With the big games coming thick and fast for Ulster, loose forward Michael McComish is relishing the challenge of facing Munster at Thomond Park.
Ulster travel to Limerick with a nine point lead at the top of the table after making it 11 wins for 11 games in the Pro12 League by toppling European Champions Leinster last Friday.
“With it being an inter provincial the intensity is always going to be high, we have an unbeaten record in the league to defend heading down there so there is no doubt it is going to be an abrasive type game,” said McComish.
“Against Leinster our kicking game wasn’t great but bar that, the boys fronted up very well. Tom, Rory and John in the front row had an awesome game and the set piece was massive for us. It was good to get the Leinster monkey off our back and since we’ve had such a poor record against them over the last few seasons that is going to be a massive positive for us.
“We pride ourselves on our set piece so no matter what pack we put out we’re going to have a good go at winning that battle up front.”
Ulster famously won in the Heineken Cup quarter final at Thomond Park last season but lost in the league a month later and McComish knows it’s never easy in Limerick.
“I’ve played there a few times and it is very partisan but we’re going down there with an unbeaten record in the league and we have to back ourselves to back that up,” he said.
“I’ve played there a few times before with Connacht and under age stuff, having been there and knowing what it is about is a bit of a help.”
With Ireland hosting a squad meeting on Thursday and Friday, Ulster will be missing a number of key personel but they showed during the autumn internationals that are capable of coping.
“There is competition all over the park, it’s great to be part of that, when you come into training on a Monday you know you have to do well and I think that has been a big different from last year,” he said.
“The standards in training and what the coaches require of you makes it a great environment to be involved in.”
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