United Rugby Championship: Ulster v Connacht (Sunday, 5.15pm, Premier Sports)
As Ulster begin a block of five fixtures that could define their season, hooker Rob Herring says he can’t wait to get stuck into a pretty exciting period of fixtures, starting with Connacht at the Kingspan Stadium on St Stephen’s Day.
With inter-provincials to follow against Leinster and Munster respectively after Sunday’s derby, Ulster then have rounds three and four of the Champions Cup to negotiate all before the end of January, Herring admits that this could well be Ulster’s most crucial part of the season.
“All squads have probably spoken about it, but we spoke about it even before the first Connacht game about the block of games that we have coming up, how crucial this part of the season is going to be for us," said Herring.
“I think it can go a long way to solidifying your spot in the play-offs over this period.”
With an official inter-pro series being reintroduced with the new United Rugby Championship, the derbies have taken on a lot of extra meaning.
The winner of the Irish section will automatically gain entry to next season’s Champions cup. With such a prize on offer, it’s no wonder that Herring is raring to go for what is sure to be the most keenly contested series of festive derbies seen in many a year.
“All the Irish teams we sort of have the tough end of it, playing each other in the big inter-pros. That’s just the reality of the way the new comp works.
“But, yeah, it’s something that’s really exciting to be honest.
“There’s less games. There’s more riding on them, and that’s pretty exciting. It’s a good challenge for us.”
The turn of year fixtures also gives players involved in international camps an opportunity to square up to each other and lay down a marker for the upcoming 6 Nations squad announcement.
Herring made a substitute appearance in Ireland’s win over New Zealand in November, but the 21 minutes that he featured that day were the only minutes he saw in the three game Autumn Series.
Ronan Kelleher has dislodged Herring as first choice Ireland hooker while Kelleher’s Leinster teammate Dan Sheehan has put his hand up for a green jersey with a string of fine performances.
But despite being frustrated by the lack of game time, Herring is now working as hard as ever to force his way back into Andy Farrell’s starting plans.
“I guess I was just maybe a little bit disappointed with my involvement in the autumn.
“I got a chance to regroup when I came back, and, just to refocus and see what I need to be doing better.
“There were aspects of my game that weren’t where they should be.
But it’s a case of looking after number one for Herring and not what the rivals are up to.
“I don’t really look at other hookers and what they’re doing.
“It’s about me and what I can do. As soon as you start comparing yourself you lose your way. I’ve just got to get back to what I do well,”
