Rugby

Ulster coach Neil Doak is expecting a tough PRO12 challenge from Zebre

Ulster coach Neil Doak expects Zebre to be fired up for their PRO12 clash with Ulster on Friday 
Ulster coach Neil Doak expects Zebre to be fired up for their PRO12 clash with Ulster on Friday  Ulster coach Neil Doak expects Zebre to be fired up for their PRO12 clash with Ulster on Friday 

ULSTER head coach Neil Doak expects a fired-up Zebre side to pose a stiff challenge in Friday's PRO12 clash at the Kingspan Stadium where the hosts will be attempting to get back on track after losing their last three matches in the competition.

Doak points to the unprecedented success of the Italian national side who defied the odds and the global rankings to score an historic 20-18 win over two-times world champions South Africa at the weekend and he expects Zebre to have taken inspiration from the performance.

Ulster are currently in fifth place in the standings while the Italians are second-from-bottom, their solitary victory coming in Edinburgh, where Ulster subsequently lost 29-17 in their last outing.

"We know that Zebre, coming on the back of the Italy win, will have been part of the euphoria all around the country," said Doak.

"If the national team does well, it filters down and I think this weekend we've got to match Zebre's physicality and we've also got to play some smart rugby as well. We need to go out with the intent of putting them away as early as possible and that means we've got to be accurate and we've got to be clinical. I think that's been the biggest thing over the last few weeks when we've left things out there and it's allowed teams to get back into the game.

While Ulster's recent record has been disappointing, Doak isn't overly concerned about the complexion of the league table: "Scarlets and Connacht lost games early on at start of the year but we know that every game's vital to us now and we have to get four points at least on Friday," he added.

"It's a tough league when you look at the number of internationals are coming from it; we know the standard is high and that's why you've got to be clinical and finish things off. That's been the most frustrating thing over the last number of weeks; we've had games in our own hands and we just haven't scored the tries. It's as simple as dropping the ball at times when we've been close to the line; you've just got to keep your composure in the heat of battle."

Ulster had hoped to be able to include long-term injury victim Chris Henry (shoulder) and Stuart McCloskey (foot), but neither will be fit in time. Luke Marshall is the latest Ulster player to be called up by Ireland as injury cover in the wake of last Saturday's bruising battle with the all-Blacks.

"Our resources are pretty much stretched at the moment, even without another late call for Ireland; it could be later in the week before we know who, if anyone, we'll get back," said Doak.

"But we're kicking on with regards to the team anyway assuming none of the [Ireland] players are coming back but, if any do, that will be an added bonus. It's a little bit frustrating, particularly from a back line point of view; we were training with just eight backs, some not in their usual positions, but it's part and parcel when we're feeding into international system and, on top of that, when you've got injuries."

However, the versatile Louis Ludik should return to the line up after recovering from a fractured cheek bone: "It's massive to have him back; he's been one of our players of the season so far and the flexibility he offers is key to us whether he's playing full-back or centre," Doak said.

"He's been absolute quality and he'll hopefully come back into the mix; it took him a wee while to pick it up at training, but he's been superb for us."