Ulster initially suffered the January blues. They lost a Guinness Pro12 match to Leinster and then, despite a defiant and gutsy four-try salvo against double European champions Toulon, could not stop the French club registering 60 points.
To compound matters, the path to the treatment table was cluttered with the infirm.
However, a 26-7 Champions Cup win over the Leicester Tigers, inspired by a Darren Cave hat-trick of tries, offered a reminder that when calibrated mentally and physically the province are capable of meeting high standards.
Escaped to victory
They escaped to victory against
Benetton
Treviso
(24-20) in
Italy
and last Friday, when hosting the same club, romped to a 43-3 success.
This weekend they make the short trip to an in-form Edinburgh side. The Scottish club, led by former Ulster coach Alan Solomons, have won their last three matches – against Glasgow Warriors 20-8, Connacht 16-13, and the league leaders at the time, the Ospreys 24-16.
Ulster outhalf Ian Humphreys understands the value of momentum, particularly at this stage of the season.
"We targeted this block of four matches during the Six Nations to try to maintain our place in the top four when the business end of the season comes around. This places an emphasis on the depth of a squad, and players coming in have to step up.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries, and while no one would deny that those players are missed, you just have to get on with it – and it offers a chance for someone else.
"Edinburgh have been in good form of late and have secured a place in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final, which is further evidence of how well they are playing.
Enough protection
“Solly [Alan Solomons] knows some of us pretty well, so they’ll be prepared. It was nice to get five points against Treviso the last day, but there were aspects of our performance that were scrappy, particularly around the breakdown. Ruan [Pienaar] didn’t get enough protection and had to dig out ball.
“Edinburgh don’t play a lot of rugby in their half so we know if we kick it down there, we’ll get the ball back. But once they get into your half, they are very physical and direct with a big back three.
“They don’t concede many tries and last weekend’s victory over the Ospreys underlines their good form.”
Ulster have welcomed promising young centre Stuart McCloskey back after injury and also a new recruit to the squad, Samoan international Mike Stanley, who has joined the Irish province on a short-term contract until the end of the season.
A nephew of the former All Black World Cup winner Joe Stanley and a cousin of Benson Stanley – who is currently with Clermont Auvergne – the Samoan has been recruited because of medium-term injuries to Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.
Parameters Nick Williams returned at the weekend to add some important ball-carrying
power. Even though Humphreys is firmly focused on the narrow parameters of this weekend, he does concede that the players occasionally discuss the massive incentive of making the Pro12 playoffs and the prospect of playing the final in their own backyard.
“It’s a huge incentive and while it’s not something we discuss on a regular basis, it does crop up from time to time. A few years ago we gave up home advantage to go down to the RDS.
“This is the first year that the final venue has been pre-determined and we’d like to mark that little bit of history by being present.
“Obviously the short-term focus is winning the matches that will allow us to achieve that goal. That starts in Murrayfield on Friday night.”
Ulster then host the Scarlets, before travelling to face the Dragons during the Six Nations.
