Not a bad guy to have on your side and Werner Kok’s total commitment to the cause was put out there and then some last weekend against Munster.
It was just after Tom Farrell’s second try when the visitors had punched a hole down Ulster’s left flank, after 12 minutes of no scoreboard action in the game, that Kok took a breath and decided it was time for him to get his teammates back in the game.
Trailing 10-7 after Farrell’s neat score hadn’t come with the complete set, Jack Crowley missing from out on the touchline, Kok’s moment arrived and how he struck.
The restart was launched and was collected by the formidable figure of Gavin Coombes who would ordinarily have expected contact but something not quite like this one as the South African came steaming up towards him.
Kok had him lined up in his crosshairs and perfectly timed his moment to simply empty Coombes, knocking him backwards at such a rate of knots that the No.8 was penalised for not releasing as he hit the surface and then tried to regain his feet.
A roar, from the mostly subdued stand and terraces, erupted at Kok’s defiance and determination to get Ulster on the front-foot and the soon to be 32-year-old with the unmistakable long hair emerged, gesticulating to those teammates around him and urging them to make it count now that they were back in Munster’s 22.
And when in the red zone, Kok was still prominent. Not for him standing out on the wing waiting for the ball to come his way, the former star player with the Blitzboks, was throwing himself into every ruck and maul he could as Ulster tried everything to get over the line while not risking putting width on the ball due to having just 14 on the field.
Wherever there was action last week, Kok was never far from it which has been his trademark in this his first campaign with Ulster and his physical robustness was also on show as he was smashed — arguably high but nothing was given — at the restart which led to Munster’s winning score after John Cooney’s clearing kick didn’t make touch and was run back.
Even in that endgame, and after being thoroughly emptied, Kok gave it everything. An important tackle on Mike Haley was followed by throwing himself into a breakdown and even when he somehow covered over to the other side of the field to be stepped by Tom Farrell, Kok managed to still to throw himself at the Munster centre in a desperate bid to dislodge the ball as the match clinching try was being scored.
It’s only his first season, but Kok has been a mainstay of Richie Murphy’s team, playing in every game, starting in all but the season’s opener to Glasgow, and scoring twice in his, so far, 10 appearances.
The coach is fulsome in his praise for the former Sharks player as well, particularly the vigour and enthusiasm he has brought both on and off the playing surface.
“Energy and a hell of a lot of toughness,” is how Murphy describes what he has seen.
“He’s been a breath of fresh air around the place he’s worked really hard, he’s completely committed to the Ulster way as he is for every team he has every played with.
“Just a really good fella, his ball carry, and his chase sets a really good example to young players and we’re happy to have him.”
Kok’s robustness has been extremely beneficial but especially so with Ulster’s lack of fit bodies when it comes to having back three players good to go.
“We thought at one stage how are we going to pick a back three,” Murphy says when, earlier this season, there appeared to be a plethora of contenders and before the injuries struck.
“Now we’re actually thinking about who is going to play in a back three with losing Rob Baloucoune for this length, Jacob Stockdale, Ethan McIlroy and Stewart Moore as well has put a lot of pressure on those guys (who are fit) Werner and Mikey Lowry to turn up every week and play.”
It’s not just the coach who appreciates Kok’s input, other players won’t shirk from praising his workrate and commitment.
“He has settled in really well and as you can see on the pitch he is full of energy all the time, and he brings that edge physicality wise,” says fellow back three member Michael Lowry.
“He is having to learn a completely new system to what he is used to before and Werner has done a really good job so far.”
“We love seeing him making big impacts in defence as well, he is very good to play with and he is enjoying himself.”
“I know it is tough because we have lost games but if you forget about the outcome side of things and look at the performance and enjoyment on and off the field, he is enjoying it.”
Best really to close with a word from the man himself and, as you would expect, he has a message about what Ulster must do.
“We’re in a building phase and there are a lot of young boys in the team but it’s an excuse we can’t use any more and there are a lot of seniors around who can pick the boys up,” states Kok.
“They all just have to start believing because we have a lot of talent in this squad, we have to stick in there and use our talent and ability to win a few games.”
He’ll certainly not be found wanting should the going get even tougher.