Battler Warwick has earned his terrific Ulster ton the hard way
SAT on the cusp of a century of outings in Ulster colours, Andy Warwick’s professional career has been a story in perseverance.
The prop is set to bring up the 100 against Munster in Thomond Park on Saturday (7.35pm kick-off) having made his debut against Cardiff Blues back in 2013, but he was only brought into the set-up as a 22-year-old after initially missing out on a place in the Academy.
And while he impressed on both sides of the scrums in those early outings, the now 27-yearold arguably only became the side’s first choice loosehead when he entered what cricketers would term the “nervous nineties”.
While, in the grand tradition of front-row forwards, the Ballymena man could hardly be described as one prone to self-reflection, there is no doubt he’s come quite some way since first catching the eye of former Academy director Allen Clarke when turning out in the All Ireland League.
“I had a good season at Ballymena and Clarkie brought me in for an ‘A’ game,” Warwick remembers of how he worked his way back into the reckoning.
“I played a few ‘A’ games and built from there. The 2012/13 season, I was on the bench a couple of times without getting on, but then I got the Academy contract the next year and I built from there.
“I was so nervous before that first cap. I remember speaking to (former Ulster, Ireland and Ballymena prop) Bryan Young before it and he gave me a lot of advice. I had been on the bench four or five times before that and didn’t get on and the nerves just build up. I still remember the game well.
“I came on for Tom Court, I think, and I remember the ball went off the top of a lineout to Jared Payne and he broke through.
“I somehow found myself in the support line and got absolutely nailed by big Filo Paulo.
“It was a good introduction to professional rugby but I definitely didn’t think I’d make it to 100.”
When it comes to highlights, Warwick’s mind is immediately drawn to the big European tussles, noting that his battle with 45-times capped All Black Carl Hayman when Toulon came to Belfast has been the toughest scrummaging challenge.
His most memorable trip to Thomond Park, though, came in his very first time in Limerick.
That evening in 2014 saw the northern province send down a shadow side but come out victo- rious in a game where Warwick put in a real shift on the other side of the scrum.
“I think that’s maybe why I’ve got so many caps, because I can shift over to tight-head the odd time,” he laughed.
“It was tough and (Dave) Kilcoyne is a really good player, but we did really well that day.
“Michael Heaney got over for a really good try and it was great to win down there. Hopefully we get that feeling again.”
While Ulster’s undefeated start to the season has included wins over Edinburgh and Scarlets, two sides who finished above them in the table a year ago, there remains a feeling that the first derby this weekend will be a step up.
Ulster haven’t won in Limerick since that 2014 encounter and it’s now more than six years since their notable Heineken Cup quarter-final win.
Johann van Graan’s side have been a decidedly mixed bag so far this season, beating below par Cheetahs and Ospreys sides at home but losing twice on the road to Glasgow and Cardiff.
“It’ll be really tough,” Warwick said.
“As a pack, we’ll have to front up, particularly in maul defence and scrum time.
“That’s what they build their game on and they have a few strong runners — Kilcoyne, (CJ) Stander and (Pete) O’Mahony. We’ve got to chop them and get them off their feet early.
“Stopping their maul is the main thing, but also the breakdown.
“They have a few good threats with Tadhg Beirne and (Chris) Cloete.
“They’re really good over the ball and we’ll really have to combat that.”