Ulster can keep their slender Pro14 playoff hopes alive with a bonus-point win over the Conference A-leading Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, writes Shaun Goosen.
Ulster v Glasgow Warriors
21 April 21h35
Kingspan Stadium
To Win (80 mins)
Ulster 6/10
Draw 18/1
Glasgow Warriors 14/10
Of course, currently sitting in fourth in Conference B, nine-points behind third-placed Edinburgh, a lot will need to go Ulster’s way yet.
For a start, they’ll have to win both of their remaining regular-season fixtures with bonus-points, and hope that Edinburgh come away with nothing against the Warriors next week. Anything is possible, but when one considers the way Ulster have floundered this season, it does seem a highly unlikely occurrence.
Indeed, the Northern Irish province came into the new season with so much promise. With a host of seasoned Ireland internationals in their ranks, many at the peak of their powers, many thought this could be the year that Ulster came of age.
Alas, anarchy has seemed to follow them in whichever direction they have turned this campaign. The unpopular sacking of club legend Ruan Pienaar to Montpellier at the conclusion of last season. The rape scandal surrounding Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding. The departure of director of rugby Les Kiss in January. All of these and more have in one way or another resulted in the club performing dismally on the pitch; losing seven regular-season Pro14 matches and bowing out of the Champions Cup at the Pool stage.
It would take nothing short of a miracle for the province to qualify for the playoffs from here on out; not least since they host the high-flying Glasgow Warriors this weekend. Under the stewardship of Dave Rennie, Glasgow’s finest have raced ahead to lead their conference by eight-points heading into the penultimate round of action. The players have taken to Rennie’s playing philosophy like a McDougall to haggis and really should be considered favourites to claim the title at season’s end.
Verdict: Ulster 6/10
Depending, of course, on which side Rennie decides to name this weekend, it is the hosts who should take the victory. I don’t see them claiming the all-important bonus-point they so desperately require, but I would back them to edge the Warriors at the Kingspan in any case.
