I've seen Ulster play quite a bit this season. I go to as many matches as I can: I'd say I'm a pretty good supporter. I went to the semi-final, but missed both Toulouse games because work took me away. But I'd say I would have seen about half of the games during the season.

I think a lesson has been learned over the past year or so. The whole problem I think was tied up with the way the English Rugby Union was behaving. The English clubs were able to attract the big-name players because that is where the money was. What they were doing was buying. But they were not clubs in the real sense. Take Bath or Saracens. They have players from all over the world. You cannot identify them with a particular area in the way you used to. They're all nationalities.

There is no way that Northern Ireland sides, who, it has to be said, are not as parochial as they used to be, could compete against that.

I know a lot of people have said that this year . . . well, of course there are no English clubs involved in the European Cup and that's true. English sides certainly have very big packs and that would be hard to deal with, but in time I think we can.

I'm particularly happy that the other three nations dug their heels in recently regarding the RFU. I think the fact that players now are coming back to Ulster is the reason we have a good side. Clubs worked with Ulster to bring the players back and although we are still missing those players of the calibre of Jeremy Davidson and Paddy Johns, it is important that Ulster should build now on what they've got.

If we can provide meaningful contracts for players - rugby is no longer a part-time game and I'm sorry about that but I'd also be sorry if we were left out of the loot - then we will hold on to them.

The other thing I think is important is that there is now a passion for Ulster rugby that could not be matched by any club. Ultimately this will be good because Munster, Leinster and Connacht will have to compete at that level and they will have to improve to do so. I think this is good for the game and it means that Ireland will start to move into the real world of international rugby.

I'll be in Lansdowne Road if the good Lord spares me - along with 48,000 other souls. No, I wouldn't miss it and I hope that people who have never been to a rugby match will go. But I hope they will remain with Ulster through thick and thin rather than just turn up because of the level of this match.

But even more important is the fact that at youth level there are new role models. You'll begin to see that coming through in the next decade or so and that can only be good for the game of rugby.

Ken Maginnis in conversation with Johnny Watterson