Ulster have to learn to win the big matches

Ulster are not daring to dream again just yet. Prime position in their Heineken Cup pool maybe tempting them towards bigger thoughts. They have shown they can beat any team in Europe, with Munster falling last weekend. But . . .

Theirs is two weekends of answering questions to themselves, the first can Mark Anscombe put a run together and then win the one-off pressure matches of the knockout stages.

However, even that is rushing ahead. This weekend is Montpellier, a French side with a bellyful of defeats and limping along in both Europe and the Top 14.

The French in Belfast have had lots to regret over the years and while Roger Wilson understands the cliché of them under performing anywhere north of Calais, the backrower is wary:

"It might even work in the opposite way," he warns. "Because we really have a good home record (unbeaten at Ravenhill since February) teams will know they have to be at their best to beat us.

Fear factor
"When you go to places where teams are good at home there is always that certain amount of fear factor going into it and you raise your game. So yeah, we are going to raise Montpellier's game, them knowing what they are going to have coming at them.

“For us, from a confidence point of view, knowing we have that home record is fine to have behind us. But just because you have a record will never get you over the line.”

Wilson’s maternal grandfather was Lions centre Harry McKibbin and two other uncles also played for Ireland. There is also a feeling in Ulster that his own Irish cap count should be higher than one.

A stretch in Northampton up to the beginning of the season has added layers to his game, while his voice on the team has always been articulate and smart.

He won’t be assuming anything against Montpellier but knows Ulster want to beat them out the gates as a full-blown meeting with Leicester in Welford Road looms the following week.

“Montpellier are probably down and out a bit,” he says. “I think the key to it really is making sure they are really out of it in this particular game in the first 20 minutes.

“We’ve talked about teams coming to Ravenhill. So its making sure any energy they play with in those 20 minutes is put to bed and it’s important that we come from that first quarter of the match points up and hopefully they’ll drop their heads a little bit. ”

Since David Humphries began pulling the strings at Ulster as cleverly as he did as an outhalf the team has consistently hinted at more than just glorious runs.

But still no silverware. Runners-up in Europe in 2011-12 and close again in the Rabo last year, as well as a lost quarter-final against Saracens in Twickenham (27-16), suggests Ulster are within touching distance of winning. But can they?

Capable
"Yeah, I think so," says Wilson. "I think we showed that in parts this season and last season. We've shown that we are capable of taking on any team. You look back on last season. We played well in the Pool stages and we played the Saracens games and we didn't perform.

“So it’s all very well getting out of your pool but come knockout stages it’s performing on the day. It’s making sure we have that ability to hold our nerve on the big stage. We have only really been tested once or twice and haven’t really delivered, the Rabo final last year and the (Heineken Cup) quarter final. We certainly have to prove it in one off games but I think we are definitely capable.

“You don’t want to have too many opportunities and you want to take one of them sooner rather than later.”

Ulster will have an eight-day turnaround before Leicester in the final pool match. The defeat of Munster in the Rabo recently, was especially sweet.

“It makes us more battle-hardened going into Europe and there are no more two physical teams than Montpellier and Leicester,” he says. “So yeah, Munster was a good dress rehearsal.”