There’s little for Ulster to cheer

ULSTER can lay justifiable claim to supplying the Lions with a trio of all-time greats: Mike Gibson, Syd Millar and Willie-John McBride. Their native province is now in such a state that supplying Ireland with three players tends to be three too many.

Never before have Ulster been confronted by a deteriorating state of invisibility on the Test stage. They started their defence of the Grand Slam in France without a single player from their northern province worthy of a place on the bench, let alone the starting XV.

Throughout the tournament, only one Ulster player started: Stuart McCloskey against Italy. For the next three matches against Wales, England and Scotland, only one other Ulster player appeared as a substitute, Iain Henderson for the last quarter at Twickenham.

None came under starter's orders for last month's two-Test series in South Africa although McCloskey and Rob Herring were summoned from the bench for the momentous finale in Durban. Ulster supporters can hardly complain of a southern bias, not after enduring a season of severe beatings from Bath, Toulouse, Harlequins, Clermont and Leinster.

Even in high summer, the losses keep coming. Ulster's revelation of debts between £2.5m and £3m suggests that the cold winds blowing around Ravenhill are about to get colder still.