Head Coach Jono Gibbes says his side has prepared well for Sunday's crucial Champions Cup play-off versus Ospreys after a three week break between games.
Ulster’s last outing was a 24-24 draw with Munster at Thomond Park, a result that extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
Gibbes admits it has been a challenging build up to this weekend’s game but has backed his players to deliver.
“Yeah it was challenging, absolutely, but I’ve been impressed with how the players have reacted,” said the New Zealander. “Ospreys have got the same challenges. Both teams will definitely bring plenty of energy but it's just a battle to keep the best cohesion going as possible and be contact-ready. Those are the two big challenges for both Ospreys and ourselves. We’ll have to see on Sunday who has managed it the better.”
The sides met just last month at Kingspan Stadium in a game that Ulster edged 8-0, with Jacob Stockdale scoring an opportunistic 79th minute try to make the game safe. Unsurprisingly, Gibbes is expecting a more of an attacking threat from the visitors on Sunday:
“I’m not sure if we're going to get that again. I think they have built and have had 7 wins in their last 10 PRO14 games so there is a lot of quality there, similar to us. They have good internationals there and they'll try to bring their big match intensity and hold on to that because they have got international commitments around the corner as well. We're expecting a very tough match for our guys.”
While Gibbes knows the importance of the result in terms of securing Champions Cup rugby next season, he insists he wants to see a big performance from the players in what is his final game in charge.
“I’m not too fussed about me to be honest. For me, yes there is a positive consequence for winning this game and being in the Champions Cup. But what I'd like more than anything is for this group to go out showing how hard they are prepared to work for each other.
"I want them to show a lot of effort, a lot of attitude and a lot of pride in who they represent. That will give a really good last impression to hand over to next year’s group. For me that would be pretty satisfying.”
Ahead of his final PRO14 game with Ulster, Gibbes says that the quality of the competition has improved significantly since he was last involved (with Leinster from 2008-2014).
“It is improving. You you are seeing things even out and there is certainly more competitive fixtures. Zebre have certainly improved under Brads (Michael Bradley), look at Cockers (Richard Cockerill) and what he is done with Edinburgh. Scarlets and Munster are performing to a very high level and I think it's exciting.
“I know the results probably don't reflect it but the injection of the South African sides has brought enthusiasm and has brought something positive to the competition. This is my second experience of being in the league and it feels like the quality of the competition has gone up remarkably.”
Tickets for Ulster v Ospreys are still available at ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.
Ulster’s last outing was a 24-24 draw with Munster at Thomond Park, a result that extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
Gibbes admits it has been a challenging build up to this weekend’s game but has backed his players to deliver.
“Yeah it was challenging, absolutely, but I’ve been impressed with how the players have reacted,” said the New Zealander. “Ospreys have got the same challenges. Both teams will definitely bring plenty of energy but it's just a battle to keep the best cohesion going as possible and be contact-ready. Those are the two big challenges for both Ospreys and ourselves. We’ll have to see on Sunday who has managed it the better.”
The sides met just last month at Kingspan Stadium in a game that Ulster edged 8-0, with Jacob Stockdale scoring an opportunistic 79th minute try to make the game safe. Unsurprisingly, Gibbes is expecting a more of an attacking threat from the visitors on Sunday:
“I’m not sure if we're going to get that again. I think they have built and have had 7 wins in their last 10 PRO14 games so there is a lot of quality there, similar to us. They have good internationals there and they'll try to bring their big match intensity and hold on to that because they have got international commitments around the corner as well. We're expecting a very tough match for our guys.”
While Gibbes knows the importance of the result in terms of securing Champions Cup rugby next season, he insists he wants to see a big performance from the players in what is his final game in charge.
“I’m not too fussed about me to be honest. For me, yes there is a positive consequence for winning this game and being in the Champions Cup. But what I'd like more than anything is for this group to go out showing how hard they are prepared to work for each other.
"I want them to show a lot of effort, a lot of attitude and a lot of pride in who they represent. That will give a really good last impression to hand over to next year’s group. For me that would be pretty satisfying.”
Ahead of his final PRO14 game with Ulster, Gibbes says that the quality of the competition has improved significantly since he was last involved (with Leinster from 2008-2014).
“It is improving. You you are seeing things even out and there is certainly more competitive fixtures. Zebre have certainly improved under Brads (Michael Bradley), look at Cockers (Richard Cockerill) and what he is done with Edinburgh. Scarlets and Munster are performing to a very high level and I think it's exciting.
“I know the results probably don't reflect it but the injection of the South African sides has brought enthusiasm and has brought something positive to the competition. This is my second experience of being in the league and it feels like the quality of the competition has gone up remarkably.”
Tickets for Ulster v Ospreys are still available at ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.