A RED BE TTER DAY Happy to take of it all

Rowntree: PRO14 final was not us.. we have to improve massively Stock v

MUNSTER’S mission, should they choose to accept it this time, is to turn up and play to their strengths at the RDS.

But this challenge will self-destruct in no time at all if they repeat their PRO14 final performance on their quick return to Ballsbridge tomorrow.

Reds coach Graham Rowntree accepts Munster failed to produce a display that reflected anything near their collective worth in that final.

It led to a record sixth defeat on the spin to Leinster – and prompted Johann van Graan to say the Blues were “miles ahead” of the PRO14 opposition.

Rowntree said: “We’ve played them a lot over the last year and we’ve not beaten them.

“We have to look at why that happens and what we can do better, it’s as simple as that, and not build it up to be a psychological challenge – take from the game what we can do better.

“All we can do is try and work on that.”

Asked if he could reveal elements that Munster can improve on, Rowntree replied: “No, not off the top of my head. I’m not going to give all our tactics away.

“They’re a proven good team. Look at their performance down at Exeter.

“But we’re a good team as well. Trouble is, we’ve not given a good enough account of ourselves, particularly in that final, we know that and we look to build on our game.”

What the former England coach did say was that this latest shot at the Blues is another golden chance for the Reds’ young guns to prove their mettle.

He says this game provides a clean slate after the Leinster and Toulouse defeats.

“We certainly finished off the last season a couple of weeks ago, reviewed it, as coaches and as a group,” Rowntree explained.

“It’s another cup. It’s another opportunity for more guys to stake their claim and that’s what a lot of what our youngsters have done this season so we’re excited about it from that regard, to have a look at some new guys and some new combinations.

“It’s been on our minds all season. Probably the last 18 months since I’ve been here, we’re aware of the guys underneath and coming through. The art to this is when to bring them through.

“Which games and which combinations? But I think you’ve seen this season that we’re not afraid of bringing them in, and in big games as well.

Look at the likes of

Gav Coombes and what he’s done.

“It’s up to us as to when we expose them in the big games and I think we’re doing that well. We’re bringing guys through at the appropriate time

“We want to win and see guys take their chances. Look at Coombesy, I keep thinking of Josh Wycherley in that game in Clermont. They are immense experiences for young men, they’ll learn so much from those games.

“They have learnt, they’re moving on quickly and you can see how quickly their game has come on from playing in those big games.

“Your team is naturally always evolving and you’ve got to be ready for that all the time.”

8.15pm

JACOB STOCKDALE insists he relishes the versatility of wearing the No15 shirt or playing on the wing for Dan Mcfarland’s expansive Ulster side.

The 25-year-old, who starts at full-back against Connacht in the Rainbow Cup tonight, also rejected suggestions that playing the position in recent times was an “experiment”.

Stockdale, who has worn the No11 shirt with distinction for Ulster in recent years, was handed the full-back berth by Andy Farrell for the first time with Ireland against Italy in October.

Notably, four of his last five starts for Ireland, post lockdown, have come at 15, with eight of 16 appearances for Ulster since the return of play in August also in that position.

Asked if it was an ongoing ‘experiment’, Stockdale said: “I don’t think that’s the right term for it, because I’ve always backed myself to play different positions since I was 18 or 19.

“Mikey (Lowry) has been playing brilliantly there ( for Ulster), but it’s a good option to have as a team that I can jump in at full-back.

“Wing probably does feel slightly more natural for me because I’ve played more there, but I really, really enjoy playing full-back.”

Stockdale, who has scored 30 tries in 78 appearances for Ulster, feels he has “more opportunities” to express himself and impact games wearing the No15 shirt.

“On the wing I find you get five or six opportunities and you have to make them count, whereas at full-back you get a few more touches,” he said.

“You get a few more chances to imprint yourself on the game, although on the other side of the ball full-back is tougher and harder work in terms of backfield coverage.

“You have to make sure the ball isn’t bouncing in your 22 which is kind of the gold standard for a full-back, so it’s a different challenge.”

Stockdale has highlighted seasoned Connacht out-half Jack Carty as the main source of danger this evening as Ulster bid to get the new Rainbow Cup campaign off to a winning start.

“They have a talented 10 in Jack and as a back three player, if you’re not on your game, he will pin you to the corners,” he said.

“You have to make sure you don’t give him an inch, because if you do, he can make you look a bit silly.”

Ulster are boosted by the return of captain Iain Henderson who has recovered from a shoulder knock in Ireland’s recent Six Nations win over England in Dublin.

A further boost for Mcfarland is the fact longterm absentee Will Addison is also set to play his first game in 15 months after being named on the bench.