Constable can work all the options

The image might have been pulled from the list of sports' top ten cliches but still, it is irresistible. It's the picture of 25 Dungannon players at an army base somewhere outside Belfast, tooled up for a team building session and eyeing the obstacle course with a toddler's eagerness.

Behind the machine gun and the SA80 assault rifles the players bury live rounds into targets on the range under the supervision of an army instructor. This is Dungannon unwinding in their build up towards the weekend's semi-final playoff against Galwegians. The Dungannon backline, at least, have found an apt expression for their on-field playing style.

Probably the best in the country, the Dungannon outside backline has become a try scoring automaton. At it's heart is a phalanx of international players. Ireland's David Humphreys at out half, Johnny Bell at inside centre, Tyrone Howe on the wing and one of the shrewdest recruits of the season Ryan Constable on Bell's left shoulder.

Long before Dungannon had achieved their highest league place in the AIL and before they had become only the second Ulster club to appear in the top four, Constable had already been asked to stay in Ulster for another two years. This despite his bags being packed to go home following a three year stint at Saracens.

"I was longing for the Oz lifestyle after three years in London but this offer came up," says Constable. "London was the big shock for me. In Belfast I'm enjoying the laid back lifestyle."

Typically there had been threads linking Constable with Dungannon throughout his career. When Willy Anderson travelled to the Australian Institute of Sport in 1992 he first noticed the pace and footballing talent of the young Australian. Constable's one international cap a year later in 1993 was also against Ireland.

"I was capped at the Sydney Football stadium. Johnny Bell was winning one of his first caps and Paddy Johns would also have been in that side," he says.

The 29-year-old and Johns were also teammates at Saracens where, during a match against Lydney in an English Cup fifth round tie, Constable went to Johns rescue after a Lydney fan had grabbed the second row by the throat. Constable's intervention to help his team mate cost him a yellow card.

"Paddy Johns was the reason I came to Ireland and it has worked out. I'm staying with Brad Free in Belfast. We go back a long way. We played in Queensland and on the Australian under 21s together, " he says.

"The quality of players inside and outside my position have made it easy to slot in and also playing together on the Ulster side means were are reading each other well when it comes to club matches."

"Pace would have to be one of my attributes. It is one of those things we've tried to exploit. I don't know how many tries I've scored but I think it works out at around 10 tries or so each around the backline. That means we're retaining possession for long spells to allow us work the options and score. So the forwards too should take credit."

Constable's edge and Bell's huge tackle count have provided an enviable midfield partnership with the Australian's Sevens ability allowing him exploit the slightest of defence fractures. Constable has captained Australia at the Hong Kong Sevens and until recently was a member of the Australian Sevens squad, which implies a keen instinct.

Three tries against Terenure this year and in one game a six try haul for Saracens against Bedford, an individual record for the English Premiership, his pedigree is unquestioned.

"I started off at half back, fly half but I do prefer the 13 shirt," he says. "I'm a lot more involved in the game and I've the luxury of having Johnny (Bell) beside me. He's very powerful. Now we're staring to perform after a disappointing start and we've scored a lot of good team tries."

"Our aim now is to progress . . . and ultimately have a good weekend in Lansdowne Road."