Quotes of the Week 4

Ulster Rugby’s CEO Mike Reid fired a warning shot when telling us how the new stand developments are progressing. Will things go pear shaped if the recession continues to bite?

That 90% equates to £800,000 per annum in sales of seats and boxes, and for every pound we under achieve, it’s a pound less to be spent on the team. That sounds very simplistic, but that’s really the way the business will have to work. Mid-term the extra income from the redevelopment, will help us put a pretty impressive team out on the pitch. In the short-term if we don’t meet these figures, it could literally mean a drop in the quality of the team over the next three seasons.

Now not everyone has the wherewithal to fork out £800 for a season ticket, no matter how palatial the surroundings, but would you be willing to fork out something extra to ensure the standard of the team?

Over on ulsterrugby.com they all have been singing with one voice! Isaac Boss gives us the low-down on Ulster’s season so far.

We’ve come a long way this season, there have been a couple of mixed results but we have definitely been a lot more consistent recently and I’m looking forward to the next few games and the opportunity to hopefully move up the league table.

Closely followed by BJ Botha.

I have settled into the squad very well, the guys are all great to work with, real professionals. The rugby has been a bit up and down, with a few disappointing results, but also a few quality wins, which has been great. I hope that we can keep moving up the league table this season, and finish in a good position.

But Bryan Young manages to put his finger on Ulster’s inconsistencies (I think!)

Ulster’s performances have peaked and troughed throughout the season and we strive for a little more consistency in our games, especially when playing away from home. Generally speaking, Ulster find it easier to do this when playing at home at Ravenhill,  but less so when playing away. In saying this, we have achieved some magnificent victories away this season, which is encouraging but we need to build on these and become more resilient.

Well that’s certainly given us a better understanding of our performances this year!

Switching to the international arena Declan Kidney lets us know that it’s not what you do but what you don’t do that’s important.

I won’t be shielding the players from the pressure. This is a week to be enjoyed. If you don’t enjoy times like this you won’t enjoy anything, but admittedly this is new territory for everybody.

And captain courageous Brian O’Driscoll doesn’t hold back as he lets us know that the pressure is not getting to the players.

There has been so much pressure with each week. People were talking about a Grand Slam after the first game with France so nothing’s changed in that respect. Now we can look forward to Cardiff. We know we will get a really tough, physical encounter there as always.

I don’t know what’s happened the professional sportsman but they’re not giving us a lot to work with this week with their insightful comments but things pick up slightly on the UAFC board when news breaks that Holywood Mike and Junior got into a bit of a fracas when visiting Newcastle Falcons. Now we’re not told what caused the disturbance but has ColinM put his finger on it (not literally I hope) when he points out …

Was HWM pressing his groin or rubbing his elbow where it wasn’t wanted in the run up to this fight?

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!

More like this:

• Ulster Squad for Leinster.
• Teams for Connacht and Connaught!
• Ulster squad for Edinburgh
• Ulster team for Dragons