So Far So Good For Laulala

The rain that started as a drizzle has turned to a downpour by the time Casey Laulala left the pitch at CIT yesterday yet the water streaming down his face failed to remove the grin that was in place despite the inclement conditions.

"Ah, it is what it is" he says looking at the rain battering the windshields of the nearby cars, "It's getting into winter now so this is what you expect."

He's 12 weeks into his new life and still enamoured, his decision to join an easy one. " I look at Munster as similar to the Crusaders back at home."

"I was blessed enough to be part of such a successful era in the Crusaders. And I just saw so many similarities between the two clubs."

"Obviously I came and visited and met the boys and from then on I wanted to be part of it. Want to be part of the legacy and obviously try create my own history as well."

He can't think of any negatives though he was perhaps expecting the to and froing to Limerick to be an issue. "I thought it was going to be a problem at first but it hasn’t been. It’s kinda good spending a bit of time with the boys heading up to Limerick and vice versa so no worries there. You’ve gotta look at the positives."

And one of those positives he can take with him to Ravenhill will be the memory of his first visit there in April 2010 when he scored a try in a Man of the Match performance for the Blues in their 33-24 victory.

"Ulster are a very good side. The crowd is a big factor especially up there and they've been a big factor in their success the last few years."

"We’re aware of that. We’re preparing for a big match and I think it’ll be the first really big Test for us as well in terms of what we want to do."