Back fully fit after a minor injury, Ulster captain Rory Best is determined to lead his side to a crucial Magners League win over Munster on Wednesday night as they look to copperfasten their place in next season’s Heineken Cup.
Best missed Ulster’s recent defeat to the Cardiff Blues but he will return to the fray on Wednesday eager for revenge.
When Ulster met Munster at Musgrave Park last month they were thumped 42-6, with Matt Williams’ men leaking six tries to their southern rivals.
Hooker Best struggled to connect with his lineout jumpers that night and an overthrow from him, early in the second half, led to a try for Ronan O’Gara.
The Ulster skipper said: “We feel we let ourselves down in Cork against them.
“Munster are one of the top two sides in Europe, they proved that on Sunday and we have to get a lot of things right against them on Wednesday.
“We want to show the aggression and passion that we have done at Ravenhill recently.
“We want to get a performance against Munster and a win. It is another huge Irish derby for us, so it will not be hard to get up for it. They will be exactly the same.”
While and Best and company have struggled away from home all season, they have come good at Ravenhill since Williams’ arrival in Belfast.
The province have notched only one win in their last four league matches but they have won their last four games at Ravenhill in all competitions, including their hard-fought 18-6 triumph over fellow strugglers Connacht.
Williams could have Simon Danielli (ankle) and David Humphreys (Achilles tendon) back from injury for next Saturday’s home encounter with Glasgow Warriors and the Australian knows how crucial these next two games are.
“We have 10 points to play for in four days. It is not about just beating Munster. We then have to go out and beat Glasgow a few days later.
“The guys were disappointed with their performance against Munster down in Cork and have a point to prove. They are going out to win with a good performance and it should be a big night,” he said.
On the subject of Humphreys and his chances of a final run-out at Ravenhill before he retires, Williams said he will give the former Ireland out-half every chance to prove his fitness for Ulster’s final home games against Glasgow and the Cardiff Blues.
“David’s Achilles is still sore. But he trained with the boys on Friday and enjoyed it. The boys also enjoyed training with him as well.
“It has been really difficult for him and we want to give him every opportunity to be able to run out at Ravenhill one last time,” Willliams added.
“It will be totally dependent on David. He is a proud man and he will not take part unless he is able to make a fair contribution, like 40 or 50 minutes.
“We want him to start a game and hopefully it will be this coming Saturday. If not then we will hopefully try again against Cardiff.
“But David does not want to go out and play if the Achilles is not right. He will make the call.”
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