After Ulster soaked up a hard fought 19-14 Bank of Ireland Pre-Season Friendly win against Glasgow at Kingspan Breffni Park, Ulster's Head Coach, sat down with the local media to discuss what his side learned from a performance point of view and his experience of a memorable day at the home of Cavan GAA.
Analysis of the match
"I really enjoyed the fact that we got an attritional game against a very physical side. We will have learned a lot about the importance of quick- ball and adapting to the style of tackle from the defence they had. They made it difficult for us to get quick ball, with their choke tackles and high tackles. As the game went on we got better at being quicker with our ball-carriers and support players. I also felt they got away with making tackles in the area where our scrum-half was, which prevented us from getting the quick ball out. That made it stop-start.
On a couple of occasions in second half we got on top of them, had some quick ball and were able to penetrate well. For the amount of pressure we had in the game, in their 22 we need to be more ruthless. That doesn’t worry me as last year we were one of the best teams at that. Going forward we will be clinical in our maul and make sure we score when we are in there."
On pre-season preparations
"We have split everybody over the four games, players have played bits and pieces. The collision side of the game is vital to building fitness, it’s not something you do to that level in training, you can’t validly do that in training. We know from those in our athletic performance team that these games are the biggest wear on guy’s fitness. We are unbelievably fit in terms of our running capacity, it’s the physical nature of the game that makes it really tough. It will help come to the start of the season."
On visiting Cavan and playing at a GAA ground
"I thought it was brilliant from the moment we arrived, even the bus into the stadium, seeing the people there, smiles on faces, waving, clapping up us on the way in, the choir from Cavan Rugby Club welcoming us in, I loved that and it added to a real sense of occasion. It was a great day- a big part of of today was coming to a Gaelic ground, coming to a different part of the province and showing what we are about.
We are a very diverse group, we have people from all over the rugby world, over the island of Ireland and come from all different communities. Through Rugby our common goal is a special bond for us, it cuts through a lot of the differences. We are proud of that."
The Bank of Ireland Player of the Match, Dave Ewers, spoke about the game after the former Exeter Chiefs man scored his first try for his new club and the club's first ever try at a Gaelic ground.
On playing in Cavan
"It was an awesome experience, it was nice seeing the locals here, who probably haven’t had the experience of coming up the road to Belfast. For us as a club its massively important to make that effort to come to Cavan and we recently looked into the history of the province. There was great support for us and it felt like a debut at home, away from home!
On the new season starting soon and playing at Kingspan Stadium
"I can’t wait. It will be a special occasion for me as when I was growing up in Zimbabwe, you grow up looking up to teams like the Vodacom Bulls. Having them at home, my first home game at Ulster will be a special experience."
On settling into Ulster
"It’s been challenging, adapting to how things are done here, the boys have been brilliant in terms of being welcoming and explaining how they do things. It takes good character to show that and its been a massive learning curve. Today wasn’t perfect for me and I’ve still got a lot stuff to correct but the boys are keeping me on the straight and narrow.
Belfast? I love it, my partner Liv and I had a little one recently, so a lot of change for me but the the boys have been very welcoming."