Surgeinformstillnot enoughtoendwaiting game for McCloskey
THE day that Joe Schmidt named his widest of wider panels to prepare for last year’s World Cup, the size of the group first assembled to prepare for Japan in the first instance meant that the hard done by were thin on the ground.
One name missing from the Kiwi’s long-list, however, was that of Stuart McCloskey.
The Ulster centre managed to lose his wallet the same day... sometimes you get the sense that things just aren’t going your way.
Schmidt (below) had given McCloskey his debut in Twickenham during the 2016 Six Nations — the same day that Josh van der Flier and Ultan Dillane won their first caps — and a number of those present noted that the coach’s post-match reflections on what was viewed as a commendable enough first performance were hardly what would pass for effusive.
Despite being a key cog in the Ulster machine, only two caps have followed, with the national side’s cupboard well stocked with centres. The presence of Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and latterly Chris Farrell, coupled with Schmidt’s seeming reticence to back him, made that omission from the notional 44 best players in Ireland back in May something to be expected. Since then, though, two things have changed.
Firstly, Andy Farrell was promoted from defence coach to be Schmidt’s successor following the World Cup exit at the hands of New Zealand.
Secondly, and more importantly, McCloskey has been playing the best rugby of his professional career.
Largely due to his body-type being something of an endangered species in this part of the world — McCloskey tips the scales at a few kilos heavier than two-thirds of Ulster’s usual starting back-row — the man nicknamed the ‘Bangor Bulldozer’ is often criticised for being one-dimensional, yet it’s an increasingly dated opinion.
Still possessing the same physicality that made such an impression when he debuted for the province almost six years ago under Neil Doak, in recent weeks he has varied his output like never before.
While his grubber for a Matt Faddes score against the Scarlets back in November was the source of some mirth among his teammates, his more conventional chip through for Luke Marshall to do likewise against Harlequins was the type of skill detractors would tell you wasn’t in his locker.
So too the wide pass in the build-up to Robert Baloucoune’s try against Munster two weekends ago at Kingspan Stadium.
Those moments have been the highlights of a fine run of form when, having put early season injuries behind him, more often than not he’s been among the most dominant figures on the park.
While essentially an out-andout inside centre, the lack of another string to his positional bow may work against him, but his inclusion in last month’s ‘stock-take’ would surely have raised his hopes that a combo of form and a new coach had him primed for a Test breakthrough at 27-years-old.
“It was good to get in,” he said recently of the December inclusion. “It was a breath of fresh air, but I just want to play well here and see where it takes me.”
On the evidence of yesterday’s Six Nations squad, not where he wants to go just yet. One question remains though — if not now, when?
THOSE taking the view that Bath will arrive at Kingspan Stadium this weekend with their minds elsewhere cannot count Alan O’Connor among their number.
The English visitors to Belfast on Saturday have no hopes of progression to the quarter-finals, having lost all five of their Champions Cup contests so far, and have a key Premiership clash against Leicester next weekend.
Motivation for Ulster, in contrast, couldn’t be greater, the province knowing that, after losing to Clermont last time out, they need victory to be sure of their place in the last-eight of the competition come April.
O’Connor, a starter when an already eliminated Ulster beat quarter-final chasing Leicester back in 2015, believes a team without such pressure on the result are a dangerous beast, not least Bath, who have the talent to play some Baa-Baas style rugby under the circumstances.
“They are class players and they don’t have much to lose,” said the lock. “They love playing rugby and they are coming over here with their coach saying it doesn’t really matter what you do.
“You can throw as many 50/50s as you want, and you have guys like (Rhys) Priestland, (Semesa) Rokoduguni and (Jamie) Joseph.
“Their back rowers are class around the field as well, (Sam) Underhill, (Francois) Louw, (Toby) Faletau. They have so many threats around the place and if you give those guys licence to do what ever they want, the likelihood is they will pull something good out.
“So we have to make sure we’re on our money and if they want to come and play loose, we have to make sure we’re nice and tight.”
The third time in three seasons that the side have faced a do-or-die crunch fixture in round six, this will be the first to take place in Belfast, with O’Connor admitting that it’s a scenario they would have been happy with coming into the season despite hopes of another game in Kingspan Stadium.
“Especially here as well,” he said. “I’m looking forward to another European game at Kingspan, it’s always special here.”
Indeed, Ulster have won their last eight European ties in Belfast, and 12 of their last 13. As such the value of playing a last eight tie at home needs little explanation. That prospect is now remote, requiring Harlequins, themselves with no chance of progression, to beat Clermont.
If Ulster had managed to hold on to beat Les Jaunards last week, they would still be in the box seat to top the pool, their chances of finishing ranked in the top four much healthier.
As they have found out both last year and this season, to reach such a lofty perch will likely require to either beat one of the European heavyweights away from home or to be seeded alongside them in the pool stage draw.
Last Saturday showed they are concurrently getting closer, yet still have some way to go.
A more clinical streak during the game’s key moments would have likely produced a larger half-time lead than 10-9, their sole try in an impressive opening a fine team effort finished off by John Cooney.
Clermont’s second-half display that yielded a 29-13 win was evidence of a higher gear.
“I thought it went pretty well,” reflected O’Connor. “We had a lot of control of the territory in the first-half and some of our interplay off our pods was pretty good. Obviously, for Cooney’s try, that was really good interplay between two props and then (Sean) Reidy in there as well, which has been a good feature of our forward play this year.