Ulster v Blues

:00:19. > :00:27.The path to glory is now open. There is only room for one winner at the

:00:28. > :00:32.top. Now is the time for mines to shine. For the contenders, to raise

:00:33. > :00:45.their game. Tonight, we are at the Kingspan

:00:46. > :00:49.Stadium for Ulster against the Blues. Much at stake for both teams.

:00:50. > :00:54.The Blues have long dropped out of the race for the Pro12 play-offs but

:00:55. > :00:58.they are clinging on to their hopes of EU repeal play-off place. Ulster

:00:59. > :01:00.are fourth in the league but they have the Scarlets breathing down

:01:01. > :01:07.their necks and can't afford to slip up. This is how close it is. Ulster

:01:08. > :01:13.have a 3-point cushion over the Scarlets in that play-off race, but

:01:14. > :01:21.the Scarlets will fancy a play-off point tomorrow. -- a bonus point

:01:22. > :01:24.tomorrow. Good evening and welcome to Scrum V. Jonathan Davies and Sean

:01:25. > :01:30.holly alongside me. This is statistically the most competitive

:01:31. > :01:35.Pro12 since the play-offs began. The threshold to get into the top four

:01:36. > :01:39.higher than ever. Who do you think will make it? It's difficult.

:01:40. > :01:44.Looking at the remaining fixtures, it's difficult to predict. The

:01:45. > :01:47.crucial thing is getting in the top four, and there is an opportunity

:01:48. > :01:51.for two Welsh sides to do it, but then it is the top two you've got to

:01:52. > :01:58.try to get into for a home semifinal. I will be happy with two

:01:59. > :02:05.in the semis for the Welsh teams? I hope so. The Blues, a frustrating

:02:06. > :02:11.season. They nearly beat Leinster a full nights ago in Dublin and got

:02:12. > :02:14.spanked last weekend. Largely thanks to their leaky defence. They are

:02:15. > :02:19.eighth in the league for a reason. They have been coming alive in loose

:02:20. > :02:22.play in attack but, when the ball is loose against Irish sides, they have

:02:23. > :02:30.been found wanting. This is Leinster last week, look at the doglegs. Join

:02:31. > :02:33.up is very important. You can't let teams like Leinster or Ulster on

:02:34. > :02:38.their front foot. When they regrouped, they are very bunch. The

:02:39. > :02:44.only back is wandering infield. They don't get round the corner and feel

:02:45. > :02:48.the field in. Leinster and Ulster know this and they line up and they

:02:49. > :02:58.take the space. Off the back of it, they get into the 22. They have got

:02:59. > :03:00.some very dangerous runners in their backline, Piutau among them, and

:03:01. > :03:06.Danny Wilson will have been working hard on the defence. He is with us

:03:07. > :03:11.now. We are in mission control with Danny Wilson. A good first half

:03:12. > :03:17.against Gloucester last week but it went a bit dodgy in the second half.

:03:18. > :03:21.What do you have to do tonight to avoid that? We have got to repeat

:03:22. > :03:24.some of the attacking rugby we played not only last week but the

:03:25. > :03:30.week before against Leinster, but sharpen up some defensive errors. We

:03:31. > :03:34.saw three basic one-on-one errors that cost us tries. We can't do that

:03:35. > :03:40.against this lot. A couple of youngsters on the bench. Rhun

:03:41. > :03:47.Williams, the full-back as well. No better place to show your wares. A

:03:48. > :03:54.great experience for them. It ties in with giving a couple of boys and

:03:55. > :03:58.experience. 19, 20, 21 years old, it will hopefully stand them in good

:03:59. > :04:05.stead. And a strong back row, nice to see Alex Jenkins back. Yes, good

:04:06. > :04:09.to see him back. -- Ellis Jenkins. I am sure he will bring what he has

:04:10. > :04:16.done. From Danny Wilson, let's go to our commentators Ritchie Rees, the

:04:17. > :04:21.former Wales and Blues scrum-half, and Gareth Giles. Thank you. The

:04:22. > :04:27.Blues are out on the field, led by Gethin Jenkins. Four changes from

:04:28. > :04:31.the side that lost disappointingly in Gloucester and saw their European

:04:32. > :04:35.hopes come to an end last week and, in a hope to get to Europe next

:04:36. > :04:40.year, the play-offs is the best that they can hope for, either in English

:04:41. > :04:44.or a French second placed is what they are looking at. It's been a

:04:45. > :04:48.disappointing season for the Blues, no doubt, but Ulster on the other

:04:49. > :04:53.hand are timing their run perfectly. Six wins in a row for them,

:04:54. > :04:58.including four bonus point wins, putting them in fourth place at the

:04:59. > :05:04.moment. The last of the play-off positions, a place they have taken

:05:05. > :05:09.from the Scarlets. The Scarlets will be hoping that Cardiff Blues can do

:05:10. > :05:16.them a huge favour tonight. But, to the tune of Stand Up For The

:05:17. > :05:21.Ulstermen, the usual Friday night atmosphere at the Kingspan Stadium

:05:22. > :05:24.in the Ravenhill area of Belfast. Emphasises what is in front of the

:05:25. > :05:31.Blues. The stadium has changed over the years but it is still a great

:05:32. > :05:34.atmosphere and a great stadium. One of the best places to play as a

:05:35. > :05:40.player and, as a fan, I'm sure is right that -- right up there. It's a

:05:41. > :05:48.beautiful evening and we are hoping for some decent running rugby. Ian

:05:49. > :05:55.Davies of Wales, the man in charge this evening. As Ulster look to

:05:56. > :06:04.consolidate their play-off spot and the Blues look to keep alive their

:06:05. > :06:11.hopes of a European play-off. Gareth Anscombe will get the game underway.

:06:12. > :06:17.Treadwell doesn't take cleanly, but it wasn't knocked on either, so the

:06:18. > :06:25.possession is there. The surface isn't the best really cut up some

:06:26. > :06:31.heavy weather leading up to this game over the previous weeks. It is

:06:32. > :06:34.very sandy and dusty. Rhun Williams getting his hands on the ball for

:06:35. > :06:44.the first time. George Earle driving on. Lloyd Williams to Anscombe. A

:06:45. > :06:49.cross kick for Blaine Scully. Taken by the American international as

:06:50. > :06:55.well. But Craig Gilroy got in the way, not enough to keep the ball on

:06:56. > :06:58.the playing surface. Interesting, first kicking opportunity for Ulster

:06:59. > :07:05.and they went straight to the air. They looked to target Rhun Williams,

:07:06. > :07:09.his first start. I am sure we will see a bit more of that this evening.

:07:10. > :07:15.Untidy from Ulster of the kick-off. Treadwell dropped that, caused a bit

:07:16. > :07:25.of an organised chaos. -- disorganised chaos. Warburton wins

:07:26. > :07:33.the line for the Blues. Navidi in midfield.

:07:34. > :07:39.Willis Halaholo and Rhun Williams in attack. As Ritchie Rees was playing,

:07:40. > :07:43.his first start at full-back for the Blues. He's played a few games on

:07:44. > :07:58.the wing, but full-back is his normal position. Playing for the

:07:59. > :08:05.under 20s in our GC. -- in RGC. Good recycling from the Blues, Ellis

:08:06. > :08:08.Jenkins taking them towards the 22. Three players capable of playing

:08:09. > :08:11.six, seven or eight for the back row for the Blues. Halaholo had a stab

:08:12. > :08:22.through, behind Piutau. Rory Best doing extra shielding for

:08:23. > :08:37.Ruan Pienaar. Jared Payne up from full-back, as

:08:38. > :08:49.they look to run out of their own danger zone.

:08:50. > :08:58.The Blues have got plenty of numbers, have Ulster. They suddenly

:08:59. > :09:05.have in this direction. Henderson amongst the backs. Presents to Alan

:09:06. > :09:13.O'Connor. Jackson. A little slip pass from Rory Best, and Gethin

:09:14. > :09:17.Jenkins had it quickly. In the end, Jackson forced to kick. Williams,

:09:18. > :09:24.safe underneath it. Showing attacking threat as well. He moves

:09:25. > :09:25.well, very well in the backfield. He is electric going forward. Matthew

:09:26. > :09:43.Rees. Both teams keeping the ball alive in

:09:44. > :09:45.these opening minutes. The weather conditions are perfect, not too much

:09:46. > :10:03.wind, dry underfoot. They are not looking to do too much

:10:04. > :10:07.in midfield breakdowns, Ulster. The one-man tackle, dropping to the

:10:08. > :10:15.floor, and trying to fill the field with 14 players in that front line.

:10:16. > :10:20.Solid defence from Ulster, and the Blues forced over the far punch

:10:21. > :10:23.line. The Blues are going to find it difficult to get outside them this

:10:24. > :10:28.evening. They will have to look to pick and go, maybe, to have a few

:10:29. > :10:32.carries of the nine, to try and involve a few defenders. Hopefully

:10:33. > :10:37.that will give the likes of Cuthbert a wider challenge, a bit of ball and

:10:38. > :10:42.a bit of space to put some defenders in front of them. I saw Cuthbert in

:10:43. > :10:46.midfield. He has found some form recently. In the last fortnight.

:10:47. > :10:51.From my perspective, the best he has played in the last couple of years.

:10:52. > :10:52.Looking to get his hands on the ball a lot more, a big positive from

:10:53. > :11:08.Alex's point of view. Stripped out. A rare error from

:11:09. > :11:13.Pienaar. Don't see many of those. Having a word with the referee about

:11:14. > :11:20.Matthew Rees getting up in his way, impacting his kicking opportunity.

:11:21. > :11:22.Matthew Rees getting up from the previous breakdown. Sort of checks

:11:23. > :11:31.Pienaar on the cheque -- on the kick. May well have a point.

:11:32. > :11:48.Well taken by Rhun Williams. Did very well to keep going from there.

:11:49. > :11:53.I like the fact he is getting his hands on the ball early in the game.

:11:54. > :12:03.Warburton, back in the seven shirt. Ellis Jenkins, wearing six.

