“He had a serious game.”
Back in October, when Ulster beat Lions, Louis Ludik and Andrew Trimble tried to decipher what James Hume’s ‘H’ celebration meant.
“That’s the first letter of his second name,” Trimble guessed. “Either that or he’s doing rugby posts.”
Ludik suggested it could be a double ‘L’ to emphasise his ‘love of the game’. “Maybe it’s his love of himself,” Trimble remarked.
On Saturday night in Dublin, James Hume pulled out another try-scoring celebration. This time, it rankled.
On the latest House of Rugby URC episode [LISTEN from 4:00 below], host Greg O’Shea and former Ulster star Darren Cave talked up Hume’s recent performances, but debated that celebration that got a rise out of several Leinster fans.
James Hume celebrates in front of The RDS’ North Stand after scoring for Ulster against Leinster. (Photo by John Dickson/Sportsfile)Greg O’Shea on James Hume celebration
Ulster recorded a 20-10 win over Leinster, at The RDS, with James Hume sealing the victory with an intercept try in the final minutes.
Greg O’Shea has been highly impressed with the centre’s contributions for Ulster this season, and last, but Darren Cave picked up on his distaste for the celebration in front of Leinster supporters.
“It just wasn’t for me,” said O’Shea. “You’d see that on the Sevens circuit.
“Look, James, I’ve never met you, man, but I’m not a fan of that celebration.”
Focusing on Hume’s contribution to the game itself, Cave highlighted his physicality and purpose in defence. “You could see that Ulster’s game-plan without the ball was to swarm in and around the offside line, all night,” he said. “Flying off the line and knocking boys over.
“That was obviously their plan – let’s go down and fire a shot, cause mayhem. And it really worked. It shook Leinster.”
That blitz was typified by Hume and that try, when he pressed high and took the gamble on Tommy O’Brien – already tackled and falling – throwing a risky pass out wide.
“Hume is playing really, really well,” Cave added. “Even though he didn’t play, it’s good to be around those players. He’s not that long in the Ulster environment, so to go into Ireland camp and be training with guys at that level, it’s a completely different levels. He’s in there with Test Lions.”
On Saturday, in Dublin, Hume was on the same pitch as a Test Lion, Robbie Henshaw. Both men scored tries and played excellently – O’Shea says Hume was “unbelievably good” – but the Ulsterman shaded it. That, among many other recent positives, will only stand to him.
WATCH THAT EPISODE HERE:
