Dan McFarland, the Ulster head coach, has hailed the influence of Roddy Grant on the Belfast pack that has helped secure a Challenge Cup semi-final spot with huge displays in back-to-back away wins against Harlequins and Northampton Saints.
Grant, the former Edinburgh captain and Scotland 7s international, joined McFarland — himself a one-time Glasgow and Scotland assistant coach — at the Kingspan in 2019 and has established Ulster’s maul as one of the most potent attacking weapons in Europe.
“Roddy’s been superb, and not just in the driving game,” McFarland said after the 35-27 success at Franklin’s Gardens which teed up a last-four clash away to Leicester Tigers. “Our lineout in the Pro14 this year was number one on our own ball and number one on the opposition ball. We’ve also scored the most tries in the Pro14 from mauls.
“The influence Roddy has had with the forwards has been super. There’s a real attention to detail; he cares about his work and the players he works with can see that and really buy into it.
“His relationships with the leaders in that forward pack are excellent. He takes it very personally when things don’t go right — it’s a strength and a weakness, but it drives him on. He’s desperate to learn and he keeps me on my toes.”
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McFarland was Warriors’ forwards coach from 2015-17, before Gregor Townsend appointed him to the same role with Scotland. Ulster spirited him away in 2018, since when he has guided them to a Pro14 final while transforming the stumbling province.
Grant, 34, was forced to end his playing career prematurely due to injury in 2015, then worked as a coach in the SRU academy. Richard Cockerill brought him onto his Edinburgh staff in 2017.
