FOCUS ON US..NOT ON THE BLUES

Ulster hooker Andrew warns there is no point in constantly watching pace-setters Leinster’s form

HOOKER John Andrew has warned Ulster they can’t afford to adopt tunnel vision for Leinster in the race to reach next month’s PRO14 final.

With only two group winners progressing to the March 27 showpiece, it’s now a two-horse race between the Irish rivals to finish top of Conference A.

Dan Mcfarland’s (inset) men have five games to overhaul Leinster’s four-point advantage at the summit, with the Blues set to roll into Belfast on March 6.

But while that Kingspan clash will go a long way to deciding Ulster’s fate, Andrew insists the province’s other four games are just as key.

Ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to Glasgow, he said: “We’re not looking past this week. If you end up thinking about what can happen in a month, I don’t think it’ll do us any good. With only the leaders in each Conference going through, we know the task in front of us and this team won’t shy away from that.

“But you can’t be looking at game four and five when you could slip up in the first one or two, so we’ll focus on Glasgow and prepare for that.”

Mcfarland acknowledged earlier this week that it will probably take five wins and as many bonus points to pip Leinster to top spot between now and the end of March.

Leo Cullen’s men inflicted a 24-12 defeat on Ulster in their last outing on January 8, a result that ended a 10-game unbeaten run in the competition.

After this week’s trip to Glasgow, Ulster have two home games against Ospreys and Leinster before concluding the regular season against Dragons (A) and Zebre (H).

“We know what we need to do and it gives us a target to go for,” said Andrew.

“Hopefully we’re coming into better weather which will also allow for a bit more flowing rugby which could lead to trying to get bonus points.

“There is no point thinking about five weeks’ time because we know we have a job in front of us now and that’s what we’re preparing for.”

Ulster warmed up for their first fixture in five weeks with a training game against Ireland a fortnight ago in a contest described as “pretty physical” by Andy Farrell.

“It was good to go up against lads in the Irish team,” said Andrew. “They were looking to prove a point and there were plenty on our side looking to prove a point, so it kept it fresh after the break we had.

“We’ve spent weeks running against each other (at Ulster) but we all run the same plays and know the patterns, so it was nice to freshen it up.”

ENGLAND boss Chris Silverwood has struggled to defend his claim that Test cricket remains the priority in the face of the relentless T20 machine.

Whether it is England’s T20 cricket played in the run-up to the World Cup later this year, or T20 in the IPL, it is taking something away from England’s fiveday team in an Ashes year.

With an IPL auction in which 17 English players are looking to join Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer with deals, Silverwood says those involved in the later stages would miss the early Tests against New Zealand in June.

“Test cricket is the priority to us, most definitely,” said Silverwood. “It’s about building towards the Ashes.

We want to make sure when we arrive at the Ashes that we have fit, healthy players capable of performing in those conditions.

“The fixtures get put in front of us and we try to design things so we can fulfil them in a way where we are competing and winning.”

A hectic fixture list that includes the IPL is not going to change any time soon, so Silverwood (right) and national selector Ed Smith must juggle things as best they can.

But such is the largesse available in the IPL to a small number of players that the ECB have been resigned to playing second fiddle to a domestic tournament elsewhere.

“I understand that is how the world works,” said Silverwood. “I embrace it and will do my best to make it work. We just get on with it. We’re still going to have to use a rotation system where we can get people in and out until things free up and we can use people how we usually would.

“We have some great Test cricket between now and the Ashes and we want to win everything along the way. I think the challenges we are seeing are a great experience for all of us.”

The great cricket will hopefully start next week when England go to Ahmedabad for a day/night third Test with a pink ball that has already got the bowlers excited.

This series could yet go down as one of the greats, regardless of the players actually playing, and that must be England’s focus.

Silverwood added: “The pink ball during practice has swung more and scuffed up less, so seems a little bit more durable than the red version. To see it swinging was nice.”

India opener Shubman Gill has been passed fit to take his place in the squad for the last two Tests against England, with seamer Umesh Yadav recalled.

Gill was hit on the forearm while fielding during India’s second Test win at Chennai and missed the final day after being sent for precautionary scans.

WITH the anniversary of football’s shutdown only weeks away, a few questions of fans need to be asked.

How often have the soulless grounds and fake crowd noises made you feel like giving up?

Can you envisage ever enjoying a normal matchday experience again? And which set of Premier League supporters has seen their club use the pandemic to make the biggest leap forward?

Since early last March, Manchester City have gone from 25 points off the pace to the best team in the country again. Manchester United have moved closer to where they want to be and Everton have jumped from lower mid-table to top-six contenders. West Ham have enjoyed a spectacular leap from 16th to fifth, but Aston Villa going from relegation certainties to games-in-hand wins away from the Champions League places, surely trumps them all. Because what looked like a collection of mediocrities, who were about to go back to the Championship after one season, now look like a proper, balanced team, who can defend and excite in equal measure.

To realise the transformation, you need to go back to their last game before lockdown, on March 9, when they were thumped 4-0 at Leicester, leaving them next-to-bottom and everyone’s tip to go down.

It was their fifth consecutive loss and their next four games were against top-six sides.

