Ulster's Video Analyst and Skills Coach, Niall Malone, says the team are looking to capitalise on Saracens' first defeat of the season, inflicted by Harlequins in the Premiership last weekend.
He admitted that he and the other Ulster coaches were surprised that the London side has just suffered its first defeat of the season, and though many will feel that will be a spur, Malone believes the manner of Quins’ victory could be significant.
“We thought Harlequins played quite an expansive game, and we’re pretty good when we play like that. Saracens usually contain sides, and they didn’t against Quins. So, yes, we thought they’d win, but they didn’t, but we still know they will be strong on Saturday.”
Malone has great respect for Saracens and the style of rugby they play. “I hear some people say they’re boring, I don’t buy that at all. They’re very consistent, play the same home and away, and Mark McCall deserves incredible credit for what he’s achieved there.
“His sides don’t just beat teams they usually comprehensively beat teams. I think he’s the architect of the success they’ve had. I was playing here at Ulster when he was starting out as a coach, and he’s done so well to create the Saracens we know,” says the former Ulster and Ireland outhalf.
Reflecting on Ulster’s home defeat at the hands of the English Premiership champions back in November, Malone said: “They have a great kicking game - it might be simplistic but it’s incredibly effective. When they won here at Kingspan Stadium in November we were ahead after 57 minutes.
“They kick the ball in behind, and they exposed us in that game, but hopefully this weekend our backfield will be better protected.
“We didn’t threaten their line enough in the first game, we contained them and matched them for 60 minutes, so we’ve been looking at this week putting more pressure on them in their 22,” says Malone.
“We’re hoping to win this weekend, we really are, and obviously we’ve looked at the situation in the pools and qualifying for the quarter-finals. Against Oyonnax, we felt as if we’d regained four points rather than lost five points which was a possibility at half-time.
“Last year 17 points was enough to get through, we have 13 at the moment, so with two matches left, we’re not in a bad position. Looking at the tables I personally don’t think 17 will will be enough this season, so the next two games are huge.
“We’re preparing to win at Saracens, and if that didn’t happen we’d definitely want a losing bonus, but we’re thinking much more positively than that.
“There’s the possibility we could still get enough out of the last game against Oyannax here on Saturday week to get through, but it’s all guesswork,” Malone said, insisting that the focus of the entire squad was to win at Saracens.
“There’s real positivity about after a really strange day in Oyannax, but we’ve all learned from that experience and we showed what the players are made of in coming back from the dead, so to speak, to keep our chances very much alive in Europe.”
He admitted that he and the other Ulster coaches were surprised that the London side has just suffered its first defeat of the season, and though many will feel that will be a spur, Malone believes the manner of Quins’ victory could be significant.
“We thought Harlequins played quite an expansive game, and we’re pretty good when we play like that. Saracens usually contain sides, and they didn’t against Quins. So, yes, we thought they’d win, but they didn’t, but we still know they will be strong on Saturday.”
Malone has great respect for Saracens and the style of rugby they play. “I hear some people say they’re boring, I don’t buy that at all. They’re very consistent, play the same home and away, and Mark McCall deserves incredible credit for what he’s achieved there.
“His sides don’t just beat teams they usually comprehensively beat teams. I think he’s the architect of the success they’ve had. I was playing here at Ulster when he was starting out as a coach, and he’s done so well to create the Saracens we know,” says the former Ulster and Ireland outhalf.
Reflecting on Ulster’s home defeat at the hands of the English Premiership champions back in November, Malone said: “They have a great kicking game - it might be simplistic but it’s incredibly effective. When they won here at Kingspan Stadium in November we were ahead after 57 minutes.
“They kick the ball in behind, and they exposed us in that game, but hopefully this weekend our backfield will be better protected.
“We didn’t threaten their line enough in the first game, we contained them and matched them for 60 minutes, so we’ve been looking at this week putting more pressure on them in their 22,” says Malone.
“We’re hoping to win this weekend, we really are, and obviously we’ve looked at the situation in the pools and qualifying for the quarter-finals. Against Oyonnax, we felt as if we’d regained four points rather than lost five points which was a possibility at half-time.
“Last year 17 points was enough to get through, we have 13 at the moment, so with two matches left, we’re not in a bad position. Looking at the tables I personally don’t think 17 will will be enough this season, so the next two games are huge.
“We’re preparing to win at Saracens, and if that didn’t happen we’d definitely want a losing bonus, but we’re thinking much more positively than that.
“There’s the possibility we could still get enough out of the last game against Oyannax here on Saturday week to get through, but it’s all guesswork,” Malone said, insisting that the focus of the entire squad was to win at Saracens.
“There’s real positivity about after a really strange day in Oyannax, but we’ve all learned from that experience and we showed what the players are made of in coming back from the dead, so to speak, to keep our chances very much alive in Europe.”