Best confident of Ulster title challenge despite upheaval

After the retirements of previous captain Johann Muller, Paddy Wallace and Stephen Ferris, the Irish province lost director of rugby David Humphreys to Gloucester.

Head coach Mark Anscombe also parted company with the club, replaced by Ireland defence coach Les Kiss on an interim basis.

However, Ulster have managed to establish some continuity with the return of coach Neil Doak, Allen Clarke's appointment as forwards coach and the re-appointment of Best to the role he held from 2007 to 2011.

And the 32-year-old Irish international hooker insists his side are now a settled unit ahead of their opening game against Scarlets on September 6.

"When you consider the upheaval there has been since the end of last season I think the team is in a really good place," said Best, speaking at the GUINNESS PRO12 launch.

"We've all knuckled down as a squad of players but more importantly the coaches have come in and whatever happens outside the team meeting room and the pitch happens.

"We have a very talented young back line and a pack that if we gel together we know we can cause any team in the league and in Europe problems.

"The way we've evolved over the last four or five years we no longer enter this with a bit of a hope that we can top the table - we fully expect it.

"They are the expectations we have now and it's echoed right down from the coaches to the players. Everyone coming in is not just making up the numbers, they come in to impress and improve the club."

Best also reflected on the frustrating end to Ulster's campaign last year when they led Leinster with ten minutes left in their semi-final before falling to Ian Madigan's late try.

"We were probably a little bit inconsistent last year but it's something that's already starting to be addressed and if we get a bit more consistency we will go a long way," he added.

"The more you watch the semi-final the more sickening it becomes how close we were. We felt we controlled that game up to 9-0 and we just slipped off a little bit.

"But there comes a point when you have to stop talking about learning lessons and show that you have learned something over the years."

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