Ulster and Ireland prop Tom O’Toole says that a win over old rivals Munster tonight will be huge for his side.
A promising start to the season saw Ulster fighting it out with the sides at the top end of the table. But despite an improved showing against Bordeaux-Bégles last week, it wasn’t enough to stop the northern province falling to a four consecutive defeat in all competitions.
Ulster currently sit in 10th place, one place and point above their neighbours to the south.
But as far as O’Toole is concerned, he doesn’t feel any added pressure going into what can be a season defining win.
“I guess maybe for coaches in the grand scheme of things like for it probably does (add pressure),” says O’Toole.
“But as I’ve said like it’s been a pretty hectic year and I’ve been trying to just take it week to week. I know that’s probably a pretty boring answer but I’m just literally trying to focus on making sure that I can do the best I can individually, and then do the best for the team.
“Obviously, to win at home after the three weeks we’ve had would be huge. It would be huge for the league, huge for the table and it would be huge for the group. But as I said my mentality has just been taking it week to week.”
Having established himself as a regular in recent Ireland squads, O’Toole is likely to come up against some familiar faces in the front row.
Munster’s game has often been centred around a dominating physical pack and Drogheda native O’Toole expects to face another demanding battle tonight.
“I think a lot of those guys who you’ve scrummaged against have probably scrummaged against you previously.
“It’s good to see Dave Kilcoyne back after a pretty big injury. Obviously played with him at Ireland. Obviously, Oli Jager as well. So obviously those guys will be itching to get back and you know if those guys are both fit, then they’re coming up to play the Kingspan.
“With Munster, it’s always confrontational, it’s always physical. They’re going to try and go after you at every opportunity.”
With O’Toole not available for the full season due to his Ireland commitments, young Academy prop Scott Wilson has taken the opportunity afforded to him and stepped up to the fill the void.
O’Toole already sees similarities between himself and Wilson that he also saw with himself and former prop, Marty Moore who recently retired from the game.
“Scotty played a good bit last year and he is coming along pretty well, he’s a good guy around the group and he works really hard.
“So, I’ve been really impressed with him there and the energy he brings. We work really well together and it’s similar to the relationship I had with Marty (Moore), before Marty parted ways. So hopefully it means that me and Scotty have developed a nice kind of relationship to be able to work together.”
