
“You never know where fate might take you,” he says optimistically.
“I’m recently married to a northern Irish girl, Olivia. I’m loving the place, obviously at a rugby level and also in terms of a life-changing experience. When I arrived in Belfast, I loved it. Outside of rugby I found it a great place to come to. Very friendly people, an easy place to settle.
“Borders for three years was a great experience. We over-achieved for what we had. Every year there were talks of disbandment and cuts to the budget. It was a massive change arriving here.
“But this season in Ulster a number of coaches came in. There has been a transition. The start of the season was fresh management across the floor with Jeremy (Davidson) in and Neil Doak taking more of a coaching role and David Humphreys switching from the business side to more of a director of rugby type position. Brian is an approachable guy. He’s good to the players but when you cross the pitch in training he’s really intense, tells you exactly what he wants, how he sees the game . . .”
McLaughlin’s simplicity worked against Stade last week. A pack that competed furiously at the breakdown earned more than its share of turnover ball. They worked the French team into a frothy head of ill-temper and indignation and showed how toil and grind can sparkle too.
Stade didn’t like it and disgracefully targeted Stephen Ferris, the flanker who suggested afterwards that you can punch him or stand on him but not stick your fingers in his eyes. Julien Dupuy and David Attoub paid a heavy price for that.
The defeat combined with the Ferris attack leaves Ulster on the moral high ground, with momentum and although quietly seething about the assault on one of their most valuable players, they know Dupuy’s moment of madness arrived at the tail-end of a calamitous visit and after Ulster had entirely nullified the Stade threat on the pitch.
“When you get a French side that aren’t going to win they do resort to aggro and get frustrated,” says the 30-year-old.
“I don’t think any team is going out with vendettas but they will be smarting that they did get beaten when they didn’t expect to . . . They’ll be really fired up having taken criticism from the media, so it’s going to be . . . definitely a stiffer challenge.”
McLaughlin has preached a basic approach, a work ethic and responsibility among the players. The narrow margins that win rugby games can turn on many things and bigger hearts, discipline and organisation can challenge reputation or quick hands and feet. Stade will roll out the can-can girls, the jousting and fireworks but Ulster won’t blink.
“They’ll bring a fair few fans and try to convert a fan base there,” says Danielli of the King Baudoin Stadium venue. “It’s definitely out of their comfort zone, almost neutral territory and we’ve got to try and capitalise on that.” They don’t do pink or ‘emotionally isolating’ chic-nude pics with celebrity photographers. But with more pragmatism than fanfare or pizzazz they will bring a little bit of Ulster to Brussels.
