No scars and a reset - how Ulster's fortunes changed
When Ulster finished third from bottom in the United Rugby Championship last year, a lot of questions were being asked about the direction of the Irish province. Not only did they miss out the URC play-offs, but they also fell short of qualification for Champions Cup rugby. A year on, Ulster beat Exeter Chiefs on Saturday to book their place in the Challenge Cup final.
Richie Murphy's side have the opportunity to end a 20-year trophy drought when they face Montpellier in the final in Bilbao on 22 May. It has been a remarkable turnaround, and flanker Nick Timoney recognises "not many people would have been putting money on us being in a final this year". "The opportunity is there in front of us now," he said.
"We've got to go take it because I know from personal experience, and a lot of us do, they're rare opportunities. " When asked what had changed in the space of a year, Timoney said: "It feels like a lot, obviously. " The 30-year-old Ireland back row added: "We all knew at the time it wasn't good enough, but it's sometimes hard to reflect when you're in the moment and you're going week to week.
"You feel like you're trying your best, but it's not working and then that leads to frustration and lack of confidence and all that. " Resurgent Ulster not burdened by past as Bilbao final awaits Timoney explained a clean slate in the off season was key to the reset ahead of the current season. "I think we looked back and there was a conscious effort from the coaches that things were going to get better," he said.
"There was great buy-in from the players and certainly from some of the important players, leaders in the group and whatnot, that we were going to see this thing in the right direction. " A superb start to the season put them in a strong position in the URC, but, after a mid-season wobble, their play-off hopes are precarious because of how tight the top 10 teams are. "Obviously, it hasn't always been perfect," Timoney said.