MAGNERS LEAGUE:YOU COULD say that Ulster have a few hurdles to clear before being seen as contenders for anything. A new coach; soon perhaps, a new chief executive and last weekend a deflating performance against Welsh side Dragons that might have put some doubts into the minds of coaches Brian McLaughlin and Jeremy Davidson as well as operations supremo, David Humphreys.

Humphreys was scathing enough after the match. Davidson, who is preparing the forwards this week for the more heavyweight challenge of Ospreys must be more circumspect. Still, last week’s serving from the Ulster team was not what he had expected after what was seen as an encouraging pre-season in which Ulster won their three friendly matches, one of them away to English side Worcester.

But with a team of young players, the opening Magners League game proved, as it often does, that competitive matches are completely different animals to pre-season runs and last weekend Ulster simply didn’t turn up. There is no panicking just yet around Ravenhill Road, but Davidson, who is back in Belfast after two years in the South of France with Castres, will want to see significant improvement in his provincial colleagues.

“After a poor performance against the Dragons last week we are looking for a performance,” said the former Irish second row. “We all know that Ospreys are a star-studded side and we are looking for a big performance this week. While we were still in the game after 60 minutes last week, it was poor seeing as we won our three pre-season matches. We are very disappointed that we did not carry that through to our first Magners League match.”

Star-studded is correct and with former Ulster winger Tommy Bowe also included in the Ospreys squad this week, the Welsh team are even stronger. Bowe has unlocked defences at the highest level and Davidson is concerned with that particular aspect of Ulster’s game.

“All sectors were disappointing with our defence in particular,” he continued. “We were well organised but we were unable to win the collisions. The possibility is that after the pre-season we under estimated Dragons. While they don’t have the stars on their team, they are still a bloody good side.

“You just have to look at the Ospreys squad this week to see what strength and depth they have. Pick any of the players and they have a strong team, so we know that Liberty Stadium is going to be a big ask.

“We will go there primarily to look for a performance and hopefully we can pull something out. In that respect we are hoping to put a lot of things straight after the disappointment of last week.”

One match at a time, of course, but every team this year will want to believe that they can make the top four and the play-offs. “I think that any team in the league will be able to get into the top four,” he says. “I think it adds spice to the competition and makes it more interesting. It will keep all of the teams more focussed about trying to get into the top half of the table.

“But Ulster is in a building phase with new management and new players in the squad. We know it going to take some time to get the youth through and get to our potential. I’m just back in after two years in France and am just getting to know the players. To what standard we can get to, I’m not sure yet.”

Work ethic is never a problem but of the three leading provinces, it is Ulster, most of all, who are least able to survive without their top players.

“The squad has worked its socks off. I know many have said that they are in the best physical condition they have ever been in,” Davidson says. “We are also looking forward to getting our international players back as well as our Lion Stephen Ferris.” No doubt their return can bring performances up a level. But, even now, believing in Ulster requires serious faith.

ULSTER (squad v Ospreys): Forwards: N Brady, B Botha, B Young, E O’Donoghue, A Kyriacou, D Tuohy, R Diak, C Henry, W Faloon, T Anderson, T Horua, D Fitzpatrick. Backs: T Nagusa, D Cave, N O’Connor, S Danielli, I Whitten, P Marshall, I Boss, I Humphreys, J Shiels, C Willis.

OSPREYS (squad): Forwards: D Jones, P James, C Griffiths, R Hibbard, H Bennett, A Lloyd, I Gough, T Smith, J Collins, J Thomas, M Holah, S Tandy, F Tiatia, R Jones. Backs: B Davies, J Vaughton, N Walker, T Bowe, J Spratt, A Bishop, D Biggar, J Hook, J Nutbrown, M Phillips.