Retro Rugby: Munster win was the standout for McLaughlin’s Ulster in 2012

He cut a lonely figure, but looked up and smiled when I approached and shouted ‘am I too late McGlocks?’

The Ulster head coach had to sit helplessly in the coaches box at Twickenham Stadium and watch his side suffer the heaviest loss in a European Champions Cup final to Leinster, 42-14.

His usual joviality was not just putting a brave face on the major disappointment in the showpiece final watched by a record 81,744 - it was also his final game in charge of the Province, being ‘moved on’ to an Academy role in spite of being one of the most successful head coaches since the Province lifted the trophy in 1999.

You could tell he was hurting that he was being let go even if he had agreed the permanent role with the Ulster Academy a few months before.

That only emerged during an often awkward media conference in February when it had been revealed the former RBAI head of rugby would not be staying on with the senior team in his role.

McLauglin, flanked by director of rugby at the time, David Humphreys, made it clear he was disappointed not to be continuing in the head coach role he had taken on in 2009, but it was then revealed he had previously accepted a senior position in the Academy.

It was a real mess with McLaughlin releasing a statement 24 hours later apologising for any misunderstanding.

The year previous Ulster had reached the knockout stages for the first time since 1999, McLaughin’s charges losing to Northampton Saints in the quarter-finals. That season also saw Ulster win their first away game on English soil in Europe - against Bath.

Ulster were to the double over Bath again in the 2011-12 campaign and while they were to squeeze into the last eight thanks in part to Connacht beating Harlequins 9-8 in Galway the night previous to their game at Clermont, the losing bonus point in France in a 19-15 reverse saw them through as eighth seeds and a meeting against top seeds Munster, who had won all six of their pool games.

The Easter weekend game in Limerick’s Thomond Park was eagerly anticipated and it proved to be one of the stand out games in Europe for the Ulstermen.

Wins over Munster are rare, even more so at Thomond Park. Prior to meeting Ulster, the Southern Province had only lost one home game in 17 seasons of European Cup history. They had their eyes on a third title having already two gold stars on their jersey following success in 2006 and 2008.

Ulster, making only their second quarter-final appearance since their 1999 success, had travelled to fortress Thomond Park as huge underdogs.

Having lived in the shadow of their provincial rivals Leinster and Munster - who had both registered double successes in the tournament - Ulster were keen to catch up tired of dining out on that solitary 1999 success.

And the Province looked like a side who were going places - but many a team previously got a jolt of reality in Limerick.

Not on this occasion, Ulster roared out starting blocks and by the 20th minute had stunned the fans in red by scoring 16 points for none in reply.

Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar kicked over an early penalty from 52m out to steady the Ulster nerves, doubling the lead to 6-0 after 10 minutes with a longer range effort.

Then a 21-year-old winger in Craig Gilroy, taking a pass just inside his own half, side-stepped and evaded five tackles to go over for the opening try of the match and the travelling Ulster fans began to really believe.

Pienaar converted and then added a penalty to make it 16-0 and Munster were left scratching their heads.

One player on the Ulster side had been involved in Munster’s last defeat at home in Europe, Ian Humphreys when he was with Leicester Tigers, and after the visitors had endured a spell of Munster pressure, they stormed up the pitch and ‘baby Humph’ dropped a goal to make it 19-0.

Finally Munster began to connect and by the time the break arrived Simon Zebo had crossed for a try and outhalf Ronan O’Gara had added the extras and a penalty to cut the deficit to nine - with the breeze to come in the second half, the comeback could not be discounted.

It promised much more than the exchange of penalties between Pienaar and O’Gara, Ulster holding out to win 22-16.

By this stage into McLaughlin’s tenure I had developed a strong relationship with the coach and as he walked down the corridor to the post match media briefing, he spotted me and gave me a massive hug - the last time a coach had reacted in that way was when Willie Anderson had also thrown me over his head when he lifted me up on a joyous return to Stevenson Park after Dungannon had won the All Ireland title in 2001!

With Edinburgh in the semi-finals in Dublin to come, there was a massive expectation Ulster were on their way to their first European Cup final since 1999. It turned out to be a closer affair than expected, Ulster clinging on to win deservedly 22-19 in front of a packed Aviva Stadium.

Ulster were clear underdogs going into the final against their Provincial rivals Leinster - they had won two out of three previous finals.

It proved too much for Ulster who were simply overwhelmed in Twickenham, although the 42-14 scoreline was probably flattering in the end.

Irrespective of the result, McLaughlin and the squad of 2011 and 2012 had set new standards in Europe, the bar had been raised and is still to be emulated!

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