Matt Williams' status as favourite to fill the vacancy as Ulster coach caused by the resignation of Mark McCall last month has apparently hardened. The Australian's appointment is likely to come closer to fruition after a round of interviews this week which is also believed to include Gareth Jenkins.
Williams has an expansive and largely impressive CV as one-time coach of the New South Wales Waratahs, Leinster and Scotland. He has been out of coaching since being released by the Scottish RFU over two years ago after a difficult time in charge of their national side but enjoyed rich success in galvanising Leinster during his three years in charge there after an initially productive stint as backs' coach.
He revolutionised their approach, making them a much more professional outfit, and took them on a 19-match winning streak in the 2001-02 season, including a victory over Munster in the final of the inaugural Celtic League and the quarter-finals of the Heineken European Cup. The following season Williams guided Leinster to the semi-finals of the European Cup but departed after defeat to Perpignan to take up the Scottish job.
If ever a team looks in dire need of a swift appointment and a resolution to the 17 or 18 players out of contract at the end of the season, it is Ulster. Friday night at home to the Ospreys certainly witnessed an improvement, notably in a more aggressive defence. Yet the lack of togetherness, leadership and spirit remains palpable.
Compared to Jenkins after his unhappy stint with Wales, Williams looks the better fit, being regarded as a better technical coach and the kind of personality who could galvanise a wounded and slightly divided dressing-room, and word from Ulster is that the decision-making panel of Neilly Jackson, Cecil Watson and Michael Reid think so as well.
Meanwhile, France centre Yannick Jauzion is doubtful for their Six Nations opener against Scotland in early February after sustaining a fractured hand in Toulouse's European Cup win over Leicester. "Yannick underwent an X-ray today (Monday) which showed that two metacarpi were fractured. The doctors said he would be sidelined for 45 days," said Toulouse team manager Guy Noves.
