Lockdown can have a silver lining for Ulster: Mcgrath

ULSTER star Jack Mcgrath believes hard work during lockdown has the side well primed for the rugby season’s sprint finish towards silverware.

After the IRFU confirmed yesterday that the latest round of Covid-19 testing in Irish Rugby produced no positive results, the way has been cleared for this weekend’s restart of the season in the Aviva Stadium, where Leinster meet Munster tomorrow and Ulster take on Connacht on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off ).

The northern province require two points from two PRO14 games to be absolutely sure of their place in the four-team play-offs next month and are still fighting on two fronts with their Champions Cup quarter-final with Toulouse scheduled to take place five weekends from now.

While frustrating, Mcgrath (right) feels the enforced six month break between games has afforded the side the opportunity to ensure they’re physically right ahead of a huge stretch of games.

“We’ve really built on a good season and we’re probably lucky now that the time off has given lads a chance to get rid of niggles so we can hit the ground running,” he said.

“We’ve had seven weeks back at it now and gradually building up with non-contact and all that stuff. Most lads at this stage are raring to go.

“We’re building up nicely. We know how much is on the line for us at the weekend.

“Usually, after this amount of time, you would be going back into a pre-season game with rolling subs on and off.

“So there might be a few tired heads 20 minutes in but we know the job that has to be done and how dangerous Connacht are. We fully respect what they are going to bring to the table.”

The 14th anniversary of Ulster’s most recent trophy — the 2006 Celtic League -— passed during lockdown but Mcgrath is not shy about his belief that the current crop are heading in the right direction to end the drought.

“(You need) consistency through the season, a lot of luck as well, and you have to have depth in your squad” he said of taking the next step.

“I’ll make no bones about it, I moved up here to win silverware.

“I saw the quality of players and coaching staff and knew they were stepping in the right direction, having spoken to Dan and everything.

“I just believed in the process they were going through.

“It’s going to be a successful time for the time I’m going to be here.”