RUGBY:The young Ulster backrower tells GERRY THORNLEYthat the emergence of indigenous players this season is fundamental to their success
LAST SEASON Chris Henry’s star could scarcely have risen more brightly. Having captained Ulster on numerous occasions, he was voted Ulster’s Personality of the Year, the Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year and the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Outstanding Player of the season, at the end of which he won his first cap for Ireland against Australia.
Although he had also signed a three-year deal with Ulster, the feeling persisted that the arrival of Pedrie Wannenburg would stymie his progress. But Henry’s versatility – he does pretty much everything very, very well without having blinding pace or immense physicality – has already seen him eclipse last season’s haul of 21 appearances with 24 to date for Ulster and is within two of last season’s 19 starts.
“We’ve a few guys in the backrow competing hard and I suppose, for me, being able to play in all three positions I’ve been mixed about a bit,” he admits. “You want to get as much rugby as possible and so far I’m happy to be in the mix for this week. There’s still a lot of rugby to be played this year and I want to be involved as much as possible.”
This being Ulster’s first knock-out match in the competition since they won it in 1999, the excitement within the group can only be imagined.
“Especially for the guys who have been involved a long time, this will be a special weekend. We’ve had some very dark times with Ulster over the years and had average years, and this is where we wanted to be all along. But we’re not satisfied with that. We want to keep driving forward and win trophies.”
Highly regarded by Declan Kidney and Gert Smal, Henry captained the Wolfhounds this season in the defeat to Scotland and in the win over the Saxons at Ravenhill early in February.
The night also marked another impressive step up for Nevin Spence, and Henry hails the emergence of indigenous young players this season such as Spence, prop Paddy McAllister, outside backs Craig Gilroy and Jamie Smith, and others.
“I personally believe the difference in where we are this week and having this game coming up is due to, obviously, those (South African) players coming in, but also the drive and ambition which the young kids are bringing in as well.
“A lot is down to Brian (McLaughlin) and the coaches. They’re not afraid to throw them in, and I think maybe that’s been a bit of a difference in the past years. Competition is what it’s all about. You need people on your toes keeping you driving forward and at the moment we’ve got a great squad morale.”
Captain Johann Muller is, quite simply, “a player who, when he talks, everyone listens. If there’s something going wrong on the pitch, he’ll say the right things. He won’t talk just for the sake of talking, and in the past that’s something we’ve been missing, as well as being terrific in his general form.”
Regarding Wannenburg, Henry admits: “He’s the sort of guy I personally have been trying to learn a lot off, he’s such an aggressive, big runner.”
Ulster have won six successive Magners League games for the first time since their winning campaign of 2005-06, but Henry and Ulster know they will have to step up their level of intensity from the league if they are to bring that endgame mentality into play, and earn a “home” semi-final at the Aviva against Perpignan or Toulon.
“It’s Ulster’s biggest game in 12 years but we’re trying to focus on it as the same game as usual,” says Henry.
He accepts they haven’t played to their potential yet this season, and adds: “If we’re not at the top of our game we’re not going to be anywhere near close. That’s the bottom line, that’s the honest truth. They’re extremely confrontational and we need to match that and more so.
“Away from home especially, you want to really have a go at them in the set-piece and put a lot of pressure on them. Away from home, your defence wins you games, and if we can play a bit of territory, build phases and move them around, that’s when we’re at our best.”
South African pair likely to anchor backrow for full-strength Ulster
SAVE FOR the continuing absence of Stephen Ferris – and how they’d love the Ulster bruiser for Sunday’s quarter-final against Northampton – Brian McLaughlin has named a full-strength squad. And with Ferris sidelined, backrow looks like the coach’s biggest conundrum, writes Gerry Thornley.
With the need for physicality against the ultra-direct Saints uppermost in McLaughlin’s mind, Pedrie Wannenburg looks sure to start alongside two from Willie Faloon, Chris Henry and Robbie Diack. Henry’s outstanding work-rate makes him the favourite for one of the flanker roles – that he was rested from the starting line-up in the win over the Scarlets last week is perhaps a clue. And the feeling is that Wannenburg’s fellow South African, Robbie Diack, is also set to start.
Elsewhere, with Rory Best, BJ Botha and Ian Humphreys all restored last Friday night, the team would seem to pick itself.
Tom Court, Best, Botha, Johann Muller and Dan Tuohy are likely to make up the tight five, with the two-try Humphreys – who was rusty defensively after a long lay-off but added a spark to their attack – likely to be partnered by Ruan Pienaar.
Paddy Wallace and the fast-emerging Nevin Spence should again be the midfield, with Simon Danielli and Andrew Trimble on the wings and Adam D’Arcy at fullback. The emerging Academy product Craig Gilroy, yet to play in the Cup, is pushing for a place on the bench.
ULSTER(squad v Northampton)
Forwards: Jerry Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Tom Court, BJ Botha, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Ryan Caldwell, Dan Tuohy, Johann Muller, Tim Barker, Pedrie Wannenburg, TJ Anderson, Willie Faloon, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack.
Backs: Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Ian Whitten, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Simon Danielli, Craig Gilroy, Jamie Smith, Adam D'Arcy.
