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Harry Williams tells what it is like to be in the dressing room, immediately before what might be the biggest game of your life...and how the Ulster victory ought the country together...
"On the day of the final I remember the atmosphere around the city and in Lansdowne road in particular, was incredibly special. Not just for them management and the players, but for everybody in Ireland.
It was unusual in that Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht are great friends off the pitch but deadly rivals on it. And the whole of Ireland took us to their hearts that day. The atmosphere and the sea of red and white up and down Lansdowne road is something we will never forget.
The atmosphere in the changing room was surprising calm. We were all very focused on the task in hand. We knew exactly what our game plan was and what we wanted to do.
Just before the players went out, we said to them "This is a once in a lifetime chance, it could never happen again, so go out and enjoy it, there are 50,000 Irish people out there, don't let them down and don't let yourself down- and they didn't.
I remember more about the start of the game than I do the end. My main recollection is of a moment of pure inspiration from David Humphries. He lined up in front of the east stand, everybody lifted their hands and after that the rest of game is just a blur.
I think, from about 30 minutes into the game I honestly believed in my heart we were going to win- I couldn't see us losing. The French seemed like a rabbit trapped in a cars headlights.
It was a very very special day. For Ulster, that day was more than just winning the Heineken cup, it was a coming together if communities.
It didn't matter what church you want to, what came you played or anything, it was just a wonderful, wonderful day where everybody came together."
THE 1999 FINAL
30 January, 1999 Lansdowne Road, Dublin Attendance 49,000
ULSTER 21 COLOMIERS 6
Scorers: Penalty goals: S Mason 6; DG: D Humphreys
COLOMIERS: J-L Sadourny (capt); M Biboulet, S Roque, B Lhande (D Skrela 21); L Labit (M Carre 53), F Galthie; S Delpuech, M Dal Maso, S Graou, G Moro, J-M Lorenzi, B de Giusti, P Tabacco, S Peysson (P Pueyo 68)
Scorers: Pens: L Labit, M Carre
Referee: C Thomas (Wales)
