Ulster second row Kieran Treadwell believes that if Ulster focus on consistency of performance this season, then match results will take care of themselves.
Ulster tend to come flying out of the blocks at the start of the season, only to see their form nose-dive in the most spectacular fashion. If Ulster are to be taken as serious title contenders, they are going to have to show a higher level of consistency from the off.
“For me I suppose it’s more like performance based. We were very up-down last season, I think. Especially with some away games.
“We had amazing victories and some away games it looked like we were not at the races. So, I think this season it’s about being more consistent within our performances no matter where we are and no matter who we are playing.”
Treadwell was speaking ahead of Ulster’s second and final pre-season challenge away to the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park. A venue the 11-times capped Irish international knows plenty about.
“Sandy Park is a tough place to go, and from what I can remember from playing there with Quinns (Harlequins) it was a fast track.
“So, I think it will suit us with the way we want to play. It’s probably going to be windy down there, but we know what they are going to bring. They’ve a big old pack, so we think it’s going to be confrontational and stuff like that.
“Again, we’re going to have to try and focus on ourselves and build on what we put out there last Saturday against Treviso. We knew there was a few things we had to iron out because obviously it was our first pre-season game, so hopefully we can do that within this week’s prep and put our best foot forward again.”
While the arrival of Richie Murphy has grabbed most of the headlines, the appointment of Jimmy Duffy as the new forwards coach received much less fanfare.
But the arrival of Duffy certainly wasn’t lost on Treadwell as Duffy himself was also a second row in his playing days. And it’s an appointment that Treadwell is excited about.
“It’s great to have someone that’s there whose been in your position and has an understanding from your shoes. It’s great to have a direct line and how he wants his second rows to play.
“Obviously scrumming as a second row, different sides, there’s quite a few different nuances to it. People don’t expect that. They probably just think get in there and push!
“But there are little technical things there. And within the lineout he’s very good. He’s probably more drill focused stuff like that other than create all different moves. He’s more focused on our drill, our process, so it’s good.”
For this evening’s test, Treadwell gets the nod to partner Alan O’Connor in the second row, while trialists Corrie Barrett and Zack Ward get another chance to stack a claim for a permanent contract by being named at tight-head and wing respectively.