:12:04. > :12:13.A good transfer from Halaholo to Navidi. They have to be very

:12:14. > :12:18.patient, the Blues. They are working hard, their seventh phase. They have

:12:19. > :12:28.got to look to get the big ball-carriers, and Nick Williams is

:12:29. > :12:32.on the bench, so they have to go to Lee-Lo and Halaholo to try and mix

:12:33. > :12:37.things up a bit. They have to be sure of their tackles, Ulster,

:12:38. > :12:41.because it is one line of defence they are deploying at the moment.

:12:42. > :12:49.One missed tackle and Blues could get in behind them.

:12:50. > :12:58.Now maybe a chance to go wide. They do, to Rhun Williams, out to Scully,

:12:59. > :13:04.across comes Marshall, helped by -- held by Olding. Good build-up from

:13:05. > :13:10.the Blues. Lloyd Williams, back to the blindside. A couple of big

:13:11. > :13:17.forward carriers. You can see Filise lining up. Just need to carry that

:13:18. > :13:20.ball first. Filise against his opposite number, Andrew Warwick.

:13:21. > :13:33.Gethin Jenkins. Cardiff Blues skipper.

:13:34. > :13:42.That Ulster defensive line are just standing of the left. The Blues play

:13:43. > :13:48.out in front of them. First penalty fence at the breakdown comes, and

:13:49. > :13:51.it's gone against Rory Best. But positive from the Blues. They have

:13:52. > :13:54.gone through phases and I'm pretty sure that is the outcome they

:13:55. > :14:00.wanted. They have been looking to pick up three points. I feel that

:14:01. > :14:05.the first 20 minutes is key, to quieten the crowd down, to take the

:14:06. > :14:08.energy and urgency out of the top Ulster -- out of the Ulster attack

:14:09. > :14:17.and defence. They are doing well, going through the phases. A positive

:14:18. > :14:25.opening eight minutes for the Blues. The defence has proved too sturdy,

:14:26. > :14:31.to organised to break down so far, so they opt for a shot at goal

:14:32. > :14:36.instead. No Steven Shingler tonight. He is on the bench. So Gareth

:14:37. > :15:02.Anscombe taking over the kicking duties.

:15:03. > :15:13.First points of the evening belong to Gareth Anscombe and the Cardiff

:15:14. > :15:17.Blues. Good start from the Blues, going through their phases, biding

:15:18. > :15:22.their time, doing what they need to do. They have come in with a plan,

:15:23. > :15:29.especially the first 20 minutes, controlling territory and

:15:30. > :15:33.possession. Carried three times as much as Ulster in the opening nine

:15:34. > :15:38.minutes. As long as they do that in the right areas of the field, it's a

:15:39. > :15:49.positive outcome. Roger Wilson, not sure if he could go for it or not.

:15:50. > :16:07.Lloyd Williams arrives. Foul, Filise. Good from the Blues,. Good

:16:08. > :16:13.height on it. The two chase. A collision in the air. It was a

:16:14. > :16:18.challenge between the two wingers and they both stay down. They both

:16:19. > :16:21.look in some pain. Lovely pass out the back door by Sean Reidy.

:16:22. > :16:33.Cuthbert with a very important tackle. Slotted through four Paddy

:16:34. > :16:37.Jackson. It's a beauty. What a great kick by Ruan Pienaar. Fabulous

:16:38. > :16:44.vision and easy, well-controlled, and Paddy Jackson gets it. Everybody

:16:45. > :16:47.was still baying for the high tackle. Great vision by Ruan

:16:48. > :16:55.Pienaar, seeing the space behind, and the football skills led to Paddy

:16:56. > :17:00.Jackson's try. Ridiculous skill set from Ruan Pienaar, but we see

:17:01. > :17:05.Cuthbert coming in, just manages to get on the outside of him, and this

:17:06. > :17:10.is exactly where Pienaar would get the plaudits. You can just see out

:17:11. > :17:16.shot that it is Paddy Jackson appointed to put the ball into the

:17:17. > :17:19.backfield. Rhun Williams made the tackle and committed himself to that

:17:20. > :17:24.previous breakdown. Nobody in the backfield. Fantastic vision and

:17:25. > :17:36.skill set by both Paddy Jackson and Ruan Pienaar. Brilliant pass in

:17:37. > :17:40.midfield to set Pienaar going. That is the danger of Ruan Pienaar. Can't

:17:41. > :17:42.believe he is leaving next year. Jackson converted his own try.

:17:43. > :18:03.Ulster go a head 7-3. Gilroy still down on the far side.

:18:04. > :18:09.It was a fair challenge. It looks like maybe a broken arm from Blaine

:18:10. > :18:14.Scully. Matthew Morgan has come onto the field, which means that Rhun

:18:15. > :18:19.Williams's time at full-back was less than a dozen minutes, but they

:18:20. > :18:24.both went for the ball. Oh, dear. Don't think we need to see that

:18:25. > :18:27.again. Nothing wrong with it. They are both at the same height and in

:18:28. > :18:33.the air at the same time. Just very unfortunate from Blaine Scully. He's

:18:34. > :18:35.been quite lively in the opening minutes. Very unfortunate for the

:18:36. > :18:52.Cardiff Blues and Blaine. Matthew Morgan at full-back. Opens

:18:53. > :18:59.up a different set of challenges now for the Blues defensively in that

:19:00. > :19:03.backline. The Morgan, putting Rhun Williams onto the wing. It a shame

:19:04. > :19:09.for him, a lively opening ten minutes, and he is back on the wing.

:19:10. > :19:14.But that is what professional rugby is all about. You have to slot in

:19:15. > :19:20.way you are needed. It's about adapting and making the most of your

:19:21. > :19:23.opportunity. Straight through the middle, Lee-Lo, and he saw the

:19:24. > :19:42.defence planning out. Jenkins rather expected it, but did well anyway. --

:19:43. > :19:45.panning out. An arm in his way before he could take the ball. Roger

:19:46. > :19:53.Wilson dislodged it, and Pienaar again spots the back. -- the gap.

:19:54. > :19:56.Pushing the Blues back to their own line. Unforeseen error from the

:19:57. > :20:02.Blues, something they can't afford to do for the remaining 68 minutes.

:20:03. > :20:06.When they are unstructured defensively is when they have been

:20:07. > :20:10.conceding tries of late. They can't afford to do that, especially in

:20:11. > :20:16.that area of the field, with the back three that Ulster have got in

:20:17. > :20:19.Payne, Gilroy and Piutau. Unbelievable strength and depth.

:20:20. > :20:23.When the general is in control of things, it's going to make your life

:20:24. > :20:27.twice as difficult if you are turning those sort of falls over.

:20:28. > :20:37.Ruan Pienaar's seven year with Ulster. Scored over 650 points in

:20:38. > :20:44.the league for them. He is taken up a place with the young Ulsterman, so

:20:45. > :20:48.he's going next year. Unbelievable call from the Irish rugby union. And

:20:49. > :20:54.they are not happy about it round these parts. They have a player

:20:55. > :20:58.coming in from Connell, JP Duminy, but you probably have to get three

:20:59. > :21:07.players in to replace the likes of Pienaar. -- coming in from Connacht.

:21:08. > :21:12.There are enough that you want your youngsters to have a chance to play,

:21:13. > :21:16.if they are good enough, but if not, come and learn from him. To be fair

:21:17. > :21:21.to the Ulster management board, they tried everything they could. They

:21:22. > :21:27.wanted to keep him. The men in the know, the power man, was digging his

:21:28. > :21:31.heels in and he was rejecting their advances. Top call from Ulster. But

:21:32. > :21:37.I am sure we will see him play in France. A former Australian hooker

:21:38. > :21:50.now head honcho at the IRF you. Stuart Golding, Jackson. -- Stuart

:21:51. > :22:04.Olding. Looking to get over the ball.

:22:05. > :22:11.Pienaar looked to drag him off. That's great. To a turnover by Ellis

:22:12. > :22:15.Jenkins. Cuthbert offering the inside, but he couldn't get his

:22:16. > :22:24.hands-free in time. Jared Payne doing well to slow it down.

:22:25. > :22:34.Advantage being played. A bit undecided there. Lee-Lo with a hack

:22:35. > :22:35.through. That could be a advantage gone. No, they are going back for

:22:36. > :22:48.it. Good work initially from Ellis

:22:49. > :22:52.Jenkins. The Blues have gone from what effectively is three sevens in

:22:53. > :22:57.the back row this evening. What we are hoping to see from the likes of

:22:58. > :23:04.Warburton, Jenkins and Navidi this afternoon. The crowd are not too

:23:05. > :23:12.happy. Jared Payne had his hand on the ball. It's gone against Andy

:23:13. > :23:16.Warwick. His knees are on the floor. Yes, he was over the ball, but he

:23:17. > :23:19.wasn't supporting his body weight. He wrote the original hit is the

:23:20. > :23:33.second clean-up came Both teams are looking to play

:23:34. > :23:39.rugby, but their heads are flying in. Right commitment. They are going

:23:40. > :23:41.through the phases, trusting their systems, and looking to play a bit

:23:42. > :23:56.of rugby. Navidi standing as scrum-half. A

:23:57. > :24:09.slip pass from Gethin Jenkins to Navidi.

:24:10. > :24:18.In from the Cuthbert blindside, but there was crossing, was there? Yeah.

:24:19. > :24:38.-- Cuthbert in from the blindside. Unfortunate for the Blues, it's a

:24:39. > :24:42.line that Alex Cuthbert likes to run quite often. You can see him hiding

:24:43. > :24:49.in between this break. The blocker runner always looking to come short,

:24:50. > :24:50.and coming out the back of a travelling scrum-half, Lloyd

:24:51. > :24:52.Williams. Unfortunately gets a bit too shallow. Giving away the

:24:53. > :25:21.penalty. Ian Davies checking with his

:25:22. > :25:22.assistant whether it was high. Keith Allen of the Scottish rugby union on

:25:23. > :25:35.the far side. Now a chance for the Blues to have a

:25:36. > :26:32.go. Matthew Morgan, up from full-back.

