O'Sullivan enjoying coaching role with Ulster women
Eric O'Sullivan is in his second season as an assistant with the Ulster women's team, who take on Leinster in their latest Interpro at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday in a game that will be live on the BBCi Player and website
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When it comes to pre-season, few players want to spend any additional time on the training field but Ulster's Eric O'Sullivan has been putting in plenty of extra hours at Kingspan Stadium this summer.
As well as preparing for his own upcoming season, the 28-year-old is scrum and defence coach for the Ulster women's team who host Leinster on Saturday in their third fixture of the Women's Interprovincial Championship, a game which will be shown live on the BBC iPlayer and website.
After two bonus points in defeat to Munster first up, followed by last weekend's thrilling draw with Connacht, Ulster will welcome the reigning champions to Belfast for the concluding pool game with their destiny in their own hands, knowing victory could see them advance to the final.
And while Murray Houston's young team are developing with each outing, O'Sullivan feels he is doing likewise as a coach.
“I’m still learning on the job," said the Dubliner who has made 115 appearances for Ulster since his debut in 2018.
"It’s been really good for me to get a different perspective on this side of the game as to what coaches are looking for and how you go about getting a team into shape.
“It’s been challenging getting messages across, I’m not used to jumping in front of the group like that and being so on it."
Ulster came from 14 points down to draw 25-25 with Connacht
Leinster will travel to Kingspan Stadium as favourites for the win with another decider against Munster expected, but, after ending an 11-year winless run last season, O'Sullivan sees a chance to make a final as a real sign of progress for the northern province.
“If you look at the position we were in last year, we would have taken your hand off for this opportunity going into the last game where it’s all up to us,” he said.
“We know if we go out and put in a performance, then it’s in our hands. That’s very exciting to have that opportunity."
Having fallen 17-0 behind Munster before coming back to score four tries and lose 29-22, and then twice trailed Connacht by two scores, the once-capped Irish international knows making a better start will be imperative on Saturday.
“We’ve shown in the last two second halves that we are a great team, we just need to do that from the first whistle and we’ll be flying. Our bench is giving great impact, which is something you want, and fair play to them. They’ve been doing a great job for us.
“We’re trying to build year by year and to keep being competitive while growing our depth. If we can build on that this year and next year, then that’s the aim.”