Ulster again row Juarno Augustus says the group are centered on ending as high up the United Rugby Championship desk as they’ll to try to safe home advantage in the knockout phases as the battle for silverware hots up in the latter phases of the season.
Richie Murphy’s facet sit third in the desk with 4 rounds of common season fixtures remaining however face a testing run-in with Friday’s go to of Leinster to Belfast adopted by matches in opposition to Munster, the Stormers and desk toppers Glasgow Warriors.
The South African says confidence is high after European Challenge Cup wins over Ospreys and La Rochelle arrange a semi-final at home to Exeter Chiefs on 2 May.
“We are playing four of the best so all we need to do is take it week by week, recover well and then just go again when it’s game day,” the 28-year-old advised BBC Sport NI.
“We’re focusing firstly on the URC now because we want to get a home quarter-final, a home semi-final. That’s what teams are playing for now.
“If we win just a few video games we are able to get second or first in the desk and that is what we’re aiming for.”
The back-to-back European wins were both played in challenging conditions at the Affidea Stadium, but the number eight is philosophical about adapting gameplans to suit different weather conditions.
“We wish to play expansive rugby, that is what we wish to do, however sadly it is out of our management, so now we have to adapt to the climate circumstances and the groups we play over the subsequent few weeks.
“If the weather is better we can show better what we have.”
Augustus added that he was happy to have overcome the frustration of a prolonged spell on the sidelines as a result of of the ankle damage he suffered in December.
“For me I felt like I could go but then I had felt a little niggle, but hopefully it’s all behind me now. Hopefully I can finish the season well and the team can finish it well also.”