They seemed destined to be labelled ‘one-season wonders’ who blew £130million on mostly sub-standard players, which they would only recoup through the inevitable sale of their finest talent, Jack Grealish. Things looked grim.

But the lockdown inspired manager Dean

Smith into a radical rethink. His team had been too open against better sides and their naivety was routinely punished.

So he studied all 28

League games and held individual inquests with his players over Zoom, painstakingly showing them their failings and how he aimed to put it right when training resumed.

The defensive reset, and renewed confidence it brought, worked a treat.

Before lockdown, they were conceding two goals a game, in the final 10 it came down to 1.1, enabling them to stay up by a point.

That defensive solidity has carried into this season, where they are conceding at the rate of 1.09 a game, with only Manchester City letting in fewer goals.

The contrast between last summer’s focussed transfer window and the previous scattergun one could not have been starker.

Emi Martinez has quickly become one of the top keepers in the League and Matty Cash slotted straight into a solid defence. Bertrand Traore and Ross Barkley brought energy and nous to the attacking midfield and, up front, Ollie Watkins has been a revelation, not just with his goals and assists, but his intelligent movement and tireless running.

Eyebrows were raised when Villa smashed the club-transfer record to bring him from Brentford for £28m, but Smith was convinced he would succeed in a higher division, and he’s now worth twice that.

It says a lot that Smith was disappointed with drawing at Brighton on Saturday, labelling his outfield players “below average,” despite the point they won taking them above last season’s final total of 35. With 16 games still to play.

Their form since that Leicester hammering on the eve of shutdown has been a revelation. Villa are now one of the toughest sides to break down but, going forward, one of the easiest on the eye. They press and run, there is a togetherness, technical ability and a mature game intelligence despite being, on average, the youngest side in the League.

On Saturday, they play Leicester again. This time not fighting for their lives, but for points that will keep them on course for Europe. They’re on course for winning lockdown, too.

HE’S BACK Alfredo Morelos

STEVEN GERRARD insists he’s seen a twinkle in the eyes of his stars that’s convinced him they are ready to shine in Belgium tonight.

The Rangers boss has had to deal with the distraction of dealing with some of his fringe men stepping out of line at the weekend.

But the quarantine crew hasn’t stopped him staring the rest of the squad in the eye – and Gerrard has liked what he’s seen.

He’s convinced the Light Blues are going to dazzle against Royal Antwerp as they look to steal a march towards the Europa League last 16. Gerrard said: “The stage we are at and the relationship we have, I know them, they know me and the staff, we’ve really bonded together.

“I’d like to think I can get a feel amongst the group, how they train, how they look at you, what’s on the horizon. I’d like to think I’ve enough experience now to feel when a performance is about to come.

“Look, nothing surprises or shocks you in football but going off the last two days in training, the players have shown a real top level. I don’t know if the boys have got the bit between their teeth but they have looked really focused and in the zone, ready to put in a performance.

“We are really excited about this group of games. There is no fear and we believe at our best we have enough to get the job done.

“I see a twinkle in the eyes at training and they have shown a real top-level. The standard in training has been fantastic. The level and intensity has gone through the roof and we are going in very excited.”

Gerrard’s men haven’t taken their sights

off the Scottish Premiership title for a second this season as they close in on ending a decade of hurt.

But it’s been another successful charge in Europe to get to the knockout stages for the second campaign on the spin.

Gerrard is not done yet though. He’s already matched Dick Advoccat’s record of 22 wins in continental clashes and another one over the next week will see him match Walter Smith’s total.

It’s an incredible record in such a short time – especially with memories still fresh from previous European calamities.

Gerrard said: “We’re really proud of our results in Europe, the majority of them. The players deserve all the credit for our record in Europe. They are the ones who’ve gone out and produced the performances.

“In terms of being named in the same category as Dick Advoccat or Walter Smith, I don’t think I’m ready for that.

“For me it’s just about preparing the team and giving them a game plan. Any time we’ve given them the responsibility and challenge, they have really stepped up. This is a competition they enjoy playing in. We want to strive or better. We want to quality and it’s the dream to go further than last year. Further down the line we have aspirations of playing in the Champions League.

“That’s what we all have to strive for, there’s no harm in reaching for the stars. But you have to worry about what’s in front of you first. This is a level you can’t afford to have a night off, you can’t afford a performance like Hamilton.”

Gerrard’s back-up might have been damaged by the Covid controversy but his starting line-up is at full strength.

Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe have been out serving domestic bans but ready to rock this evening.

Gerrard is hoping Morelos can turn it on in Europe as he has done so many times.

He said: “Alfredo is really chomping at the bit. Hopefully he can make up for the time he’s lost. He owes it to his team-mates to come back in a good place and finish the season in the best place he can.

“Kemar is different as he still needs to serve a one-game ban at the weekend but I’m delighted he’s available. He’s on a yellow card so he has to be careful if we decide to go with him.

“Alfredo has had a fantastic run in this competition of late. He’s been consistent domestically as well. But these games seem to give him an extra spark.

His goal return is the reason why we’ve had success in this competition in my time here.”

LEGACIES Gers boss Gerrard and No.2 Gary Mcallister with legendary Ibrox manager Walter Smith