Things are looking up says Kieran Treadwell

Dan McFarland’s side finished with an identical record to Leinster, but it is the Dubliners that progress to Saturday’s final as they finished seven points ahead of Ulster.

The difference in the two sides was the number of bonus points collected, Leinster gained 15 while Ulster managed eight.

Lock Kieran Treadwell, man of the match in the 49-3 win over Zebre at Kingspan Stadium last Friday, feels Ulster are on an upward trajectory despite missing out on the final, but they still have plenty to do to end their 15-year trophy drought.

“It was good and obviously we are disappointed because we wanted to be in that final and we want to be competing for silverware all the time,” said Treadwell.

“It is disappointing but we will take good things from those wins, obviously there is still a lot we can work on to get to the top and get to those finals.”

Ulster do have knockout rugby to look forward to as they travel to Treadwell’s old club Harlequins on Easter Sunday night in the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup.

‘Quins are flying high in the English Premiership cementing their place in third with a 59-24 win over Gloucester at the Stoop on Saturday.

The sides have met four times in the last four years and Ulster have won on their last two visits to the Stoop.

“I’ve actually probably played more at the Stoop for Ulster than I have for Quins,” joked Treadwell.

“It will be good to get back there and have some knockout rugby, obviously we have a job to do when we get there.

“There is always a fear and that is what makes us better and makes us on edge to be the best but it will be a good test for us Quins are going quite well at the moment so we are going to have to be firing on all cylinders.

“It is good to play against familiar faces and there is always a bit of niggle, we have a good record there but we have to go and do a job because nothing just comes to us we have to go and take it.”

‘Quins are coming into the tie in good shape as they scored nine tries in their demolition of Gloucester at the weekend.

“They are playing that sort of Quins style that offloading game and that attacking rugby they like to play, they are going to be a test and we are going to have to be on our game,” said Treadwell.

Ulster will have this week off to prepare for their trip to London while ‘Quins travel to Premiership leaders Bristol, Treadwell is looking forward to having the chance to recharge the batteries.

“It is definitely good to chance our focus and refresh the mind a bit we’ll use those days to recover and come in and be fresh,” he added.

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