Ulster must start believing if it is to avoid further suffering, insists Kok

Werner Kok says Ulster must start believing in themselves if they want to break their losing streak as soon as possible.

South African winger Kok was one of the few new faces to arrive at Ulster during the tight season and his all-action style quickly saw him establish himself as a fan favourite.

Joining a team with such a young age profile has allowed Kok to become one of the team’s leaders a little quicker than he would have imagined.

But the former South African Sevens star admits the time for excuses is over and it’s up to experienced team members like himself to help him pick up the pieces and get his team out of the doldrums.

“I know we’re all in a building phase with a lot of young boys in the team and it’s showing a little bit. “It’s an excuse we can no longer use,” he admitted.

“There are a lot of seniors around the team who can really encourage the boys and just need to start believing because we have a lot of talent in the team. We just need to stay there and use our abilities and our talent to cross the finish line and win a few matches.

These are difficult times for everyone associated with the province. Across a schedule including the two best teams in France as well as three inter-professional derbies, the mental strength of the young Ulster team was always going to be tested to its limits.

Kok maintains that teams are doing everything they can to get back to winning ways, including suppressing all outside noise and focusing fully on what’s happening inside the group.

Ulster Rugby's Zac Ward absent due to injury against Munster at Kingspan Stadium — Ulster Rugby’s Zac Ward misses out with injury against Munster at Kingspan Stadium. The winger recently signed a three-year contract with the Ulstermen. Photo by Brian Little

“It’s hard. I’ve been in this situation before.

“You can’t really worry about what’s going on outside and what other people are saying. It comes more internally now and it brings out the character of the team.

“It’s always easy to see good character and real fight if it goes well. But it really brings out the fight and character of the boys when things don’t go well. So this is going to test us now.

Friday night defeat in Munster hurt even more as Ulster looked on their way to a well-deserved victory when James McNabney scored a try in the 76th minute.

But for the second time in the competition Ulster allowed Munster to respond instantly and on the final play of the match Tom Farrell stunned Ravenhill with his third try of the evening.

Teams are often at their most vulnerable after scoring, and Ulster twice exposed their vulnerability from the restart.

“We have to try to get another positive on top of a positive. We cannot stay positive and negative all the time. And I think that’s the most important thing for us. To really stay in it, to control the game better.

“We took a little hit but I know we will bounce back.”