FINE & DANDY

Petrie praises coach’s management

JONNY PETRIE says Ulster want to “steal a march” on their rivals when rugby returns in August.

The province’s chief executive believes that Dan Mcfarland’s “phenomenal” management during the Covid-19 shutdown has given them a big chance of completing the season in style.

Ulster, who can return to training today, will get down to business at the Aviva Stadium when the PRO14 resumes on the weekend of August 22/23 and they still have a Champions Cup quarter-final in Toulouse to be played on September 12/13.

Petrie said: “It was important for the guys to use the time to freshen up. But they also need to keep on top of things and it’s something not just for the high performance guys but across the organisation.

“Because when we do come back and the business does start to turn around, which it will, you need to be in a position where you’re making an impact quickly.

“So we want to steal a march on things. We want to push really hard when we get back. Everyone needs to be in a position, whether that’s on the field or off the field, that you’re really making an impact when you get the opportunity.”

Speaking in a Glandore webinar, Petrie said that it was important as boss of the organisation that he kept a level head.

“Sport is very much a business that has very high highs and low lows,” he said. “When other people are wanting to overcelebrate or are finding themselves really down on the dumps, it’s important for me to be the level head in the middle of that.

“If things are really good, you don’t over-celebrate and if they’re not, you don’t catastrophise the lows. That’s been really important.”

Petrie pointed out that everything is normally so structured for the players – and that will only be more evident now.

He added: “Having a good coaching group and a good group of senior players who can really drive that, that’s crucial. Dan Mcfarland as head coach has been phenomenal with keeping the guys connected, getting them ready for when they do come back.”

SMALL STEPS Ulster coach Dan Mcfarland will get his troops back to outdoor training from today