RUGBY: SAVE FOR the media presence – a twofold increase on the semi-final, threefold on the quarter-final and about a fourfold rise in the normal attendance at Ulster's weekly briefings in the PSNI's Newforge sports complex – you'd hardly have suspected the biggest game in European club rugby was almost upon them. Back to full strength, all was serenity and sunlight.
Refreshed from their week at a Portuguese training camp, which was as much about escaping the hype and build-up as mimicking match scenarios with a two-week build-up to Saturday’s Heineken Cup final against the holders Leinster at Twickenham, players and coaches were wheeled out for fully an hour, amiably and politely chatting and posing for all and sundry.
They appear to be in a nice place.
“We had a few good days away and got away from things,” said their highly-regarded backs coach Neil Doak. “The weather was superb and it seems like we picked a good week to get away because the weather here was pretty atrocious. We’ve come back to a little bit of sunshine.”
“To be honest,” added Doak, laughing, “I’m actually quite surprised how relaxed the players are. It seems as if it’s just another game at the end of week, which is good from one point of view, and I think the players have had the experience of the crowds and the hype of a semi-final, and once we get to Twickenham and get the emotions and the atmosphere there, I think people will start to realise how big a game it is, and hopefully on the day we can cope with that.”
Asked if they had enjoyed their “holiday”, Johann Muller smiled knowingly when declaring: “It wasn’t a holiday.”
The captain acknowledged Leinster’s semi-final had left them sore and licking some wounds, but also left them “nice and sharp”.
“That’s one of the reasons we went down to Portugal for some contact work to keep it as close to game-related as possible. We did a huge amount of work in Portugal”.
John Afoa and Chris Henry, suspended and injured for the semi-final, are both back in harness, with Henry having taken virtually a full part in yesterday’s session.
McLaughlin, the one-time Ireland assistant coach, also noted “wild horses wouldn’t hold back” Brian O’Driscoll from the final, which he welcomed. “You don’t want to see anybody injured. These are the days everyone dreams of playing in and you wouldn’t wish anyone to miss an occasion like this.”
McLaughlin spoke about the excitement in the camp, with training “a step up” this week, and furthering the sense they are in a good place, when Muller spoke of there being more pressure on the reigning champions and referred to Leinster as “overwhelming favourites” and later “massive favourites”, it was so blatant it even drew a smile from McLaughlin.
That said, the hugely influential skipper added: “We’ve got one goal, and one goal only, and that’s to go to Twickenham on Saturday to win. It’s not to make up the numbers, and that we’re happy to play in the final. Yes, it’s a good achievement but in saying that we haven’t achieved anything yet. I think it would be really disappointing if we end this season without any silverware.”
Muller has played in Currie Cup and Super 14 finals, and was an unused replacement in the 2007 World Cup final, “but to be honest, this is right up there, if not the biggest. In the World Cup I played every now and then, whereas this has been a team effort, and I’ve been involved in every single game and captain. I’m personally so excited I can’t wait for Saturday and hopefully everything goes according to plan”.
McLaughlin agreed the “derby factor” made it more of a one-off, this being their sixth meeting in three seasons, although he noted – perhaps with encouragement given Leinster have won those six – “it’s probably the first time, in my time, both teams are going to be at full-strength, so from our point of view, we’re looking forward to it”.
And why not? At full-strength, Ulster have beaten Leicester and Clermont at home – potential champions of England and France – as well as almost beating Clermont away, before storming the Thomond citadel in the quarter-finals.
He described Leinster as a smashing side. “They’re ruthless. Their set-piece is exceptionally strong, they hold on to the ball very well, they’ve got good players in key positions throughout the team. They’ve proved their worth. No teams win Heineken Cups easily, as we can verify, and we’ve just got to keep our feet on the ground and show what we’re capable of.”
To that end, McLaughlin reckons they’ll have to perform at the level they achieved in Thomond Park. “And probably a little bit better as well. But I’ve no doubt the players here are more than capable of performing at that level and going one step further. They are a very talented bunch and these are the places they want to be, at the very top.”
Drawing on his Ravenhill experiences, a smiling Muller suggested: “I’m sure the Ulster supporters will be a little bit louder than Leinster’s supporters. A full house at Twickenham will be special.” His own family are travelling over from South Africa, as are Ruan Pienaar’s and Stefan Terblanche’s.
“I think it’s cheaper to fly from South Africa to London than it is from Belfast,” observed McLaughlin.
