Kolisi so proud to be South Africa’s first black skipper
While circumstances may have changed since then, especially with Dublin seemingly taking a greater grip over hirings and firings, the writing felt on the wall then, whether Logan would admit it or not, and the increasingly rare utterances became harder to believe as matters wore grimly on. Even the references to “win ratios” in yesterday’s statement gave a hollow ring. contribution in terms of placing Ulster Rugby on a secure financial footing.
“The redevelopment of Kingspan Stadium and training facilities will be a lasting legacy.
“His great work with rugby clubs all over Ulster’s nine counties is also acknowledged.”
One area of concern for many fans last season though was the province’s handling of the fallout from the high profile rape case involving two of their players.
Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson were both cleared of all charges following a nine-week trial in Belfast Crown Court, although neither was able to play while legal proceedings were ongoing
Despite righting the ship somewhat in the season’s final five games to at least ensure Champions Cup qualification for 2018/19, Ulster fell well short of Logan’s lofty goals and he walks away from Kingspan Stadium with few pats on the back from those outside the organisation.
The flip side, of course, is that it’s hard to imagine who could have come out of last last season. After the verdict, and following an internal review by the IRFU and Ulster, the players had their contracts revoked.
While the fall-out was often unseemly on both sides, after the decision to end the careers of the players in Ireland was taken, many voiced their opposition to the move while at the next home game a number of “Logan Out” banners and flags were confiscated by the on-duty stewards. season smelling of roses given the off-field strife, and there is little denying that Ulster’s standing now is better than when he took over.
Given the blurred lines of job titles and responsibilities, detractors will always be able to claim that the successes were in spite rather than because of him, but it would take something of an air-brushing of history to deny he leaves, at
Jackson yesterday confirmed he will be playing his rugby in France next season with Top 14 outfit Perpignan, while Olding had previously signed on the dotted line with Brive.
“Paddy Jackson, in the tradition of Irish 10s, knows how to bring his individual qualities to benefit the collective,” said Christian Lanta, Sporting Director of Perpignan on the move for Jackson. worst, a complex legacy.
While there was already money earmarked for a new stadium when he took over, Ravenhill has been revamped and renamed under his watch, while the province turned a profit for seven years, no mean feat in a sport constantly competing for eyeballs and battling the lure of bigger wages on offer abroad. Operating on a sound financial footing,
“He’s a proven kicker, a talented playmaker, Paddy can bring his international experience to the team.”
It remains a point of contention for many in Ulster though, especially given the failure to secure a replacement amid ongoing discussions with the IRFU.
Joey Carbery was seen as the most likely option but any interest the Irish international had in moving north quickly dissipated whenever Munster came into the picture.
An attempt to bring Elton Jantjies to Kingspan failed when the IRFU refused to sanction a deal for the Springbok.
While youngster Johnny McPhillips performed well at the local rugby fans were able to enjoy seeing the likes of Fiji, the Barbarians and the Women’s Rugby World Cup on home soil too. While the ultimate dream of bringing the men’s World Cup to Ireland and Kingspan fell short, there were some commendable moments.
Furthermore, complicating matters is the reality that this move, no matter how seemingly seismic, will bring little change on the pitch in the short-term.
Regardless of how vehemently a fanbase protests, it’s a stretch to suggest Ulster could be a better or worse team come the first PRO14 game of 2018/19 for the events of yesterday. Just as nobody was writing gushing tributes to Mick Dawson when Leinster won the Champions Cup and PRO14, it would be foolish to cite Logan as the chief architect of Ulster’s struggles to match their more successful neighbours, and as such, it’s unlikely his absence next season will do anything to improve results.
At any rate, the cleaning of house now seems to be complete. From this time a year ago, a Director of Rugby, a head coach, a group of experienced players who had totalled over 1,000 outings for the side, and a number of previously key backroom staff have all departed.
Even the mascot decided this season would be his last. Many have yet to be replaced and now too a new CEO is required.
While Dan McFarland will be the incoming head coach, the date of his arrival remains a point of conjecture, while there have been only three players signed ahead of next season.
A CEO, it appears, will be in by the end of August, but it is hard not to be struck by the volume of change in key positions over the past 18 months.
With so few who have their hands muddied by past failures, there is arguably a virtually clean slate.
But there is no doubt, too, that it arrives only at a crossroads. end of last season, the absence of an experienced out-half only serves to exacerbate the frustrations felt by supporters.
Logan himself was critical of the IRFU’s stance when it came to the jettisoning of Ruan Pienaar at the end of 2016/17.
Pienaar was not granted a contract extension by Dublin after seven stellar years at the province and instead had to sign for Montpellier in France.
Having never wanted to leave Northern Ireland, the mercurial scrum-half ’s family have already returned to Belfast with Pienaar believed to be weighing up the option of retiring in one year’s time to become involved again in the Ulster set-up. SIYA Kolisi insists his landmark moment in South African sporting history will only sink in when he runs out at Ellis Park today.
Kolisi will become the first black player to captain the Springboks’ Test team in their 126-year history when England visit Johannesburg, completing a remarkable rise to the pinnacle of the sport on these shores.
The 26-year-old flanker was raised in poverty in Port Elizabeth’s Zwide township where his sole focus was “to get a meal at the end of the day”, but now he carries the expectations of a nation on his shoulders.
“I think tomorrow (Saturday) will be the first time that everything comes together for me and I’ll realise how big this moment is,” Kolisi said.
“Ellis Park has a really special feel. When you hear the national anthem being sung and you scan the crowd, you see the whole of South Africa in front of you...all different races and colours.
“It’s really beautiful and one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. The crowd always gets behind us and for some reason we always bring our best when we turn up here.
“And it won’t be any different tomorrow because this is one of the awesome Test matches — we don’t play England as often as we do Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s a special one and that’s why it’s such a big occasion.”
The build-up to Kolisi’s 29th cap has been spent trying not to become overawed by the wider meaning of his appointment by coach Rassie Erasmus, but he is ready to usher in a “new chapter” in Springbok rugby.
“I’m a very calm guy and the most important thing is that I play well. If I put outside pressure on myself it will get too much for me,” he said.
“We’ve worked really hard to be here and our dream is to play for South Africa and to play against England.
“We don’t know when we’ll get this opportunity again... maybe next week someone else will play, so tomorrow this is the beginning of a new chapter.”