:26:33. > :26:35.Rhun Williams, quick on the outside. Even though it's been regathered, it

:26:36. > :26:44.won't count, because it's gone forward. Blues had to work extremely

:26:45. > :26:50.hard just to get ten, 15 metres. Matthew Morgan does well, getting

:26:51. > :26:58.outside. Reidy stands Gilroy up. Unfortunately, just a knock-on. A

:26:59. > :27:05.little break in play. A chance to go pitch side to fill steel. Some news

:27:06. > :27:11.on my injury. You were talking about the fact that he looked in pain. I

:27:12. > :27:15.have heard from the Blues medical staff that it's a dislocated elbow

:27:16. > :27:19.which, if you have had one of those, you will know it is one of the most

:27:20. > :27:25.painful arm injuries you can have. Not good news from -- for Blaine

:27:26. > :27:31.Scully. Let's hope he recovers quickly. Yes, indeed, it looked

:27:32. > :27:45.nasty. Yeah, we don't want to see that again.

:27:46. > :27:49.Just coming up to the end of the first quarter. A very entertaining

:27:50. > :28:04.first quarter it's been as well. The referee having a quiet word with

:28:05. > :28:09.Gethin Jenkins regarding the high shot. There have been a couple of

:28:10. > :28:11.them just off screen. Just reminding Gethin to tell his team to keep

:28:12. > :28:38.their tackles a bit lower. Treadwell. The 21-year-old has come

:28:39. > :28:45.to the fore this year. That was offside.

:28:46. > :28:57.It came off Rhun Williams, and taken by Lloyd Williams.

:28:58. > :29:07.REFEREE: As long as he is being treated and he is OK. First real

:29:08. > :29:13.mistake from Rhun, but he is under a lot of pressure on that high ball.

:29:14. > :29:16.He has looked lively. He has looked good. The more game involvement you

:29:17. > :29:23.get, maybe if you touch the ball, you are affecting that every time. I

:29:24. > :29:27.like the work he's doing in this opening quarter. Only 20 and still

:29:28. > :29:35.eligible for the under 20s this year. Yeah, his second season.

:29:36. > :29:53.Unchallenged, Iain Henderson. Another ball for the Blues to try

:29:54. > :30:05.and use. Lee-Lo weaving his way over halfway.

:30:06. > :30:08.He has won excellent ground, and Rhun Williams is there to support.

:30:09. > :30:23.Navidi. Enter Straight through. All too

:30:24. > :30:28.easy. Morgan, well tackled though. Good covering back by Ulster, by

:30:29. > :30:34.Paddy Jackson. Here is Rey Lee-Lo. The referee wants to check if there

:30:35. > :30:39.was a forward pass in all of that. Ellis Jenkins. Every time Ulster

:30:40. > :30:45.make a mistake, Cardiff look so dangerous. Anscombe. Ulster shot

:30:46. > :30:49.right up out of the line there. A chance for Cardiff. Here comes

:30:50. > :30:55.Cuthbert. A little dummy by Matthew Rees. Brought down a meter or so

:30:56. > :31:03.short. Dangerous times for Ulster. Drive for the line. The referee is

:31:04. > :31:08.there to have a good luck. -- look. He has given the try. Might even be

:31:09. > :31:13.Sam Warburton. He's got to go and check it. I reckon Sam Warburton has

:31:14. > :31:17.got the first try for the visitors this evening. Again, Tony, it came

:31:18. > :31:22.from an Ulster mistake in the middle of the park. Ulster mistake. Quick

:31:23. > :31:27.turn over ball. It's the turn over ball with passes. That's the vast

:31:28. > :31:31.majority of the tries come from in the modern game. I mentioned at the

:31:32. > :31:37.top of the programme. You give them space they will cut you to shreds.

:31:38. > :31:43.Cardiff at will kick and go round the side. For me, Warburton is in

:31:44. > :31:47.there, quite clearly. Is he going to ask them to have a look at that. I

:31:48. > :31:57.think he may well be. Taufa'ao Filise seems to be in a bit of

:31:58. > :32:05.trouble. The try must have been given. He is going to have a pop at

:32:06. > :32:10.it. He asked for the pass to be checked on the other corner. His

:32:11. > :32:18.position for Sam Warburton's try was first-class. He couldn't be in a

:32:19. > :32:23.better place. Anscombe with the opening point of this game, after

:32:24. > :32:27.just eight minutes. 15 minutes later the conversion. Struck that nicely.

:32:28. > :32:32.That's right between the posts. A good kick from Gareth Anscombe. What

:32:33. > :32:42.a see saw game of Rugby Union football we are having here at the

:32:43. > :32:48.Kingspan Stadium. 7-10. If Ulster thought Cardiff were turning up for

:32:49. > :32:58.appearance money they had their question asked. Cardiff have been

:32:59. > :33:04.good for their lead. Last week for 50 minutes they had the game against

:33:05. > :33:07.Gloucester in control and Gloucester romped away it scoring four

:33:08. > :33:10.unanswered tries. Cardiff played so well up until that point? They were

:33:11. > :33:15.good value for that lead as well. You start to find as the weather

:33:16. > :33:21.gets better these it two southern hemisphere centers potent with ball

:33:22. > :33:27.in hand. If Ulster don't get their midfield defensive system sorted

:33:28. > :33:33.out. There is a dogleg in there. With two quality steppers, if you

:33:34. > :33:42.are not sync you will find a hole. The man in the middle there. He will

:33:43. > :33:47.be pretty happy with that so far. His side leading by three points. 25

:33:48. > :34:01.minutes gone. Let us see if Ulster can ex-cert any pressure. Rory Best

:34:02. > :34:08.hasn't played for Ulster since before with the Six Nations. Good

:34:09. > :34:13.squeeze by Ulster. Cardiff, great work by Warwick. Here comes

:34:14. > :34:21.Anscombe. That has gone wide to Rey Lee-Lo. That was a forward pass.

:34:22. > :34:24.Wilson gathers and moves it well. Piutau has Marshall outside him.

:34:25. > :34:28.Away from the first tackle, and the second and the third. Good work by

:34:29. > :34:35.Sean Reidy. Referee had been playing the advantage. That is just about

:34:36. > :34:41.over. Warwick. The crowd don't like what they thought was a high tackle.

:34:42. > :34:47.Here comes Treadwell. Ulster have to keep possession. No panic should be

:34:48. > :34:55.setting in. Charles Piutau over the Cardiff 10 meter line. More settled

:34:56. > :35:03.now, holding an outside half. Filise told to get out of it. Pienaar.

:35:04. > :35:08.Delay on the pass. Here goes Wilson. Coming to the end of what has been

:35:09. > :35:17.an outstanding career for Ulster and of course for those four seasons

:35:18. > :35:22.with the Northampton. Good drive-by the second row forward. Jenkins

:35:23. > :35:29.making a pest of himself' breakdown. Marshall has done well. He's broken

:35:30. > :35:36.away. He's got it to Wiehahn Herbst. Big head of stem being built up by

:35:37. > :35:40.Ulster. They have the penalty. Crowd baying for a Cardiff, me thinks.

:35:41. > :35:44.Ulster may settle for the penalty. Do they go for the three to bring it

:35:45. > :35:47.to level or the corner and go for more? At this stage, a win is the

:35:48. > :35:56.important thing from the Ulster perspective. You take the points.

:35:57. > :36:04.Somebody down is injured. It looks like George Earle, the Cardiff Blues

:36:05. > :36:09.second row. Great work by Marshall. Terrific strength. Good support play

:36:10. > :36:15.by Wiehahn Herbst. Cardiff were all over the ball. Herbst look as if

:36:16. > :36:19.he's shed a pound or two. Looks to have trimmed down. We talked about

:36:20. > :36:23.his impact with the tackle early on. A nice trail line off Marshall,

:36:24. > :36:29.putting himself in a good position to pick up that pass. James Down

:36:30. > :36:33.will come on from the unfortunate George Earle is living us. Carp

:36:34. > :36:38.difficult have had to make two replacements because of injury.

:36:39. > :36:45.Blaine Scully has gone off, now it's George Earle. The 30-year-old born

:36:46. > :36:50.in Durban. Played for the Scarlets on no fewer than 91 conditions. A

:36:51. > :36:55.handy man to have. 6 foot 7 James Down coming on for his.3rd Cardiff

:36:56. > :37:00.league appearance. Unfortunate for George Earle. Looks as if he tweaked

:37:01. > :37:05.his knee there. From the initial contact he is in a huge degree of

:37:06. > :37:09.pain straightaway. Can't continue. James Down, as you say, played many

:37:10. > :37:18.times for Cardiff. Well versed in what they are trying to do. This is

:37:19. > :37:25.an area of the side over the summer he will have to refresh and bring in

:37:26. > :37:30.fresh blood. The two props on the bench are Wales under-20 props, 19

:37:31. > :37:34.and 20-year-olds. Perhaps that is why the future lies for Cardiff over

:37:35. > :37:37.the next few years. Generous round of applause there for the

:37:38. > :37:45.unfortunate George Earle who is leaving the field. I'm not sure

:37:46. > :37:49.Ulster have made a decision just yet as to what to do with this very

:37:50. > :37:52.kickable penalty, but into the corner and a catching drive and a

:37:53. > :38:00.try might be what Rory Best is thinking about. That's exactly what

:38:01. > :38:03.they're going for. Iain Henderson has been the primary receiver. Rory

:38:04. > :38:07.Best positioned himself on the touchline. He will get there, get a

:38:08. > :38:11.nice dry ball and look to pick out his man. One would imagine,

:38:12. > :38:15.Henderson has been the man early doors. They may vary it slightly and

:38:16. > :38:27.expect Cardiff to stay on the ground and try and stem the Ulster driving.

:38:28. > :38:32.O'Connor, Cardiff wise to it. Ulster still have it. Rory Best. Here come

:38:33. > :38:36.Ulster. Here goes the captain. A stumble there from Best. He is

:38:37. > :38:41.hanging on to it. Best is not too far away. The referee has given a

:38:42. > :38:45.penalty try. Taken down by Cardiff. Ulster were in the act of scoring a

:38:46. > :38:52.try. You couldn't get a better operated line-out than that.

:38:53. > :38:57.Beautiful, wasn't it? Rory throws, Connor takes. Braef of Ian Davies.

:38:58. > :39:01.We see referees give a penalty it would be two or three line-outs

:39:02. > :39:07.before he gives a penalty try. Connor gets up well. Ulster regroup.

:39:08. > :39:12.It's been a large strength of theirs over the seasons. Best at the back.

:39:13. > :39:19.He does well. He goes to one knee. He gets back up quickly. I think he

:39:20. > :39:25.probably had the ball down as well. The referee has gone under the post.

