No scars and a reset - how Ulster's fortunes changed

Image source, Getty Images

• Published2 hours ago

When Ulster finished third from bottom in the United Rugby Championship last year, a lot of questions were being asked about the direction of the Irish province.

Not only did they miss out the URC play-offs, but they also fell short of qualification for Champions Cup rugby.

A year on, Ulster beat Exeter Chiefs on Saturday to book their place in the Challenge Cup final.

Richie Murphy's side have the opportunity to end a 20-year trophy drought when they face Montpellier in the final in Bilbao on 22 May.

It has been a remarkable turnaround, and flanker Nick Timoney recognises "not many people would have been putting money on us being in a final this year".

"The opportunity is there in front of us now," he said. "We've got to go take it because I know from personal experience, and a lot of us do, they're rare opportunities."

When asked what had changed in the space of a year, Timoney said: "It feels like a lot, obviously."

The 30-year-old Ireland back row added: "We all knew at the time it wasn't good enough, but it's sometimes hard to reflect when you're in the moment and you're going week to week.

"You feel like you're trying your best, but it's not working and then that leads to frustration and lack of confidence and all that."

• Resurgent Ulster not burdened by past as Bilbao final awaits

  • Published1 day ago

• Ulster beat Exeter to reach Challenge Cup final

  • Published1 day ago

Timoney explained a clean slate in the off season was key to the reset ahead of the current season.

"I think we looked back and there was a conscious effort from the coaches that things were going to get better," he said.

"There was great buy-in from the players and certainly from some of the important players, leaders in the group and whatnot, that we were going to see this thing in the right direction."

And so far it has worked.

A superb start to the season put them in a strong position in the URC, but, after a mid-season wobble, their play-off hopes are precarious because of how tight the top 10 teams are.

"Obviously, it hasn't always been perfect," Timoney said.

"But it would be hard to deny that there hasn't been progress. But as soon as you feel like you've made it or you've cracked it, then that's when life trips you up.

"So we just need to keep pushing, keep working hard. Every single week, every single day we come in, we need to know that we're trying to get better again for the next week."

'No scars for young players'

After the Exeter game, Murphy had hinted at frustration about comparisons to other Ulster teams who had come up short in previous semi-finals.

He went as far to say that "this team hasn't been in a semi-final before".

And, in truth, he was right.

Of the starting team pipped by the Stormers in a dramatic United Rugby Championship semi-final in 2022, only five were in action on Saturday.

Along with Timoney, Ulster had Iain Henderson, Tom O'Toole, Stuart McCloskey and Ethan McIlroy as the survivors from the starting team that day.

Even of the players on the bench that day in Cape Town, only Nathan Doak and Eric O'Sullivan featured against Exeter.

"It's such a different team since then," Timoney said.

"There's been a lot of change now to the group, so it's about this current journey.

"Sometimes it's good for individuals, and for me and the likes, to have those lessons built up over a number of years.

"But the beauty sometimes of newer lads who don't have those experiences, they don't have those scars and it doesn't even factor into their minds."

Image source, Inpho

While the youthful make-up of the squad can lead to an approach of no fear, Timoney also says having success at a young age can only be a good thing in the long term.

"There's sometimes a beauty in freshness or being new to it all and you know you get some of these lads who come in and if we're successful this year they probably think that's just the way it goes," Timoney added.

"You've seen some of them be incredible [against Exeter on Saturday] and over the last few weeks.

"If they don't know any better than being successful, then that's a good thing for us."

With one match standing between Ulster a first trophy since 2006, Timoney says it would be "unbelievable" to win silverware with the province.

"Twenty years is a long time. It feels overdue, certainly as a fan, as a player who's been around for a long time and not won any trophies with Ulster," he said.

"I know how hard it is and how rare these occasions are, so we need to capitalise, but it's a great opportunity."

Related topics

• Ulster
• Irish Rugby
• Northern Ireland Sport
• Rugby Union