Henry Sets Sights On Home Quarter-Final
Ulster back rower Chris Henry has played in Test matches, finals and knockout games over the course of his career, but Saturday’s match against Leicester Tigers ranks right up there for him in terms of importance.
With qualification already secured, the game will decide who finishes top of Pool 5 and who will have home advantage in the quarter-finals.
“These are the games that you want to be involved in,” said Ulster’s Chris Henry. “Obviously there is a lot at stake and a lot of pressure, but things have gone well so far this week.
“Yesterday was a long day, especially with the weather which was horrendous, but we have got through a lot of work.”
With away wins over Montpellier and Benetton Treviso this season and a bonus point victory over Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens last year, the Ulstermen know they are capable of getting a result on Saturday:
Henry added: “Every game that I go into with Ulster I feel confident because I look around and see the quality of players in the team.
“It’s a massive game, it’s a tough place to play. I have played at Welford Road twice and lost, but the way we approach it is that if we turn up and play the way that we can, there is no reason that we can’t get the points.”
Ulster remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament this season and are the only side to have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup for the past four seasons in a row:
“I think in the European Cup we raise our game and I have no doubt that that is what is going to happen this week. There is just something about this tournament that brings the best out of us players.
“Obviously there are a lot of aspects of the game that we need to improve on from last week (against Montpellier).
“Against a team like Leicester our set piece, our scrum, our lineout and our maul need to be bang on. If we can get parity there then we have a back-line that can score some serious tries,” insisted the Ireland international.
With a potential quarter-final at the newly redeveloped, 18,100-capacity Ravenhill, the incentive for the players is huge.
“We are just desperate to get a home quarter-final. It is something that we haven’t achieved yet. Home advantage makes a difference in any game, especially in the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup.
“It is there and I feel that if we get that home game, who knows where we could end up in this tournament,” concluded Henry.