:39:26. > :39:30.It won't make up for the try he thought he had got during the Six

:39:31. > :39:37.Nations. An intervention by a colleague, who shall remain

:39:38. > :39:48.nameless. No, you can. The information I had it was number

:39:49. > :39:50.three. That doesn't show... Both captains engaged in various bits of

:39:51. > :40:06.conversations with Ian Davies so far. Revenant

:40:07. > :40:15.REFEREE: Can you check. He is looking at the Cardiff number three,

:40:16. > :40:19.Taufa'ao Filise. Yeah. If Ulster spin this off. Good effort at the

:40:20. > :40:24.front. You see the men at the front working hard. Rory Best... Filise

:40:25. > :40:48.came in from the side. It was a collective fault. Ulster

:40:49. > :40:53.will get a penalty try. Ulster back in the lead. What a first half we've

:40:54. > :40:58.had. Nearly half an hour gone. 14-10 to the home side. Rory Best will be

:40:59. > :41:02.happier he kicked for the corner rather than taking the three, first

:41:03. > :41:07.Timex cueings and Ulster get seven points. For the first time this

:41:08. > :41:10.evening they take the lead. Rory Best's decision-making for Ulster

:41:11. > :41:14.has been first-class? Absolutely. It's the way he goes about it. Under

:41:15. > :41:22.stated. Has a good relationship with the referees and gets his point

:41:23. > :41:34.across well. Piutau with the gather. Matthew Rees. Henderson. Again, a

:41:35. > :41:42.lazy Cardiff player, in this case, Jenkins. Taken back in by Ulster.

:41:43. > :41:49.Paddy Jackson with the high kick. Anscombe, caught by Wilson. Anscombe

:41:50. > :41:53.wriggled away. Is the feet once again of Rey Lee-Lo. Lloyd Williams

:41:54. > :42:12.let lose. Anscombe. Great tackle by Best. The Kieran

:42:13. > :42:18.Treadwell is in there as well. The youngest member of the Ulster side.

:42:19. > :42:23.Second row Kieran Treadwell. That is the tackle you hear people talk

:42:24. > :42:28.about. He takes it in. Treadwell and Best. Tredwell takes him and hold

:42:29. > :42:32.him high. Treadwell is able to lock himself on to the ball. Huge set of

:42:33. > :42:38.biceps. No way that ball is coming out of there. Ian Davies gives it a

:42:39. > :42:45.couple of seconds. Wilson adds his weight. Quite clearly held up.

:42:46. > :42:53.Scrum-down into Ulster. Half an hour gone, 14-10 to Ulster. A very odd

:42:54. > :42:56.season they've had. They settled the pace winning their first five games

:42:57. > :43:00.in the league. Then they won only two out of the next seven. Now

:43:01. > :43:06.they've won six in a row and aiming for seven in the row for the first

:43:07. > :43:13.time for four seasons. Pienaar. Jackson. Nicely done. Jared Payne is

:43:14. > :43:19.ghosting through. Piutau with him. Away goes Piutau. Cuthbert, again,

:43:20. > :43:24.is quick enough to track him down. Pistorius natural in quickly. Rod

:43:25. > :43:32.goer Wilson. Pienaar, again. Sean Reidy. Cardiff have the men back.

:43:33. > :43:41.Try and stretch them here. Here goes Wiehahn Herbst. Pienaar, Jackson,

:43:42. > :43:47.Stuart Olding. A little dink. Very nearly through. Ten meters from the

:43:48. > :43:51.Cardiff line. Well taken by Payne. Managed to change direction as he

:43:52. > :43:58.took a very difficult pass. Ulster have managed to lose it. Away goes

:43:59. > :44:02.Matthew Morgan. He's found a pretty decent touch. Cardiff have relieved

:44:03. > :44:05.the pressure. This is one of the most dangerous broken field runners

:44:06. > :44:09.in the business, Matthew Morgan. Absolutely.

:44:10. > :44:18.We saw that when he was with the ospreys? Very much so. What happens

:44:19. > :44:23.is they catch the Cardiff scrum-half and blind-side the defender Ellis

:44:24. > :44:29.Jenkins. Great scramble from Cardiff. Ball squirts out the side.

:44:30. > :44:34.That's Williams going down on it. Morgan able to clear his lines. Big

:44:35. > :44:38.hit. The ball squirts out. Williams goes down. They are able to clear.

:44:39. > :44:42.Morgan for a second thought he had a shot at that. Boots it away. Great

:44:43. > :44:55.scramble defence from Cardiff. You can see what Ulster can do when

:44:56. > :44:59.they are able to identify individual runners such as the quality of their

:45:00. > :45:03.back three. Their strike running ability and line running is as good

:45:04. > :45:07.as you will see in this competition. On a night like tonight, when the

:45:08. > :45:14.ball is try as well, you can put the ball on a plate for them.

:45:15. > :45:26.Taken quickly by Ulster. Pienaar looking for a big forward to take it

:45:27. > :45:30.on. The biggest is Iain Henderson. He's still going. Jenkins again.

:45:31. > :45:40.Living suspiciously close to that offside line. Pienaar. Paddy

:45:41. > :45:45.Jackson. That was a real thump on Gilroy. Turned that one over. This

:45:46. > :45:50.could be dangerous. Lloyd Williams. Anscombe, gets away from the pack.

:45:51. > :45:56.Chip and chase here. Goes Cuthbert. Knocked backwards. Play on says the

:45:57. > :46:02.referee. Piutau happy to into touch. That could nearly have been

:46:03. > :46:07.Cardiff's second try. Indicative of how dangerous these fellas are?

:46:08. > :46:13.Absolutely. What Cardiff do is flood the situation. Get the turnover.

:46:14. > :46:17.Anscombe breaks. Clever decision. No support around him. Jared Payne is

:46:18. > :46:29.involved. Chip over, goes anywhere. Good cover from Piutau. One thing I

:46:30. > :46:34.have to say, I didn't realise how much pace Cuthbert has. Not sure if

:46:35. > :46:39.Piutau is carrying an injury, not going at top speed. Cuthbert covers

:46:40. > :46:44.the ground very quickly. I have to say, it's been a difficult old few

:46:45. > :46:49.months for Alex Cuthbert. He has come in for stick from people. He

:46:50. > :46:56.play ared in one test for the Lions four years ago. -- played. That is

:46:57. > :47:00.not straight. That is one of those silly things that everybody will

:47:01. > :47:08.regret that you do. A chance to clear the lines. If Ulster can clear

:47:09. > :47:12.this one and, well, 14-10 by the interval they will be happy enough.

:47:13. > :47:17.Down there you have no excuse. Ulster will stay on the ground. They

:47:18. > :47:22.will not throw somebody up. Matthew Rees has to throw it safe. It

:47:23. > :47:27.doesn't matter, if it hits him in the forehead. If it's straight they

:47:28. > :47:31.will win it. For a man of his experience, that's unforgiveable.

:47:32. > :47:42.Six international caps for Wales. The most capped Welsh hooker of

:47:43. > :47:49.all-time. In 2009 he played in all three tests. Marshall, taken by

:47:50. > :47:56.Warburton. Ulster still moving forward. On the scruffy side. They

:47:57. > :48:04.turned that over. That is really not acceptable from an Ulster

:48:05. > :48:08.perspective. Anscombe gets it away. Halaholo indistinguishable from his

:48:09. > :48:11.sidekick in the centre of the park. Five minutes to go until the

:48:12. > :48:16.interval. Here come the Cardiff Blues again. Who is to say they will

:48:17. > :48:19.not get a second try and regain the lead through another Ulster error.

:48:20. > :48:33.Lloyd Williams. Filise. The All Black. Here they come,

:48:34. > :48:37.again. Ulster defence getting stretched. Carp difficult have men

:48:38. > :48:47.lined out at decent angles to attack. Coming back. Ulster dig in.

:48:48. > :48:53.The referee spotted a knock forward, I think. Waiting for advantage to

:48:54. > :48:59.Ulster. Rory Best picks it up. Well tackled by James Down. Pienaar.

:49:00. > :49:09.Ulster get it away. Olding. Still going forward. He's done well. It

:49:10. > :49:13.looks good, but how sensible is it? Here is Mr Sensible. A clever little

:49:14. > :49:24.kick. He needs the bounce to be kind. Bounced nicely for Matthew

:49:25. > :49:33.Morgan. Cuthbert. Lloyd Williams, Anscombe. Nice little step. Lloyd

:49:34. > :49:43.Williams again, he showed the ball and he found the gap. Gethin Jenkins

:49:44. > :49:47.at scrum-half. This is Halaholo. Ulster made a good tackle. Back in

:49:48. > :49:56.the Cardiff side. Filise, still moving forward. Lloyd Williams.

:49:57. > :49:59.That's gone loose. It might have been knocked forward by Ulster.

:50:00. > :50:03.Referee playing advantage to Cardiff, none comes. Carp difficult

:50:04. > :50:09.have another player injured, dear, oh, dear. Ulster are guilty of fall

:50:10. > :50:12.off a few tackles. Going too high, in my opinion. The southern

:50:13. > :50:19.hemisphere centers, we have seen it on a couple of occasions, you will

:50:20. > :50:26.come off second best. Once that bounce comes you get that off-load

:50:27. > :50:31.away. Sam Warburton is down. British Lions fans would like to see him

:50:32. > :50:36.back on his feet. The ball is too easy, too quick. They are turning

:50:37. > :50:44.their own ball over as well, which is possibly a bigger work worry.

