Ulster prop Andy warwick says victory over Leinster crucial

Leinster have won the last three Pro14 titles and are six points clear of Ulster meaning a victory in Belfast would end Dan McFarland’s side’s hopes of a second consecutive final.

Both teams have won 12 matches and lost one game in this season’s competition, the difference being that Leinster have accumulated 12 bonus points to Ulster’s six.

Leinster weren’t at their fluent best against the Dragons but left Rodney Parade with maximum points and in their last game they scored six tries against Glasgow.

Ulster in their last two games scored three tries against Glasgow and three tries against the Ospreys, but couldn’t get the bonus point in either game.

Prop Andy Warwick believes if Ulster are to break their 15-year trophy drought they have to start turning the four-point wins into five-pointers.

“They are good teams (Glasgow and Ospreys) but yeah, the position we were in there we probably didn’t perform too well, especially in the first half and then against Ospreys,” said Warwick.

“We needed to be scoring more points in the first half and we were putting ourselves under pressure near the end of the game to force it, but if we want to get to the next level we have to be taking those opportunities and getting those bonus points.”

Even if Ulster beat Leinster on Saturday night their destiny still wouldn’t be in their own hands going into the final two games of the season, but Warwick feels it’s a chance to show the team are closing the gap on their Dublin rivals.

“There’s no looking past it, Leinster are the one of the top teams in Europe and for us to get to that next level we have to beat them and we’ll maybe not have a better opportunity than this week.

“If we’re going to prove to others outside this group that we’re good enough we have to beat Leinster.

“You obviously have to respect how good Leinster have been over the past few years and this season we played them over Christmas and they beat us well down there, and I suppose you just have to block out that noise and just focus on what you can do individually in your role for the team.

“We’re confident of going out and giving a good performance and look this will always be a hard task against Leinster,” he added.

“You can’t afford any mistakes and we’ll just have to be on top of our game,win and put pressure on them for the rest of the season.”

Injury-free and playing regularly, Warwick was happy to sign a new Ulster contract.

“I had surgery back in August, I’d a problem with my sciatic nerve and I was playing in pain for about a year before that so I’m glad to get back and get opportunities,” he said.

“Basically my sciatic nerve in round my glute was getting caught and they had to release some tissue that was around it and putting pressure on it.

“I tried to play through it and then by March last year it was at the point where it was getting bad so I tried to rehab it and it didn’t do the job, so I had to wait until the middle of August to get surgery.

“I think I deserved it (new contract) from a few of my performances and I’m willing to push forward now and not just happy to be sitting second choice.

“I want to really try and push forward and better myself.”

*A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Irish and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. To subscribe, click here.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you,

Alistair Bushe

Editor