Ricky Andrew starts at fullback for Ulster against Zebre tomorow. Last week he came off the bench for the injured Michael Allen and had an excellent game, making some great runs and playing a big role in the 41 points to 17 win over Edinburgh. He has fond memories of playing against Zebre as he scored a try against the Italian team at Ravenhill last season. We caught up with the Ballymena man ahead of the game at Stadio XXV Aprile. Was it difficult to be thrown into the game so early last ...
Ricky Andrew starts at fullback for Ulster against Zebre tomorow. Last week he came off the bench for the injured Michael Allen and had an excellent game, making some great runs and playing a big role in the 41 points to 17 win over Edinburgh. He has fond memories of playing against Zebre as he scored a try against the Italian team at Ravenhill last season. We caught up with the Ballymena man ahead of the game at Stadio XXV Aprile.
Was it difficult to be thrown into the game so early last week?
When you have two international class wingers - Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy alongside you, they make it a bit easier for you when you have to come on that early. Edinburgh seemed to keep kicking the ball to us, but things went well, I made a few runs and I was happy. Hopefully,there will be more of the same this weekend.
How do you rate the challenge posed by Zebre?
I played against them twice last year, so this will be the third time. They are far from easy. It was really tough when we played them in Italy last year. They have all their internationals back and they have been very close this season to claiming a few crucial wins, but they have just lost out a couple of times. They are definitely a team on the up and they will be looking to get our scalp. It will be a tough match but we are looking to go over there and to do a job and try to come away with four points.
How important is it to get the win?
We had a break there, then some of our internationals came back in last week and we had a great win. We just need to get the momentum going ahead of next week and the return of the Heineken Cup. We need to get a good win and to try and to get as many points as we can. There are more guys coming back from international duty and it will good for them to get some more game time too ahead of the Treviso match.
Last season you had a great run in the first team - is the aim simply to get more game time this season?
Of course - it is a very difficult team to even get a chance in. There are international players, there are British and Irish Lions on the team, so it is difficult to get in there and to get a spot. When you do get a chance it is important to be on top of your game. However, having said that, it isn't something that I get anxious about - I just try and go out there and enjoy it as much as I can as I am playing with friends all around me.
Ricky Andrew starts at fullback for Ulster against Zebre tomorow. Last week he came off the bench for the injured Michael Allen and had an excellent game, making some great runs and playing a big role in the 41 points to 17 win over Edinburgh. He has fond memories of playing against Zebre as he scored a try against the Italian team at Ravenhill last season. We caught up with the Ballymena man ahead of the game at Stadio XXV Aprile.
Was it difficult to be thrown into the game so early last week?
When you have two international class wingers - Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy alongside you, they make it a bit easier for you when you have to come on that early. Edinburgh seemed to keep kicking the ball to us, but things went well, I made a few runs and I was happy. Hopefully,there will be more of the same this weekend.
How do you rate the challenge posed by Zebre?
I played against them twice last year, so this will be the third time. They are far from easy. It was really tough when we played them in Italy last year. They have all their internationals back and they have been very close this season to claiming a few crucial wins, but they have just lost out a couple of times. They are definitely a team on the up and they will be looking to get our scalp. It will be a tough match but we are looking to go over there and to do a job and try to come away with four points.
How important is it to get the win?
We had a break there, then some of our internationals came back in last week and we had a great win. We just need to get the momentum going ahead of next week and the return of the Heineken Cup. We need to get a good win and to try and to get as many points as we can. There are more guys coming back from international duty and it will good for them to get some more game time too ahead of the Treviso match.
Last season you had a great run in the first team - is the aim simply to get more game time this season?
Of course - it is a very difficult team to even get a chance in. There are international players, there are British and Irish Lions on the team, so it is difficult to get in there and to get a spot. When you do get a chance it is important to be on top of your game. However, having said that, it isn't something that I get anxious about - I just try and go out there and enjoy it as much as I can as I am playing with friends all around me.