:50:45. > :50:49.That is not a very good sight for northern hemisphere rugby. I'm sure

:50:50. > :50:55.it's only a minor thing because the 28-year-old Sam Warburton, who

:50:56. > :51:00.captained the Lions four years ago, now 74 Welsh caps to his name, is

:51:01. > :51:08.going off the field very much in the frame to repeat his Lion's

:51:09. > :51:14.captaincy. I heard from Gareth Charles that Jones isn't in good

:51:15. > :51:16.shape at the moment. No, he had that shoulder injury heel picked up

:51:17. > :51:26.playing for Wales in Paris in the last match. Certainly, Warren Gatlin

:51:27. > :51:34.will be looking for Wynn-Jones to be on the plane. Hopefully they can

:51:35. > :51:39.make it. Who is packing down in the middle of the Cardiff back row. He

:51:40. > :51:44.will add beef and bite to the whole thing is former Ulster favourite,

:51:45. > :51:48.Nick Williams. Nick Williams on. Cardiff trailing by four points am

:51:49. > :51:52.they have had made three changes, due to injury. Williams on the

:51:53. > :51:59.pick-up. Not the greatest return. Here is Matthew Morgan. Watch out

:52:00. > :52:05.for him. Luke Marshall gave him no room whatsoever. Here is Williams,

:52:06. > :52:12.taken off at the ankles sensibly by O'Connor. Anscombe. That's gone

:52:13. > :52:16.loose. Clever stuff by Ulster. Here comes Craig Gilroy. I think he's

:52:17. > :52:23.just stepped back, Sean Reidy is coming. Cuthbert will have a go at

:52:24. > :52:26.this. That's come infield. Play on be, says the referee. Knocked

:52:27. > :52:33.forward by Iain Henderson. Had Ulster caught that it was a half

:52:34. > :52:39.decent chance of a try. Cuthbert was lucky. He's so quick and reads the

:52:40. > :52:44.game so well. Matthew Morgan up in the line, hammers it in behind.

:52:45. > :52:48.Cuthbert quickly goes back. A deflection off Pienaar. Inn

:52:49. > :53:00.Henderson struggling to pick it off his boot laces. Play nod fewer than

:53:01. > :53:04.76 times for Ulster. Formeren junior All Black had a round the houses

:53:05. > :53:09.career. Spell with Munster, was signed by Ulster. He thoroughly

:53:10. > :53:15.enjoyed himself. He wasn't that keen to go. Understood. He is enjoying

:53:16. > :53:19.himself equally well with his family in Cardiff. He had a fractured

:53:20. > :53:24.season in Cardiff. A few injuries early on. Came back and picked up

:53:25. > :53:30.that calf injury, again. He hasn't quite fulfilled the promise. A

:53:31. > :53:35.pretty decent performance away from home by Pat, he may be in the frame

:53:36. > :53:55.for a tough play-off place. That hasn't done them any harm at all.

:53:56. > :54:05.Gethin Jenkins he scored a fine try, ran in from 40 meters. He's still

:54:06. > :54:11.doing it as well, isn't he? Sam Warburton with a bang on the knee.

:54:12. > :54:15.Looking a bit reflective, a little business of discomfort. A big ice

:54:16. > :54:19.pack on that left knee of his. The clock will start again pretty soon.

:54:20. > :54:26.Just over two minutes remaining until the interval. This first half

:54:27. > :54:32.has flown in. We expected tries. We have tries. I don't think the Ulster

:54:33. > :54:37.fans thought it would be this close. Good squeeze by Ulster. Away goes

:54:38. > :54:41.Nick. Pienaar works so often in tandem. Anscombe. Have to make that

:54:42. > :54:57.first tackle. They didn't make the first tackle. Intercepted by

:54:58. > :55:02.Pienaar. Puts the boot to it. Not as clean as it should be. Going too

:55:03. > :55:10.high. The easy pass was to Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

:55:11. > :55:18.marring. Passed inside. I'm sure he had will have good things to say

:55:19. > :55:31.about the Cardiff guys. For me it's been found wanting. -- Matthew

:55:32. > :55:45.Morgan. Good challenge by Ulster. Ulster. Chucked in at the back there

:55:46. > :55:51.by Cardiff. Ulster countering that drive well. Good work by Wiehahn

:55:52. > :56:02.Herbst and Wilson is posed to attack somebody around the fringes. Into

:56:03. > :56:12.the last-minute. Slipped to Lloyd Williams. Gilroy. Payne. Had a wee

:56:13. > :56:19.glance. Back to Gilroy. Spills it forward. Dear, oh, dear. Kick and

:56:20. > :56:27.chase. Advantage was over. Back goes Payne. Pienaar left it.

:56:28. > :56:38.Can Reidy had a look outside. Tackled by the Cardiff skipper,

:56:39. > :56:44.Jenkins. This time it an Ulster down injured. Rod goer Wilson, trying to

:56:45. > :56:48.make a bit of ground. Payne has got a bit of a bang someone. That's the

:56:49. > :56:53.end of the first half. It's been played at a fair old pace. A lot of

:56:54. > :56:58.mistakes. The majority of which have been made by an Ulster side. They

:56:59. > :57:02.will be pleased albeit with a very small margin. They will be pleased.

:57:03. > :57:05.For me, Cardiff have played more of the rugby and can find themselves

:57:06. > :57:10.and consider themselves unlucky to go into the shed four points down.

:57:11. > :57:15.Lots to play for in the second-half. As the game breaks up there is more

:57:16. > :57:19.tries out there from both sides? A nice friendly little hug from Nick

:57:20. > :57:25.Williams to his own playing buddy as they leave the field. One or two

:57:26. > :57:31.words about tightening up the fundamental errors. What a glorious

:57:32. > :57:34.scene that is. I hope those children are enjoying themselves. We have

:57:35. > :57:44.enjoyed this opening 40 minutesful half time here at the Kingspan

:57:45. > :57:50.stadium. 14-10. A dramatic first 40 in Belfast. It's been breathless

:57:51. > :57:54.stuff. Magic from Jackson. Physicality from Cardiff. They have

:57:55. > :57:59.had their moments, but Ulster have edged it.

:58:00. > :58:08.Only just. Decent first half. The punters have their money so far?

:58:09. > :58:14.They have indeed. That is all we expected. Dry evening at the

:58:15. > :58:17.Kingspan stayed Stadium. Both teams have played a part. Cardiff have

:58:18. > :58:21.come here to play. We were talking during the first half, I think

:58:22. > :58:27.Ulster would like it more structured and for the Cardiff want a loose

:58:28. > :58:33.game. Because of those guys, Halaholo in midfield. Breaking up

:58:34. > :58:37.tackles for fun. Ulster, half time, more structure. Play to the corners

:58:38. > :58:42.more. Then get on top of these guys. Great to watch. The coaches are

:58:43. > :58:47.probably stressed out? Mistackled. High-tempo games. Dubious offloads.

:58:48. > :58:51.Threatening back threes which both teams are trying to get into this

:58:52. > :58:56.game. It comes down to the emowe with which they want to play. Both

:58:57. > :58:59.teams will have issues there. They will want to address them. Flowing

:59:00. > :59:05.rugby and entertaining stuff to. With a. The real moment, the moment

:59:06. > :59:09.of genius was the Pienaar-Jackson combination for that first try? What

:59:10. > :59:12.was clever about that. You see the contest early on for the ball.

:59:13. > :59:16.Scully is on the ground as a result of this challenge. Illegal

:59:17. > :59:22.challenge. Both players in the air. It goes on a number of subsequent

:59:23. > :59:27.phases there. The intelligence of those players. They hold the inside

:59:28. > :59:31.defenders. When that man gets into open space, Piutau, you will make

:59:32. > :59:34.ground. Doesn't throw the speculative off-load am they

:59:35. > :59:39.recycle. Pienaar is away no-one is coming across and cover. Jackson

:59:40. > :59:52.runs that perfect line. The communication between the two of

:59:53. > :59:56.them. Intelligent play from them. Paddy could have caught that

:59:57. > :00:01.earlier. A great are try. Came from a turnover from the Cardiff boys.

:00:02. > :00:05.That was more of Ryan's stuff. The physical stuff was yours. Lots of

:00:06. > :00:11.that in the first half? Lots of mistackles. The guys will have to go

:00:12. > :00:14.lower. Wilson has gone for that wrap around tackle he is getting fended

:00:15. > :00:18.off. He was fended off biance apples. You can't question the boys

:00:19. > :00:21.endeavour. They are putting in the effort. Both teams are putting in

:00:22. > :00:24.the effort. Great to watch. That is what all the punters are paying the

:00:25. > :00:27.money for. Another man, Nick Williams, he came on with

:00:28. > :00:31.FORCEDYELLOW if Ulster minutes to go. I'm sure the second-half will be

:00:32. > :00:35.mrent more big hits. Rory Best with that grip strength that he has,

:00:36. > :00:41.latching on. You can't get rid of him? Hey has that farmers strength,

:00:42. > :00:44.doesn't he? Not in the gym throwing around massive weights. When he gets

:00:45. > :01:03.you in a headlock, you know all about it.

:01:04. > :01:10.They have to go up, number off and go in front of you. Still

:01:11. > :01:15.defensively suspect, Sean, but when they get the ball in their own half

:01:16. > :01:20.and launched counterattacks, they seem to score tries almost at will.

:01:21. > :01:24.That Warburton try was closed at the end but the build-up made it. The

:01:25. > :01:30.coach works a lot on this. They need live from turnover ball. That is

:01:31. > :01:34.where these centres are dangerous. -- they need to come alive from

:01:35. > :01:38.turnover ball. Look at Henderson going underneath, he's out of the

:01:39. > :01:43.line, and now he's got a prop against him. Jonathan these days

:01:44. > :01:47.would fancy his chances. A little friend and there they go. People

:01:48. > :01:52.like Matthew Morgan, Halaholo. The Blues haven't been good at this

:01:53. > :01:56.aspect all season, close to the line, very direct, powerful carries.

