Andrew Trimble admits that despite thoroughly relishing his involvement in all of Ireland's Six Nations games, he has missed pulling on the white jersey of Ulster over the last couple of months...
“Don’t get me wrong, being in camp with Ireland for eight weeks really does help bring out the best in someone like me," he says, “I love it, but it’s a tough environment too, but I think that focused mindset helps when it comes to occasions like Friday’s crucial game against Connacht.
“It was hard to be away from home, and from Ulster particularly, although the experience of the Six Nations will mean that those of us who were away with Ireland can bring something to the big games which lie ahead.
“Obviously there have been some disappointing results and you’re looking on wishing that you could help out, but I think we’ve shown glimpses of producing performances. Last weekend in Glasgow, there was a lot to be proud of but it’s those lapses in concentration that have let us down.
“We have our hands full on Friday, and we’ll have to do our homework, but we know what we’re up against, dig-deep Connacht is top of the table, and deservedly so. There’s something happening in Connacht, they play a really entertaining game and defensively they come up off their lines and smash you.”
He played throughout the Six Nations with Connacht’s Leinster-bound centre, Robbie Henshaw, and he's a big fan of the young player.
“Robbie is a great player, he’s physical and he’s direct, there aren’t many weaknesses in his game. And being with Ireland, I’ve seen the quality of others in the side too, I was impressed with Ultan Dillane and Finlay Bealham, these are guys coming through under Pat Lam who are going to be around for a long time.
“Connacht will probably come to Belfast as favourites, but that's not something we think about, we know what we can do and though it really doesn’t count for all that much, Ulster is the only side to win in the PRO12 at The Sportsground in Galway this season, so we know how to win,” says Trimble.
But inevitably, like all Ulster supporters, he is aware of how his side must respond over the next month to realise its playoff ambitions.
“At this stage of the season, with just four games to go for us in the league, teams are desperate to get results, and we fall into that category.”
The Irish winger has no doubt that reaching the top four and the playoffs is very much within reach. “I don’t want to get into all the maths but there are big games for a lot of sides, and there are twists and turns still to come I’m sure.
“There’s no doubt that Friday’s game is a Cup Final for us, and there’s no doubt that when we perform with the physicality we have, and when the crowd at Kingspan Stadium is rocking, we can beat anyone.”
Trimble, a real student of the game, but primarily a player driven by a passionate pursuit of excellence, insists that Ulster is “90 per cent” there in terms of performance, but the results don’t reflect the quality and character of the squad in recent weeks.
“Ironically, it’s the desperation we feel to reach our target of the playoffs that can drive us towards bringing a big, big performance against Connacht. Of course, we have patterns we have rehearsed, and situations we have prepared for, and intricacies which we will employ if we can, but the motivation is to halt the bit of a slump we have drifted into and get back into the title race,” he says.
“There’s real character here, and hopefully the fact that Rory Best, myself and Jared Payne are back from international duty will add to what’s already there. When it comes down to it, we need a result, and hopefully that will be the spark for the next few rounds. We’re confident in our ability and the way the coaches have handled everything this season has been superb, it’s up to us now as players to eliminate those small errors which cost us at this level.
“The fans at Kingspan Stadium really do bring something to the team, I’ve been lucky to know first-hand what that support can do to keep us focussed and we feed off their encouragement.
“They know this is a big game, they always want us to do well and I can tell you that everyone in the squad wants to give them the result and the sort of performance they deserve.”
“Don’t get me wrong, being in camp with Ireland for eight weeks really does help bring out the best in someone like me," he says, “I love it, but it’s a tough environment too, but I think that focused mindset helps when it comes to occasions like Friday’s crucial game against Connacht.
“It was hard to be away from home, and from Ulster particularly, although the experience of the Six Nations will mean that those of us who were away with Ireland can bring something to the big games which lie ahead.
“Obviously there have been some disappointing results and you’re looking on wishing that you could help out, but I think we’ve shown glimpses of producing performances. Last weekend in Glasgow, there was a lot to be proud of but it’s those lapses in concentration that have let us down.
“We have our hands full on Friday, and we’ll have to do our homework, but we know what we’re up against, dig-deep Connacht is top of the table, and deservedly so. There’s something happening in Connacht, they play a really entertaining game and defensively they come up off their lines and smash you.”
He played throughout the Six Nations with Connacht’s Leinster-bound centre, Robbie Henshaw, and he's a big fan of the young player.
“Robbie is a great player, he’s physical and he’s direct, there aren’t many weaknesses in his game. And being with Ireland, I’ve seen the quality of others in the side too, I was impressed with Ultan Dillane and Finlay Bealham, these are guys coming through under Pat Lam who are going to be around for a long time.
“Connacht will probably come to Belfast as favourites, but that's not something we think about, we know what we can do and though it really doesn’t count for all that much, Ulster is the only side to win in the PRO12 at The Sportsground in Galway this season, so we know how to win,” says Trimble.
But inevitably, like all Ulster supporters, he is aware of how his side must respond over the next month to realise its playoff ambitions.
“At this stage of the season, with just four games to go for us in the league, teams are desperate to get results, and we fall into that category.”
The Irish winger has no doubt that reaching the top four and the playoffs is very much within reach. “I don’t want to get into all the maths but there are big games for a lot of sides, and there are twists and turns still to come I’m sure.
“There’s no doubt that Friday’s game is a Cup Final for us, and there’s no doubt that when we perform with the physicality we have, and when the crowd at Kingspan Stadium is rocking, we can beat anyone.”
Trimble, a real student of the game, but primarily a player driven by a passionate pursuit of excellence, insists that Ulster is “90 per cent” there in terms of performance, but the results don’t reflect the quality and character of the squad in recent weeks.
“Ironically, it’s the desperation we feel to reach our target of the playoffs that can drive us towards bringing a big, big performance against Connacht. Of course, we have patterns we have rehearsed, and situations we have prepared for, and intricacies which we will employ if we can, but the motivation is to halt the bit of a slump we have drifted into and get back into the title race,” he says.
“There’s real character here, and hopefully the fact that Rory Best, myself and Jared Payne are back from international duty will add to what’s already there. When it comes down to it, we need a result, and hopefully that will be the spark for the next few rounds. We’re confident in our ability and the way the coaches have handled everything this season has been superb, it’s up to us now as players to eliminate those small errors which cost us at this level.
“The fans at Kingspan Stadium really do bring something to the team, I’ve been lucky to know first-hand what that support can do to keep us focussed and we feed off their encouragement.
“They know this is a big game, they always want us to do well and I can tell you that everyone in the squad wants to give them the result and the sort of performance they deserve.”