Ulster coach Mark Anscombe tells GERRY THORNLEYit's not about who starts but about utilising key players

IN THE aftermath of Ulster’s handsome 41-17 win over Castres at a packed Ravenhill last week, Mark Anscombe accepted Ulster lost a good deal of composure for much of the second half after chasing their fourth, bonus-point try from the 45th minute until overtime. This was the thrust of his Monday debrief with his squad in the light of his first game in the competition.

Time doesn’t heal all wounds and while coaches can be perfectionists, the hard-edged Kiwi was also prepared to ease off a little as well. “We needed to show a little more patience but we can’t beat ourselves up too much about aspects of it, because we got the win and we are winning, and you’ve got to be careful that you don’t become too negative because you think you can do things that are beyond you.”

Besides which, it’s not been a bad start to a reign that was always going to be judged warily in Ulster given the popularity of local coach Brian McLaughlin in taking his native province to a first European final since 1999. Looking across the three major European leagues – French Top 14, Premiership and Pro 12 – and the only unbeaten team still standing are Anscombe’s Ulster.

One of the most striking features of all this is how the squad’s depth has apparently been strengthened, not only by new arrivals, the return to fitness of Jared Payne (who must feel like a new signing) but by the upward graph of indigenous young players such as Paddy Jackson, Iain Henderson, Mike McComish and Luke Marshall, with the latter’s namesake Paul playing so well that some bloke called Pienaar had hardly been missed until his valedictory return in last week’s final quarter.

“That’s been the challenge that was set from the start. You’re only as successful as the depth of your squad because circumstances happen that are out of your control. For example last week Nick Williams was ruled out and Stephen Ferris cried off last minute, and if you haven’t given the other guys confidence to take these opportunities then the likes of Iain Henderson are not going to slip in and do the job. I thought he did a superb job . . . and we didn’t miss a beat as a team.”

All that said and done, not unexpectedly last week’s cameo was sufficient for Pienaar to regain his starting place – with Paul Marshall reverting to the bench – as the starting XV now has 11 of last year’s Twickenham finalists. “We’re really lucky to be in such a good position,” says Anscombe with regard to his choice at scrumhalf. “But the thing is the game is 80 minutes, and you’ve got to pick 23 players. I don’t think in some positions about dropping or starting, it’s about how you utilise key people.

“Over 80 minutes some people can inject some things, and what we’ve seen is our bench has been good for us this year. That’s important, and at crucial times we’ve got to be able to bring on people who can spark a bit of life and bring another dimension to our game. And we’ve got to look at each game specifically and how we utilise those players,” said Anscombe, intimating Marshall’s ability to up the tempo off the bench will be utilised this evening.

It’s a pity from an Irish perspective Marshall isn’t starting, but then again to not start a world-class performer like Pienaar would be a tough choice to take. Besides, Marshall’s upward graph is also in part due to Pienaar’s presence at Ulster, and although Anscombe wasn’t with Ulster last season, through studying the player and insider knowledge, he says Marshall’s game has improved again this season in one area especially. “His running game is excellent but what I was really pleased with last weekend was his kicking game.”

With Castres reverting to something much more akin to a first-choice side for the visit of Northampton this evening, this could be a very encouraging night for Ulster. However, in terms of qualification, this still has something of a must-win look to it against a Glasgow team who will be even more desperate for a win after taking a 15-0 lead away to Northampton only to emerge empty-handed.

Ulster beat them on the Pro12 opening night but compared to then Anscombe, on his first foray to Scotland, says: “I think they’ve got their combinations working a lot better. They’ve got some very dangerous backs, and a formidable loose forward trio and a strong scrum, so they’ve got capabilities to win set-piece possession, they’re very good at the breakdown and the backs to complement that work. We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground.”