:01:57. > :02:02.People like Sam Morgan are dangerous to stop close. Impressive stuff from

:02:03. > :02:07.the ball in hand in their own half, and that is a strength of the Blues,

:02:08. > :02:13.and the kind of runners they have got, Anscombe, Morgan, they can do

:02:14. > :02:17.that. All you need is a one-on-one player and a forward in front of you

:02:18. > :02:21.and, when there is no overlap, you've got to do a step, and that

:02:22. > :02:30.will then create defensive questions for Ulster. They've got the centres,

:02:31. > :02:33.Lee-Lo and Halaholo can do it, but again, it's being clinical and

:02:34. > :02:36.deciding whether to give it or hold it and go to ground and recycle and

:02:37. > :02:42.go again. As Lloyd Williams said, that's the problem, the last pass

:02:43. > :02:47.has gone to ground, which is a missed opportunity, but also it

:02:48. > :02:51.kills the momentum the Blues have on the attack. The second Ulster try

:02:52. > :02:57.put them back in the lead, from that irresistible driving wall. Prior to

:02:58. > :03:01.that, as we saw throughout the half, Ulster managing to break through

:03:02. > :03:07.that first line of Blues defence almost at will. The story all

:03:08. > :03:12.season. It's a well worked move, the first phase, but it's from this sort

:03:13. > :03:18.of broken play they are dangerous. Two props, and a poor effort from

:03:19. > :03:21.both. In behind go Ulster, and they compound their defensive errors by

:03:22. > :03:24.giving a penalty away. Ulster are not going to take three points,

:03:25. > :03:28.they'll go for the jugular, of course they know a penalty will

:03:29. > :03:33.result in another line-out or a scrum. As Ritchie Rees mentioned on

:03:34. > :03:37.commentary, they are on the wrong side, and excellent maul, a combined

:03:38. > :03:41.effort to bring them down and a momentum issue. You could argue no

:03:42. > :03:45.one person brought it down. Pressure will tell. Second half, Ulster

:03:46. > :03:50.playing the way they liked playing. They will come out, looking for the

:03:51. > :03:56.bonus point. So Cardiff Blues will have to up their game. There are of

:03:57. > :04:03.injuries, and the players off the bench is weak, with some young

:04:04. > :04:08.forwards. It's the one-on-one tackle and the narrowing, lazy defence. So

:04:09. > :04:14.it's a big ask in the second half. They are in it now with

:04:15. > :04:18.opportunities to go in front. But now it starts again 0-0 and it's all

:04:19. > :04:25.to play for for the Blues. That second half is coming up shortly.

:04:26. > :04:30.Next week, Round 20 of the Pro12. For the Welsh regions, it's more

:04:31. > :04:36.significant of that. -- than that. Judgment Day is nearly here. Four

:04:37. > :04:41.regions, one game. One of the most anticipated days in the calendar,

:04:42. > :04:52.and Scrum V will be at the heart of it all. But, before the battle of

:04:53. > :04:54.wills, a battle of skills. Who came out on top? All will be revealed

:04:55. > :05:16.soon. Yes, coming up next week, if you

:05:17. > :05:20.haven't got your tickets, snap them up, because they are heading for a

:05:21. > :05:28.sell-out. Before the Scarlets can think about the Dragons, they have

:05:29. > :05:32.another game. This week, Wayne Kovac, the Scarlets head coach, has

:05:33. > :05:35.said they will not be taking the Italians lightly, particularly in

:05:36. > :05:38.light of what happened when the Austrians took them on a fortnight

:05:39. > :05:43.ago. The Scarlets certainly have the tools to do the job, and if they

:05:44. > :05:48.want, they can get a bonus point. I think they can learn from the

:05:49. > :05:53.Ospreys getting an upset at Treviso. From the last time against

:05:54. > :05:56.Edinburgh, if they can generate enough quick ball, they should be

:05:57. > :06:00.resounding winners. Against Edinburgh, they were fantastic and

:06:01. > :06:03.getting across the gain line, making the ball available for Alan Davies,

:06:04. > :06:08.getting on the front foot and getting it away quickly. When the

:06:09. > :06:11.Scarlets backs got there, with Jonathan Davies and Coe, they can

:06:12. > :06:15.get on the front foot and cause problems for the Italians. The key

:06:16. > :06:18.to winning is getting the runners on the front foot, bringing the wingers

:06:19. > :06:23.interplay and getting in close to the line, as Hadleigh Parkes did

:06:24. > :06:25.against Edinburgh, and when you bring in Liam Williams and Steffan

:06:26. > :06:31.Evans and the likes interplay, they can get through the Italians. And

:06:32. > :06:36.then they have this point on the wide channels to create problems.

:06:37. > :06:40.With enough quick ball, they should put the Italians away. The battle

:06:41. > :06:44.for that fourth play-off spot could still come down to a west Wales

:06:45. > :06:49.showdown between the Ospreys and the Scarlets on the final weekend of the

:06:50. > :06:53.regular season. Tomorrow, the Ospreys have to focus on their

:06:54. > :06:58.opponents at the Liberty Stadium, and it is the small matter of league

:06:59. > :07:02.leaders Leinster coming to visit. Dan Biggar becomes the youngest

:07:03. > :07:11.Osprey to reach 200 appearances. Dan Evans stays on the wing to

:07:12. > :07:16.accommodate Sam Davies at full-back. Oliver Cracknell replaces Sam

:07:17. > :07:21.Underhill on the blindside. A formidable challenge for the

:07:22. > :07:25.Ospreys, if they are to exercise the Demons of those last two defeats.

:07:26. > :07:32.What do they nude -- what do they need to do to be a Leinster side

:07:33. > :07:37.that hasn't lost any side since last November? They've just got to be

:07:38. > :07:41.clever. They played against Leinster every season. They know what they

:07:42. > :07:46.have to do to beat them. Cracknell coming in is good, because it can go

:07:47. > :07:50.forward. I'm not sure about Davies and Evans on the wing, the full-back

:07:51. > :07:56.position. I'm getting my head around that. But they have to bounce back.

:07:57. > :08:01.Treviso was a big defeat for them and giving up a Liberty Stadium

:08:02. > :08:05.result against Stade Francais. It's a big game and hopefully there will

:08:06. > :08:10.be a big house there. They should have done a bit of PR and marketing

:08:11. > :08:14.to do this and get the players out, the big stars, to promote the game

:08:15. > :08:18.and get a packed stadium, because we saw what it was like last week.

:08:19. > :08:23.There was the atmosphere and they faltered. They are capable of

:08:24. > :08:28.winning. At the stadium, they make it tough. The big players are back

:08:29. > :08:32.and it's massive for them. If they need to finish in the top two, this

:08:33. > :08:36.is the one they've got to target. I think they've got a nice running as

:08:37. > :08:43.well. Bouncing back, confidence back, creating opportunities. A

:08:44. > :08:47.creative midfield players not playing for them. But I do think, if

:08:48. > :08:53.they win tomorrow, if they are back up there with a shout of a home

:08:54. > :08:57.semifinal. You are talking about the culture, and you know all about it.

:08:58. > :09:02.They have got it in them to put those two disappointing defeats

:09:03. > :09:07.behind them and to regroup for this last set of fixtures. They do not

:09:08. > :09:10.lose three in a row very often. At home at the Liberty, you need the

:09:11. > :09:16.support. The fans need to get down there. With people like Webb and Dan

:09:17. > :09:22.Baker, they are winners. But Leinster don't want to be dragged

:09:23. > :09:27.back into the race. If they win, they will think, we can set back a

:09:28. > :09:32.bit. -- sick bag. The running for most side is very tough. Ospreys

:09:33. > :09:38.fans, it's a sunny day tomorrow, so get down there. This one is going on

:09:39. > :09:42.tonight, the second half of Ulster against Cardiff Blues about get

:09:43. > :09:47.underway. It is 14-10. The Blues are still in it. Let's return to our

:09:48. > :09:49.commentary team, Ritchie Rees and Gareth Giles.

:09:50. > :09:59.Thanks very much, Royce. We saw some blood treatment and

:10:00. > :10:05.bandage around the head in the first half. There was a concussion, so

:10:06. > :10:09.Kieron Assiratti comes on to make his league debut at the start of the

:10:10. > :10:13.second half. There he is, supporting Matthew Morgan, the ball catcher, at

:10:14. > :10:22.the beginning of the second. Fourth change for the Blues. In 40 minutes.

:10:23. > :10:32.More pressure on that bench and among the players out on the field.

:10:33. > :10:40.No ruck conformed. Driven off the ball, so it remains in Ulster's

:10:41. > :10:56.possession. Kieran Treadwell Sean Reidy. Works

:10:57. > :11:01.it away for Jared Payne. A determined start to the second half

:11:02. > :11:06.from Ulster. The Blues in the first half getting all the possession and

:11:07. > :11:10.attacking. And Ulster are the ones who have got ball in hand and

:11:11. > :11:15.putting pressure on the visitors' defence at the beginning of the

:11:16. > :11:19.second half. Four times in this half already, Ulster have turned back to

:11:20. > :11:22.that blindside and had some success with regards to the yardage. It's

:11:23. > :11:29.maybe something they talked about at half-time. Again, there they go.

:11:30. > :11:36.Good pick-up by Jackson. A clever little pass back inside, but nobody

:11:37. > :12:07.else was on the same wavelength. Started the last four games now,

:12:08. > :12:10.Jared Payne. Featured against England in the Six Nations as well,

:12:11. > :12:15.but he has gone off, to be replaced by Jacob Stockdale. Very dangerous,

:12:16. > :12:25.and the Blues can't afford to kick loosely. Eight tries for him in the

:12:26. > :12:34.league this year, Stockdale. Overthrown into the hands of Matthew

:12:35. > :12:39.Rees. Anscombe. Lee-Lo. Rhun Williams. Find a bit of space behind

:12:40. > :12:46.the defence. Piutau getting across from the file wing and putting

:12:47. > :12:53.pressure on Gilroy. Great work defensively, Lloyd Williams. Just

:12:54. > :13:06.need to be sensible, the Blues. Don't want to give any cine

:13:07. > :13:08.penalties away. -- silly penalties. Clearance comes from Pienaar, but

:13:09. > :13:34.only into the hands of Rhun Williams.

:13:35. > :13:42.Treadwell, trying to get his hands free. What has led both sides down

:13:43. > :13:48.in the opening 43 minutes is the accuracy. Go through an extra pace,

:13:49. > :13:58.if you have to. Key areas of the field.

:13:59. > :14:05.Ian Davies, the referee, complementing the two front rows. We

:14:06. > :14:34.haven't had a scrum reset, have we? Very unusual.

:14:35. > :14:48.Jackson, Marshall. That is straight out.

:14:49. > :14:56.Neil Doak, part of the setup at Ulster, I'm sure he will not be too

:14:57. > :15:11.happy. Looking a bit scrappy. Doesn't look the happiest anyway.

:15:12. > :15:25.Halaholo spots the gap and those forehead. Piutau comes across.

:15:26. > :15:33.Almost cost them. Nick Williams, driven on by Ellis Jenkins. Ripped

:15:34. > :15:40.clear by Iain Henderson. A tackle had been called though. This must be

:15:41. > :15:46.confusing for the crowd, because it looked like a trip by Henderson.

