Ulster trophy joy in Europe fitting final farewell for Angus Bell
Wallaby prop Angus Bell will play his last game for Ulster on Friday night in the European Challenge Cup final before returning home to prepare to face Ireland in the Nations Championship opener at the start of July.
The loose head has made 16 appearances for the province on his sabbatical from Australia, with Bell closing in on his caps half-century.
And he believes Ulster team-mates Scott Wilson and Tom McAllister are destined for international honours as Bell bids to sign off with silverware.
“Scotty's a big man, man mountain, moves really well and I've spoken to those blokes quite a lot,” said Bell. “It's all just about learning, I'm still learning...I'm 25, I've played a lot of tests and you never really have seen every pitcher that you come against. ‘Tex’ as well, Tom McAlister, he's unbelievably strong for someone that's 20 years old, he's still got a lot of development to go to and it's going to be awesome to watch from afar, I guess.
“Those guys graduated through the system and I'm sure both of those players will play for Ireland at some point, they're immensely talented and super driven...it's been awesome to just be a part of a group that's hungry to get better week in, week out.
"Ulster really have a young crop of players coming through...it will be awesome to compete this weekend for the Challenge Cup.”
It has been a long season for Bell as he played in Super Rugby for the Waratahs, featured against the British Lions for Australia and started all four autumn tests before arriving in Belfast.
“You think you're invincible when you're younger,” he said. “I know I'm only 25 but, yeah, I would be lying if I said it didn't take a toll...it has been a long season obviously. I was meant to have a break at the back end of the test match stuff last year and I just came straight to Ulster but I feel like that was offset by the excitement of being a part of a new team and playing against different players and different people. I'm completely fine...I love playing footy and especially with this group...it's such a really good group of players and I don't say that lightly either.”
Ahead of the Bilbao showdown with Montpellier, Bell added how “you need to be ready and prepared and have a plan and that's what we're going to do”.