Michael Lowry has called on the Ulster fanbase to turn out in huge numbers this Friday night as the province face a season defining inter-provincial battle with fellow Irish strugglers Munster.
The utility back knows only too well how a full Ravenhill can help play a part in big games and Lowry is hoping that a packed-out stadium can play the role of 16th man to help end the teams current losing streak.
Ulster currently occupy the 10th place berth in the United Rugby Championship (URC), one place and one point above Friday nights visitors.
While Lowry accepts that the team must play their part of the pitch, he believes that a strong vocal backing tomorrow night will go a long way to ending the four-game losing streak that the team are currently on.
With so much at stake, it’s any wonder Lowry has issued a rallying call.
“I think it’s really important that everyone gets behind the team,” said Lowry.
“And like as much as it is that we show what we can do on the pitch and get the crowd behind us, it works both ways. So yeah, like we love playing in front of the home crowd; it’s brilliant.
“We need it this week as like I said, it’s a massive game for us.”
It hasn’t been an easy period for Ulster.
A difficult run of fixtures against arguably three of the top sides in Europe in the last three games has left Ulster’s season in a precarious position. A home defeat to Leinster in their last URC fixture means Ulster currently sit outside the play-off spots, while heavy beatings from Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bégles mean any hopes of progression to the knock-out stages of the Champions cup remain slim.
When on a winless run, one would tend to question themselves more, and as Lowry explains, it’s very hard to turn ‘switch-off’ as the pain of defeat often lingers in the mind much longer than the joy of victory.
“For me personally anyway I do struggle to switch from it.
“I don’t think it’s necessary a bad thing sometimes. Just because, a lot of us really really care and when it doesn’t go your way and you do obviously get criticism from people outside the environment, and that’s ok because everyone is entitled to their opinion and stuff, but what sort of matters is how the group react. And it can be quite difficult.
“Like on Saturday we played the game, early kick-off and then all night I’m thinking I could’ve done this or we could’ve done that. What if we did this and then on Sunday, you’re reviewing the game again and you’re just watching a video clip and then you’re previewing on the Monday for Munster game coming up.
“So, you don’t really switch off too much you know. It’s definitely easier when you win. Like a win, you can review quickly. You’re happy because when you lose it’s nearly the end of the world.”