:15:47. > :15:49.Tackle had been caused, so has to let it go. The Cardiff Blues went

:15:50. > :15:55.for a six-man line-out and left the big man, Nick Williams in midfield.

:15:56. > :15:58.He left a short line, and the effect that somebody that strong and

:15:59. > :16:04.powerful coming in has full stop it narrows them up. In doing so, the

:16:05. > :16:11.Blues went out the back, which is where they found the space. A prime

:16:12. > :16:20.attacking opportunity for the Blues. Simple things done well.

:16:21. > :16:28.Cleanly taken. Good position. Setting Matthew Rees up for a drive

:16:29. > :16:30.on. Going nowhere though, the Blues. Lloyd Williams, Cuthbert. Awful lot

:16:31. > :16:58.of traffic in front of him. Anscombe delays, to a tee. So simple

:16:59. > :17:03.but effective, and Reynold Lee-lo puts the Blues back ahead at the

:17:04. > :17:07.start of the second half. Don't underestimate the work that Alex

:17:08. > :17:11.Cuthbert does off the ball. He runs all the time. You can see him

:17:12. > :17:15.sitting at the back. The Irish defence see him, so he drifts of

:17:16. > :17:20.them. Anscombe has picked his head up and looked at that second, third

:17:21. > :17:24.defender, seeing Cuthbert out the back. The effect that that has on

:17:25. > :17:35.the Ulster defensive line... Great try, Cardiff Blues. Great spot by

:17:36. > :17:39.Cuthbert, fixing defenders. Still got to pick the right men and get

:17:40. > :17:46.the right ball away, and that is exactly what they did. Lee-Lo's

:17:47. > :17:50.third of the season. First time this afternoon that the Blues have been

:17:51. > :17:56.in the Ulster 22 as well, coming away with points. Just what Danny

:17:57. > :17:59.Wilson would have wanted. The extra is added, and a 3-point lead for the

:18:00. > :18:09.Blues at the start of the second half. Good from the Blues. They got

:18:10. > :18:12.form on the original line-out and they got their big players, their

:18:13. > :18:16.big ball-carriers back in the game. As soon as they got five acts

:18:17. > :18:22.together, that is when you can start to run some sort of run around play

:18:23. > :18:25.create mismatches. But they have lost possession from the restart,

:18:26. > :18:31.but so have Ulster. A let off for the Blues.

:18:32. > :18:38.Living dangerously for a moment. Nick Williams, that trademark ball

:18:39. > :18:47.in one hand, straight through the ruck. They have to get him back on

:18:48. > :18:59.his feet. Navidi juggles but just manages to get a hold of it before

:19:00. > :19:03.it hits the turf. Lloyd Williams looking to set off his left foot.

:19:04. > :19:10.Just that extra metre from Nick Williams. It's too far for Nick

:19:11. > :19:19.Williams to chase. Plenty of time for Gilroy.

:19:20. > :19:31.Four defenders back deep for Ulster. So didn't go for the kick, which was

:19:32. > :19:35.sensible. Jenkins through Hoeata. Rhun Williams. Lovely work, back to

:19:36. > :19:45.Ellis Jenkins. The other Jenkins, Gethin. They are playing good rugby,

:19:46. > :19:48.the Blues. Halaholo posted to find -- behind the defenders. Happy to

:19:49. > :19:56.see it over the touchline. Some lovely touches along the way. I've

:19:57. > :19:59.been impressed by Rhun Williams. Anscombe spots the turnover and

:20:00. > :20:03.mismatched and manages to get the ball away and get the ball to Rhun

:20:04. > :20:08.Williams in that wide-eyed shallow. He's gone through the contact, got

:20:09. > :20:13.the float in. -- in that wider channel. A 70 metre game for Cardiff

:20:14. > :20:26.Blues, putting the pressure straight back onto Ulster. The South African,

:20:27. > :20:33.Wiehahn Herbst. Just getting patched up. Will he continue? Yes. Rhun

:20:34. > :20:41.Williams has had an excellent evening.

:20:42. > :20:49.Meanwhile, Herbst gets treatment. Let's go back to the touchline and

:20:50. > :20:53.see what else is happening. A full programme in tier one of the

:20:54. > :20:58.Premiership tomorrow, Aberavon against Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil

:20:59. > :21:07.the leaders, and then RBC against Ebbw Vale. The top four to qualify

:21:08. > :21:10.going to a penalty -- play-off. Lots of other things happening tomorrow,

:21:11. > :21:16.but I am going to division three, west central see, the power on the

:21:17. > :21:27.Gower, Torbay in south tower. Also, some sad news today. Alan Benjamin,

:21:28. > :21:31.former legendary secretary of Neath rugby club during the 80s, he sadly

:21:32. > :21:37.passed away. Condolences to his family. Absolutely. He was such a

:21:38. > :22:21.fixture, Alan Benjamin. The Blues battling hard to put

:22:22. > :22:25.pressure on the line-out. Always so important for them. That's going up,

:22:26. > :22:37.says Ruan Pienaar. Cuthbert, straight to Matthew

:22:38. > :22:46.Morgan. The kind of broken field he loves to run from. Tackle by Luke

:22:47. > :22:50.Marshall, an important one. He is such a danger from that kind of

:22:51. > :22:55.position, Matthew Morgan. That's why you can't afford to kick too long to

:22:56. > :23:00.him. If you haven't got decent defensive chase, if you leave gaps

:23:01. > :23:05.too big, even between your two centres, he will pick you. It's a

:23:06. > :23:10.major strength of Matt. He has his deficiencies, but Danny Wilson

:23:11. > :23:15.highly rates him as an attacking threat. It is just where his best

:23:16. > :23:22.position is, that is something we are waiting to find out. Wood this

:23:23. > :23:25.year, he saw quite a few Blues games and, against Bristol, he was

:23:26. > :23:31.devastating. Against Gloucester last Friday, a couple of great runs. At

:23:32. > :23:36.the top end of the game, just needs to get consistencies. It's something

:23:37. > :23:40.he is looking to build on. Jacob Stockdale had the ball knocked out

:23:41. > :23:52.of his hands by Lord Williams. Six foot five and over ex-Dean -- 15

:23:53. > :24:02.stone of him. A scrappy opening 11 minutes of the second half from both

:24:03. > :24:11.teams. Kieron Assiratti is down. If he has to go, we are looking at

:24:12. > :24:14.passive scrums. There is a replacement prop, Corey Domachowski,

:24:15. > :24:29.another 19-year-old, at loosehead. If Filise has concussion, he's not

:24:30. > :24:33.coming on. Yes, Rees Gill is back next weekend for the Blues. They

:24:34. > :24:36.have got some strength in depth. It's good to see the youngsters

:24:37. > :24:44.getting a bit of game plan that would regain time. A good

:24:45. > :24:49.environment. A cracking evening. -- the youngsters getting a bit of game

:24:50. > :24:56.time. Back to the touchline. 15 years ago

:24:57. > :25:03.yesterday, the manual see on your screen now made his last ever

:25:04. > :25:10.international rugby commentary. -- the man you will see. The late Bill

:25:11. > :25:15.McLaren. Wales against Scotland, 2002, Scotland 27, Wales 22. That

:25:16. > :25:22.was 15 years ago yesterday, and I am proudly wearing my bill McLaren

:25:23. > :25:30.Foundation in. There you go, the voice of rugby. -- mic Bill McLaren

:25:31. > :25:52.Pin. Morgan up into the line-out to

:25:53. > :25:58.Cuthbert. He is regaining his confidence all the time, Alex

:25:59. > :26:05.Cuthbert. He is looking lively and energetic and wants to get his hands

:26:06. > :26:08.on the ball. There he is again. Lee-Lo, again going for those first

:26:09. > :26:23.up defenders. Morgan. Lloyd Williams down the blindside,

:26:24. > :26:29.trying to create an opportunity for Rhun Williams, but running out of

:26:30. > :26:33.space. I like the attacking shape from the Blues. They've gone wide

:26:34. > :26:37.straight off that start and onto an edge. They are forcing Ulster to

:26:38. > :26:41.commit their 15 to make that a final tackle, and looking to get back to

:26:42. > :26:46.the other side of the field and, in turn, there will not be anybody in

:26:47. > :26:50.that backfield. Going through the phases, a bit more patience, a bit

:26:51. > :27:04.more accuracy. They are on the right side of the field.

:27:05. > :27:12.The band, trying to drum up a bit of life from the crowd to get behind

:27:13. > :27:26.the Ulster team, as they trail. Just going high. Sound defence again Rhun

:27:27. > :27:35.Williams. Assiratti, as temporary scrum-half. Lee-Lo against spots

:27:36. > :27:43.them, looking to the outside, defending, and finds Nick Williams

:27:44. > :27:46.on his inside shoulder. Coming out the back an awful lot, a big forward

:27:47. > :27:50.run are coming short, and always looking to get the ball in that 12,

:27:51. > :28:23.15's hands. Yes, too obvious. Maybe to Ian

:28:24. > :28:26.Davisback, but the touch judge picked it up. Just too obvious from

:28:27. > :28:41.Assiratti. As long as the plane is on time, we

:28:42. > :28:42.will be down in Italy tomorrow for the game between Scarlets and

:28:43. > :28:54.Treviso. And a look back at the weekend's

:28:55. > :29:00.action, looking forward to Judgment Day, 6:30pm on Sunday, Scrum V.

:29:01. > :29:02.Touch finder has taken Ulster back up to the 22. Marshall comes onto

:29:03. > :29:19.the short ball. Unfortunate from Ellis Jenkins. The

:29:20. > :29:22.ruck just happened on top and, as he got to his feet, he thought he was

:29:23. > :29:29.attacked, he thought he had the rights to stop but just telling him

:29:30. > :29:34.the ruck and formed on top of him. A split-second thing. Ellis Jenkins

:29:35. > :29:41.had his hand on the ball as the ruck was called. It was a split second

:29:42. > :29:47.the -- decision that Ellis had to make. At that breakdown, his choices

:29:48. > :29:54.have been spot-on, up until that one. Just checking with Ian Davies

:29:55. > :30:07.exactly how he read it. Matthew Rees having a bit of

:30:08. > :30:16.treatment. They don't want to lose another one out front.

:30:17. > :30:27.Easy penalty for Jackson, and things all square again.

