Ulster's Defence Coach, Jonny Bell, told the pre-match media briefing that the team will hope to use the momentum from last week's 19-17 victory against Cardiff, as the province hunt down the top eight of the URC.
On importance of this Friday
“This game is hugely important. The nature of the results last weekend didn’t work out in our favour- Ospreys winning, Munster and Edinburgh winning, its such a competitive league. You can quickly jump up or jump down, a win this weekend would be great for us."
On injuries
“Obviously Friday night took it’s toll. James Hume suffered a significant knee injury and we are gutted about that. Steven Kitshoff has had an MCL injury, so that means the end of his time here, so hugely disappointing for him and his wife but they have decided to move back, get surgery in South Africa and prep there.
So we wish him all the very best and no doubt will see him in the future over in Cape Town. A significant number of injuries that have hurt us but we’ll manage with the great group that we have."
Opportunities for players
"Its tough, you are trying to get familiarity and combinations in the side. It's tough on cohesion with injuries.
One person’s misfortune is another player's opportunity, so the guys who are coming in are fresh and excited to play."
Bring the noise under the Friday night lights!
The Ulstermen need your support this Friday, as they take on Italian high-flyers, Benetton Rugby, at Kingspan Stadium. With URC play-off rugby at stake, this match is sure to be a pivotal clash at the business end of the season. Grab your tickets using the link below:
On fans support at home
"The fans were great last week. They were behind us, encouraged us and they got loud when we put pressure on Cardiff. That got us over the line on the evening. We know we aren’t perfect at the moment, we aren’t blind to that but we need their support.
We are trying to get better each week and have some young guys who are working very hard, they are a bit inexperienced but they want to come out, put the jersey on and represent Ulster."
Benetton challenge
"They are cohesive and should have a lot of Italy internationals playing. They have a big forward pack, big ball carriers and explosive backs, so they will be dangerous for us.
We have to make sure we don’t give them opportunity to go to their strengths, playing in our 22 and try to frustrate them. It's exciting and the type of game you want. We had two good training days this week where I feel we have fixed up a few things."
Ulster back row player, Marcus Rea, says that Friday night offers the team an opportunity to chase down the play-off places, with only a small number of points separating Ulster from Friday's opposition, who sit in fifth position in the URC table.
Importance of Cardiff win
“I think mentally it’s week-by-week, the Cardiff game was beneficial to us. We didn’t play our best rugby but at least we showed the fight needed. It’s going to be imperative against Benetton this week and when we go away to Munster, that we know we have that fight there."
Coping with injuries and schedule
"A lot of the guys who have played have had a lot of game-time. Mentally it can wear you down and you might not be as sharp as you would want to be. The energy around the squad has been brilliant, it helps pick people up and seeing the younger guys around helps."
League position
"Wins are imperative to us, what else goes on whether it's bonus points, a slip up from a team ahead of us, those things are out of our control. We have to look at ourselves, review and get better every week."
Benetton threat
"We have seen them progress this season, get some really good results and they are in their position for a reason. They have great players in the backlines and in the pack as well. They play an expansive brand of rugby so it's important for us to get our defensive structures right and deal with it."
Scott Wilson spoke to the media for the first time since the young tighthead prop signed a new two-year development deal with the province. Wilson touched on his time away with the team in South Africa, his development and balancing rugby with his university studies.
On his breakthrough season so far
“At the start of the season I had the goal of getting one cap and I got that about two weeks after we made that target! I’m just trying to take it week by week, day by day. It’s been a big step-up from what I’m used to, especially on the body. Managing that with university studies has been challenging, it will be a big relief when that is out of the way!"
Support and guidance from coaches
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with the coaches when we were in South Africa. There have been times when I have felt out of my depth but I have known Richie (Murphy) for a long time from Ireland U20s. I kept in contact with him and he has given me all his faith and he believes in what I am doing.
It’s about me going out and showing what I’m capable of doing. Being a young guy and at times feeling a little out of my depth, he takes time each week, sits down with me for five minutes each week and has a chat with me each week about how I’m getting on.
There are lots of things I still need to work on but all the coaches are all giving me things I can work on each week."
Study challenges
"I’m studying Health and Physical Activity in Sport and have my dissertation next week! It’s been difficult, especially at this part of the year with exams coming up.
I stay in contact with the guys from Queens University and haven’t had a chance to get to as many lectures, but I stay in contact and they have been great with my academic flexibility. Also, going away to South Africa and France there have been very little in-person lectures but they have been very lenient!"
His thoughts on Benetton
"It's a big game. They are a big, dominant side who like to dominate at the set-piece. That's also something we have been going after with Fogs coming in as scrum coach.
I’m looking forward to another game at home, we had a tight win last week but hopefully we can finish some more opportunities this Friday and make our fans proud."