Last year’s slump will spur Ulster on: Reidy

Kingspan men are determined to build on their perfect start to the season in Italy and avoid a repeat of 2016’s alarming decline in form

ONE year ago today, Ulster were four from their first four league games to start the season and looking down the ladder at the rest of the PRO12.

They would beat Ospreys in round five to keep the run rolling but lose four of the next five to ensure that strong start seemed a very distant memory by the start of November.

Sat in a similar position to 12 months ago as they prepare to face Zebre in Parma today (2.35pm kick-off ), Director of Rugby Les Kiss has been using last season as a reminder to his players that no trophies are won in September.

“He didn’t need to tell us,” said Sean Reidy, who is back in the line-up after missing out against Dragons with a minor knee complaint.

“It’s been a pretty good start from the boys but at the same time we’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves. Last year we had a good start as well and things can change pretty dramatically, pretty quickly.

“We’re looking forward to this game and going to Zebre and taking our game with us and putting on a good performance.

“Nobody is getting too carried away, we’re not even looking to Europe (in two weeks).

“We’ve just crossed off the Dragons after last week and we’re just taking it game by game and concentrating on good performances.”

If ever there was opposition to breed complacency arguably it is Zebre, the lowly Italians who have finished bottom of the log in four of their five seasons.

But Italian rugby has been buoyed by their side’s performances of late, with Treviso having won two in a row since Ulster won in the Stadio Monigo and Zebre returning from their two-game South African adventure with six points to their name.

With Conor O’Shea in charge of the national side, and his fellow former Irish international Michael Bradley now trying to turn around Zebre and Kieran Crowley in situ at Treviso, there has been plenty of talk surrounding greater communication and strategies between all levels of the game in Italy.

And while Zebre still endured a tumultuous sum- mer amid talk of unpaid wages, Reidy is not underestimating the challenge of visiting a ground where Ulster suffered their only loss on Italian soil to date in 2014.

“Italy has always been a bit sticky for us,” he reflected. “There’s been times when we’ve gone over there and haven’t performed to our full ability so this week we’re looking to go over there and take our game with us and put in a good, solid 80 minutes.

“We’ve looked at their pack this week. They like to maul from various places on the pitch so the forwards are really looking to go after them this week.

“Maybe there was a few things off the pitch that were affecting their game a little bit but you see now they have things in order and are putting in some good performances.

“They put in a very good performance last week against the Kings and scored a lot of points. I’m sure at home they’re going to turn it up so it’s important for us to take our game with us and turn on a full, good 80 minutes.”

While Reidy preaches the usual message of one game at a time, there is no denying that the province face one of the biggest months of their season.

After returning from northern Italy, Ulster’s attention will immediately switch to the campaign’s first inter-provincial derby of the year, against Connacht, then three more huge tests in the shape of Wasps, La Rochelle and Leinster lie in wait before Halloween.

It could be a big month for Reidy, too, who will be hoping to use the high-profile games as an opportunity to impress Ire- land coach Joe Schmidt.

The native Kiwi, who qualifies for Ireland thanks to a Kerry-born grandparent, won his second Test cap over the summer, the second year in succession he has toured with the national side in June.

While his call-up to join Schmidt’s men came late — indeed, he had already returned home to New Zealand and was attending a friend’s wedding when he heard the news — it was an enjoyable tour for the 28-year-old, who bagged a try in his appearance off the bench against Japan.

“When I got the call I had to do a few light jogs before heading over to Japan,” he joked. “No, it was good, a really good experience.

“I fitted in really well with all the guys and it was good to get a bit of game time.

“Joe said just to keep providing that energy for Ulster and putting in solid performances, and hopefully my opportunity will come.”

While there is plenty of competition for those back-row spots in Schmidt’s squad come November, Reidy knows there are at least plenty of big games to impress in between now and then.