Dara Smith-Naughton

Because obviously last year, there was the same circumstance where they missed the playoffs.

And I think there's just something about not getting to that stage where...

are we making progress obviously in the table there is a jump but yeah it's an interesting one we talk about the injuries and obviously the injuries have been absolutely detrimental over the last couple of games it's a seriously long list and in specific positions as well the front row has been hit really hard as has the midfield but I think as well going back to that Connock game in Belfast I think

Lancaster and his coaching team have almost done up a bit of a blueprint to beat Ulster and we're starting to see teams working off that and start to nullify that attack that we talked so much about this season Mark Sexton's attack which has been brilliant but

Just the last few games, I've noticed that they just haven't been able to get things going.

Like that kind of 10-15 minute period against Leinster, they identified that there was a bit of a weakness maybe on the right-hand side of Leinster's defence.

They went at that and they got some joy there.

But overall, over the last few weeks, that attack hasn't really been flowing as well as it has been this season.

So I'd be slightly concerned going into the next few games.

And it's such a run...

Yeah, that's always been the thing.

It's just one of those things we won't know about until it happens.

I think one thing that may be a little bit different this season, and I think that Ulster game has been really important to the overall season, is that you have some players there now that are considered to be in the second-string team

that are actually putting their hands up to get at least into the 23 on the day against Toulon.

And if they make it through that game in the final, you think about a guy like James Colhan, Scott Penny, these guys that are coming through, that have been touted for a long time as top players, but are really, really starting to get confidence and fit into that system really well.

Like Sam Prendergast back in the conversation to play in that 23 in Europe.

because he was absolutely excellent against Ulster I think he got a lot of confidence back off the back of that result look they do have their own injury issues though as well the loose head situation is still very much a concern for them so it's not all rosy there just yet but like

Yeah, I think the semi-final against Toulon, not that Toulon aren't a great team, but they're not having a great season in their league.

I believe they're 10th at the minute.

They do have some great players, some really top international players, but not a team that's at their very best.