Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KIERAN TERRIER
Treadwell anxious to get his teeth into Tigers & secure quarter-final berth for Ulster
KIERAN TREADWELL believes silencing Welford Road could be key to Ulster going on to be big noises in this season’s European Champions Cup.
Dan Mcfarland’s (below) men know a win in Saturday’s final pool game against the Leicester Tigers secures a quarter-final for the province for the first time in five years.
The incentive is huge, but former England under-20 lock Treadwell is well aware the Premiership big-hitters won’t be pushovers with the raucous backing of their home support.
Pressing the mute button on one of rugby’s most partisan arenas and atmospheres will be vital to navigating a route to the last-eight.
“I have never played there, but I’ve been a travelling substitute a few times and I know it’s a hostile place to go,” said Treadwell.
“It won’t be like playing at the Kingspan with 18,000 fans screaming for you, but we have to create our own buzz within the team.
“It’s going to be a tough place to go and get the win, but we have to focus
on ourselves.
“We know the job is only half done and we’ve got to get the second half done on Saturday.”
Treadwell, who arrived from Harlequins in 2016, says Ulster feet quickly returned to terra firma after Saturday’s impressive 26-22 home win over Racing 92.
Racing still hold a three point lead at the summit, but a win of any description this weekend will guarantee Ulster one of the three best runners-up spots and a first quarter-final since 2014.
Treadwell, who has won three Ireland caps since making his national debut against Japan in 2017, said: “There is a bit of elation and it was a big win for us [against Racing], but the focus has quickly turned to Leicester.
“It’s a big game for us and it would mean everything to get to the quarter-finals, but we are a team that focuses week on week and nothing really changes from that.”
Leicester lie rooted to the foot of the European pool and have little to play for with just one win from their five group games to date.
But while a host of bookies have Ulster strong odds on favourites to seal the result they need at Welford Road, Treadwell is bracing himself for a Tigers backlash.
The 23-year-old also expects a similar war of attrition to the one endured by Mcfarland’s men against a physical Racing five days ago.
“Yeah definitely - we’ve got to prepare for a physical battle up front,” he said. “Leicester have a massive pack, but probably not as much of an offload game as Racing did.
“We know what Leicester bring and we do have an eye on them, but it’s important we focus on ourselves.”