ULSTER DIRECTOR OF Rugby Les Kiss was candid but confident in the wake of his side’s slender 9-7 victory over fellow Pro12 challengers Ospreys in Belfast last night.
Kiss conceded that the Welsh outfit were “probably the better team” but took encouragement from a win which he admitted his side may not have been able to “grind out” in previous campaigns.
Paddy Jackson’s penalty snatched the win in the penultimate minute at the Kingspan Stadium after the Ospreys had led for 75 minutes, and Kiss was quick to admit that it was Ulster’s mental fortitude, rather than any technical superiority on the night, that had seen them through.
“Four points is four points,” he began. “It’s important to us. We were a little bit under par but Ospreys were really good tonight, their physicality at the breakdown on both sides was very good. They were probably the better team tonight, so a lot of credit to them.”
“We weren’t completely happy with our first half. We couldn’t get traction in the game due to the pressure they put us under, but in the second half we upped the ante. We certainly did what I’m asking of the group, which is to hang tough and stay in the hunt, and just find a way to eke out little moments.
“There is a character which has always been here, but it’s building more and more, and that came through in the critical moments for us tonight.
“Internally we’ve talked about how some of those missed opportunities last year were building a certain psyche or theme; but it’s about what you do on a daily basis to ensure that when you’re confronted with that reality, you can stand up and make the difference.
“Maybe tonight will be one of those nights where we look back on it and say thankfully we were good enough to be able to do what we did. It should stand us in good stead. I’ve got no qualms in saying they were the better team in a lot of ways, but I’m proud of what our guys did, we dug in deep and aimed up.”
While praising the collective effort from his side, who have now chalked up five wins from five to top the table on 21 points, Kiss reserved a special mention for utility back Louis Ludik, who impressed on the wing tonight after similarly strong displays out wide against Scarlets and Glasgow Warriors, and at full-back in Treviso.
“[Louis] was man of the match, he made the difference when it mattered,” said Kiss, while the Springbok, solid rather than spectacular in his first two seasons in Belfast, was quick to attribute his upturn in form this term to an overall raising of standards within the Ulster squad.
“I’m working really hard off the pitch but I feel the way we play is helping me too,” said Ludik.
“It helps having someone like Charles [Piutau, Ulster’s new All Black full-back] around, drawing a few more defenders. Guys are targeting him because he’s so good, so it gives us a lot of space.”
Next up for Ulster are Connacht in Galway before European clashes with Bordeaux-Begles and Exeter Chiefs, and Kiss indicated that his team selections, to date heavily rotated from match to match, would likely continue in the same vein.
“We’ve made between six to eight changes over the last few games, some due to injuries, some due to rotation, some due to availability in terms of the management of the players, and I think that’s going to be the norm going forward.”
“My challenge to the group is that you don’t get ideal circumstances, you don’t get ideal rhythm or continuity all the time, so you’ve got to be able to work in a world that isn’t always certain.
“We may need to shift numbers every week to stay on top of things and give people opportunities; there’s a lot of people playing well and some are making it hard to make changes, but I have to manage resources smartly to ensure we’re up for all the challenges ahead of us.”
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