ULSTER TAKE ON Montpellier in the Heineken Cup this afternoon and are targeting their second successive win on French soil.
Mark Anscombe’s men have won their last four matches after stumbling from the starting blocks in September. League defeats to Dragons and Glasgow Warriors hinted that Ulster would struggle to scale the heights of the previous two seasons.
Anscombe made just three summer signings to his squad and Ruan Pienaar looked to be heading to Toulon at the end of the season. Wins followed, however, against Connacht and Treviso steadied the ship. An early, seminal moment arrived, courtesy of Paddy Jackson’s assured place-kicking, in an 18 — 12 away win over Ospreys.
Pienaar signed a contract extension and fellow scrumhalf Paul Marshall did likewise. A home win over Leicester Tigers followed and the ship has been steadied. Next up are a Montpellier side that are tied for first in the Top 14 and looking as strong as ever at Stade Yves du Manoir. They have won three of their four home games in the league and the other match was a 22 — 22 draw with European champions Toulon.
Ulster have promoted Pienaar, who starred off the bench against Leicester, to the 9 jersey and would be more than happy to grind out a win similar to their 9 — 8 pool stage victory over Castres in January.
Former Munster flanker David Wallace has been impressed with how Anscombe’s charges have recovered from early-season adversity.
He told TheScore.ie, “Ulster had a good win over Leicester last weekend. Any day you beat Leicester is a great day. They are in a tough group and will have no respite, this weekend, in facing a Montpellier team doing very well in the Top 14.
“If they win down there, that is a serious statement.”
Former Tigers back Will Greenwood, speaking on Sky Sports after Ulster won 22 — 16, implied that Leicester would not be too displeased with their loss as they left Ravenhill with a losing bonus point. Tigers scored a stoppage time try against Treviso last night to steal the extra bonus point in a 34 — 3 win.
Ulster, however, will be hoping to render those extra points futile by proving their Heineken Cup credentials for a third season in a row.
