"We know it's going to be tough, but if we turn up and play to our potential, we can win on Friday night and stay in the hunt," says John Andrew, captain of the Ulster A side, which takes on Bedford in the British & Irish Cup at Deramore Park, Belfast, on Friday (7.30 pm).
The hooker is excited by the prospect of leading the side, sponsored by CD Group, news given to him on Wednesday morning by Head Coach, Alex Codling.
“It’s a big honour, of course, but to be honest it doesn’t really matter who skippers the side, we’ve got to put in a performance and push for a place in the quarter-finals.
“We know what a good side Bedford is. It was perhaps a lack of concentration which let us down over there, as we were leading but went on to lose 27-18. We lost momentum and ended up chasing a game I think we should have won. They have a big pack, and they have some very good backs who like to play a bit of rugby, they’re dangerous.
“But I honestly think we can win and obviously that would keep our hopes of qualifying from the pool alive,” said Andrew, who at 25, is vastly experienced and has stepped seamlessly into the senior Ulster side when required.
“We lost to the Scarlets Premiership Select at Ballymena last month in front of a great crowd at Eaton Park. To lose that game was particularly disappointing because we got a bonus point win in Llanelli the week before.
“But at home we didn’t come to terms with the Scarlets game plan, and we’ve worked hard since and are really up for the game with Bedford.”
Ulster A lies in third position in Pool 2 of the B&I Cup, having played four games, and sits a point behind Bristol – to where the team goes for its final group game – while Friday night’s opponents, Bedford, top the table with three wins.
“The way the A side is integrated into the whole Ulster Rugby set-up is really impressive, and we have our own coaches and our own training sessions. In Alex Codling we have a coach the guys love and who’s easy to work for because he’s so meticulous and he ensures everyone knows their detail.
“Along with Kieran Campbell, we couldn’t hope for a better management team, and because the As are so important to the development of the club. We have access to the senior coaches, in fact on Wednesday they took a session with us, adding new ideas and, critically, giving everyone real confidence,” says Andrew.
“Maybe in previous years, with senior calls and a lot of changes, continuity might have been a problem, but that just isn’t the case now, and we’ve had a decent campaign so far.
“Before we haven’t been in contention for the latter stages, but a win at Deramore and we can go to Bristol with a real chance of making it through.”
He believed the close interest taken by Director of Rugby Les Kiss and his staff, helped develop the 'good vibe” around the squad at the moment. He says that can help the team to push on and qualify for the knockout stages of what he believes is an increasingly important tournament.
“On one level the fact that Kyle McCall, Rory Scholes and Alan O’Connor were playing for us at the start of the season and are now involved in Europe makes it very clear what a valuable platform the As can be.
“And that’s something Les really emphasised to us all, that the A team was a stepping stone, and he wanted to see guys put their hands up for the senior Ulster team.
“What’s really good too, is that the link with the clubs is so strong. If you perform at club level you will find yourself being called up, and my Ballymena team-mate Stephen Mulholland is an example of that, even getting a start with the seniors, and now he’s on a development contract,” said Andrew, an eloquent advocate of the fluidity within Ulster Rugby’s structures.
Although he doesn’t want to lose any focus on Friday’s all-important B&I Cup game at Deramore, he is aware that on a personal level the next couple of months might offer him another chance to be involved with the senior side.
“Obviously Rory will be involved with Ireland in the 6 Nations, and Rob Herring has been playing out of his skin and that means there could well be a hooker vacancy, in the starting line-up or on the bench.
“So it’ll be good - it puts pressure on me, Paul Jackson and Johnny Murphy, which is good, for competition brings out the best in all of us.
“And that’s why these A games are so important, to play and win as a team and perhaps, as an individual, put your hand up for the senior side.
“But just for now I want to make sure we beat Bedford on Friday night, hopefully put on a show in front of a large crowd, and push for that quarter-final place in the British & Irish Cup,” said the grounded but ambitious Andrew.
There is no admission charge at Deramore Park on Friday night and all support is welcomed.
The hooker is excited by the prospect of leading the side, sponsored by CD Group, news given to him on Wednesday morning by Head Coach, Alex Codling.
“It’s a big honour, of course, but to be honest it doesn’t really matter who skippers the side, we’ve got to put in a performance and push for a place in the quarter-finals.
“We know what a good side Bedford is. It was perhaps a lack of concentration which let us down over there, as we were leading but went on to lose 27-18. We lost momentum and ended up chasing a game I think we should have won. They have a big pack, and they have some very good backs who like to play a bit of rugby, they’re dangerous.
“But I honestly think we can win and obviously that would keep our hopes of qualifying from the pool alive,” said Andrew, who at 25, is vastly experienced and has stepped seamlessly into the senior Ulster side when required.
“We lost to the Scarlets Premiership Select at Ballymena last month in front of a great crowd at Eaton Park. To lose that game was particularly disappointing because we got a bonus point win in Llanelli the week before.
“But at home we didn’t come to terms with the Scarlets game plan, and we’ve worked hard since and are really up for the game with Bedford.”
Ulster A lies in third position in Pool 2 of the B&I Cup, having played four games, and sits a point behind Bristol – to where the team goes for its final group game – while Friday night’s opponents, Bedford, top the table with three wins.
“The way the A side is integrated into the whole Ulster Rugby set-up is really impressive, and we have our own coaches and our own training sessions. In Alex Codling we have a coach the guys love and who’s easy to work for because he’s so meticulous and he ensures everyone knows their detail.
“Along with Kieran Campbell, we couldn’t hope for a better management team, and because the As are so important to the development of the club. We have access to the senior coaches, in fact on Wednesday they took a session with us, adding new ideas and, critically, giving everyone real confidence,” says Andrew.
“Maybe in previous years, with senior calls and a lot of changes, continuity might have been a problem, but that just isn’t the case now, and we’ve had a decent campaign so far.
“Before we haven’t been in contention for the latter stages, but a win at Deramore and we can go to Bristol with a real chance of making it through.”
He believed the close interest taken by Director of Rugby Les Kiss and his staff, helped develop the 'good vibe” around the squad at the moment. He says that can help the team to push on and qualify for the knockout stages of what he believes is an increasingly important tournament.
“On one level the fact that Kyle McCall, Rory Scholes and Alan O’Connor were playing for us at the start of the season and are now involved in Europe makes it very clear what a valuable platform the As can be.
“And that’s something Les really emphasised to us all, that the A team was a stepping stone, and he wanted to see guys put their hands up for the senior Ulster team.
“What’s really good too, is that the link with the clubs is so strong. If you perform at club level you will find yourself being called up, and my Ballymena team-mate Stephen Mulholland is an example of that, even getting a start with the seniors, and now he’s on a development contract,” said Andrew, an eloquent advocate of the fluidity within Ulster Rugby’s structures.
Although he doesn’t want to lose any focus on Friday’s all-important B&I Cup game at Deramore, he is aware that on a personal level the next couple of months might offer him another chance to be involved with the senior side.
“Obviously Rory will be involved with Ireland in the 6 Nations, and Rob Herring has been playing out of his skin and that means there could well be a hooker vacancy, in the starting line-up or on the bench.
“So it’ll be good - it puts pressure on me, Paul Jackson and Johnny Murphy, which is good, for competition brings out the best in all of us.
“And that’s why these A games are so important, to play and win as a team and perhaps, as an individual, put your hand up for the senior side.
“But just for now I want to make sure we beat Bedford on Friday night, hopefully put on a show in front of a large crowd, and push for that quarter-final place in the British & Irish Cup,” said the grounded but ambitious Andrew.
There is no admission charge at Deramore Park on Friday night and all support is welcomed.