:30:28. > :30:39.Looks like Matthew reads -- Matthew Rees is going to have some

:30:40. > :30:44.treatment. Just to check him out. Matthew Rees didn't want to go, but

:30:45. > :30:45.Ian Davies quite rightly saying, just get yourself checked and, if

:30:46. > :31:03.you are OK, come back on. Kirby Myhill, former Scarlets

:31:04. > :31:22.hooker. Craig Gilroy just making way for young Andrew Trimble.

:31:23. > :31:29.Anscombe takes, under pressure from Trimble.

:31:30. > :31:59.Rory Best flying at him, Jenkins. Again, beats that guy on the inside.

:32:00. > :32:17.Matthew Morgan tries to get in between a couple of forwards.

:32:18. > :32:32.Myhill. Again, dogleg defence. Halaholo. Gap almost opened up for

:32:33. > :32:47.him. Williams. Straight into Wilson, Cuthbert. Jenkins. Trying to work

:32:48. > :32:50.this Ulster defence. Kirby Myhill. Not committing to breakdown at the

:32:51. > :32:58.moment, Ulster. Keeping bodies out wide. Blues just hoping that Ulster

:32:59. > :33:08.give a penalty away or they can pick a mismatch. Morgan got the pass off

:33:09. > :33:18.the floor. It came off one of the Blues players. Stockdale, not really

:33:19. > :33:26.making as much ground as they would have wanted. The foot work on both

:33:27. > :33:29.Reidy and Halaholo has caused havoc in the Ulster defence. They are

:33:30. > :33:33.getting through contact. They are picking a defender and running at

:33:34. > :33:38.gaps. They are running at shoulders than bodies. Allowing them to get

:33:39. > :33:41.their hands through contact and looking for that off-load every

:33:42. > :33:45.single time. If you are trying to defend against that you can't watch

:33:46. > :33:56.the shoulders, the ball, you have to watch the hips. Get close enough to

:33:57. > :34:04.him without him stepping (inaudible) High hill finds James Down and then

:34:05. > :34:10.finds Nick Williams. Lee. Great by Lee. He will go all the way, is he?

:34:11. > :34:11.Steps inside Charles Piutau. A second for Rey Lee-Lo. A great

:34:12. > :34:30.individual score. We touched on it ten second ago. His

:34:31. > :34:38.foot work, great vision from Anscombe. Fantastic try from the

:34:39. > :34:44.Blues. Williams to Halaholo. Then, here he is, Kut Berthe shall he puts

:34:45. > :34:51.that indecision in Luke Marshall's mind. He takes full advantage, Rey

:34:52. > :34:59.Lee-Lo. Well-worked by the Blues. Brilliantly finished by Rey Lee-Lo.

:35:00. > :35:03.Many people were expecting maybe a runaway win for Ulster. I was just

:35:04. > :35:07.about to say that. Not many would have called this score, 60 minutes

:35:08. > :35:12.into the game. The thoroughly deserved by the Blues. Only one

:35:13. > :35:18.defeat at home since February of last year, Ulster. They are good for

:35:19. > :35:24.it the Blues as well. They need to concentrate. 20 minutes left into

:35:25. > :35:31.this game. They don't need to play any rugby within meters of their

:35:32. > :35:37.try-line. He are trying to play Ulster that is when errors will

:35:38. > :35:45.come. That is when the Blues will have time to strike. Gareth

:35:46. > :35:49.Anscombe's conversion puts them a converted try ahead as they go into

:35:50. > :36:09.the Down inside the thresh triat the

:36:10. > :36:24.moment. Very much so. Good defensive line from the Blues. Stuart Olding.

:36:25. > :36:28.Down in the tackle. Stockdale. That's a great run. Brave tackle

:36:29. > :36:37.though by Williams. Pienaar. Takes out Jackson. Had a talking to by

:36:38. > :36:50.Rory Best. Ulster trying to pick the pace up. Pick up the intensity. Rod

:36:51. > :36:59.goer Wilson. Best back to Jackson. Stockdale is a handful. Lively since

:37:00. > :37:05.he came on. . Pienaar to Treadwell. Again, it's Down who gets the tackle

:37:06. > :37:14.in. Now the Blues know they have a game on their hand. Ulster are

:37:15. > :37:28.chucking the kitchen sink at this. Inside ball meant for Trimble.

:37:29. > :37:34.Knocked on by as Assiratti. -- Assiratti. It's the first time we've

:37:35. > :37:45.heard the crowd in the last couple of minutes. They just need to build

:37:46. > :37:53.and build. The Blues doing well defensively. The Forcing Paddy

:37:54. > :37:55.Jackson to turn back inside. Bring the likes of Stockdale into the

:37:56. > :38:27.game. Matthew Rees back on. The latest from Edinburgh, 22-7.

:38:28. > :38:34.Making the changes. Wilson reporting. Robbie Diack coming on.

:38:35. > :38:40.Nick Timoney making his Ulster debut. Right call. They need to add

:38:41. > :38:45.a little bit of urgency, a little bit of expectation. A little bit of

:38:46. > :38:46.wanting to this game for Ulster if they want to come away with the

:38:47. > :39:05.draw, even a victory. Probably the quietest I've heard the

:39:06. > :39:12.King span in years. I think they are shell-shocked. You are wondering

:39:13. > :39:17.where this has been with the Blues for a lot of the season. They have

:39:18. > :39:21.it in them? They have been the best side for the 62 minutes of this

:39:22. > :39:26.game. Last week against Gloucester they fell off around this mark.

:39:27. > :39:34.Let's hope they can stay strong and come away with the victory.

:39:35. > :39:42.Stockdale hiding behind Jackson. Now they break in that direction. There

:39:43. > :39:48.is Stockdale. Defended well by the Blues. Pushed off. Forced out of

:39:49. > :40:01.play as well. Excellent defence by the Blues. Superb work. Not the

:40:02. > :40:04.greatest of starts from Ulster. Very unlike them. The Blues will take

:40:05. > :40:12.that. They look to kill a little bit of time. Get a little bit of field

:40:13. > :40:22.position, get a little bit of territory. Anscombe stays down. His

:40:23. > :40:27.father of course spent some time as coach at Ulster. Ulster. Didn't end

:40:28. > :40:34.the greatest though by all accounts. No.

:40:35. > :40:43.Good from the Blues though. Taking their time, regrouping. Where are we

:40:44. > :40:49.going, what are we going to do for the remaining minutes of this game.

:40:50. > :40:54.How are we going to get the victory. Let's kill the clock a bit.

:40:55. > :41:12.Again, the crowd trying to play their part. Nicely worked to James

:41:13. > :41:18.Down. Then Nick Williams, the big man, trying to get them on the

:41:19. > :41:25.bigfoot. Lloyd Williams looking to get them down field. Trimble to

:41:26. > :41:34.Stockdale. Good chase led by Lee. Forced him to turn back inside.

:41:35. > :41:42.Jackson to Marshall. Pounding by with Gethin Jenkins. He must be

:41:43. > :41:48.glowing with 15 to go. Second start since back from injury. Played well.

:41:49. > :41:49.Set-piece gone well. As ever, his work around the field has been

:41:50. > :42:01.top-notch. Up she goes from Paddy Jackson.

:42:02. > :42:08.Anscombe take it is safely. Treadwell there to bring him down.

:42:09. > :42:13.Plenty of Blue around to protect that ball. Assiratti on his own.

:42:14. > :42:20.Don't want to go through too many phases here. President your foot on

:42:21. > :42:28.it. Hoeata to Halaholo. Again, two steps back inside and straightening.

:42:29. > :42:31.The triple goose step. Anscombe looking for position in the end.

:42:32. > :42:35.That'll do the Blues at the moment. They will take that. Good play,

:42:36. > :42:39.Gareth Anscombe. You can see Lloyd from the previous phase was looking

:42:40. > :42:42.to set up to get a kick in. Space in the wider challenge.

:42:43. > :42:46.He has beaten three men on the inside. Anscombe has seen space in

:42:47. > :42:49.that back field and gone for field position. Gone for territory. Well

:42:50. > :42:59.played Cardiff Blues. The Blues players are puffing and

:43:00. > :43:07.blowing. They have given so much. They have

:43:08. > :43:14.another 15 to go. That's evidence of how hard a battle it has been, a

:43:15. > :43:23.ripped search of Willis Halaholo. They don't have too many subs to

:43:24. > :43:32.use. Ulster are making the changes. Rob Herring and Ah You. Jackson,

:43:33. > :43:41.again. Brilliantly taken by Rhun Williams. He hasn't put a foot wrong

:43:42. > :43:46.tonight. Great game. The It's not working for them, they are

:43:47. > :43:55.persisting for it. They have looked to go with it. Assiratti, not afraid

:43:56. > :44:10.to get hand on ball. Wide open areas. Matthew Rees, Nick Williams.

:44:11. > :44:16.If they can pick up a penalty, pick up three points, take them more than

:44:17. > :44:21.a converted try away. Stockdale quickly up on Rhun Williams, cutting

:44:22. > :44:31.out any space. Pressure on Lloyd Williams. It's turn over time. Or it

:44:32. > :44:37.would of been if the Blues hadn't kept hold of it. They just need to

:44:38. > :44:41.manage it the Blues. They are going touchline to touchline looking to

:44:42. > :44:49.play width. At a point they have to look to tighten it up a bit. Brigg

:44:50. > :44:53.the bigger ball carriers into play to try and tie in that Ulster

:44:54. > :44:55.defensive line and hopefully force them to give a penalty away at the

:44:56. > :45:10.breakdown. Anxious faces up there. They will be

:45:11. > :45:15.delighted with it so far. They want to see it off as well. Full credit

:45:16. > :45:26.to the coaching staff. Tactically they have been spot on so far.

:45:27. > :45:42.Trimble. Jenkins saying there was blocking going on there. Sean Reidy

:45:43. > :45:47.carries on into the Blues 22. Rodney Ah You arrives. Numbers out there.

:45:48. > :45:55.Tread tread. Now the crowd have found their voice. Real pressure on

:45:56. > :46:02.the Blues now. Jackson, back to Luke Marshall. Slips the tackle. Luke

:46:03. > :46:07.Marshall gets through to the try that could bring Ulster back level.

:46:08. > :46:12.The Blues were defending with too. Width, ironically. They were very

:46:13. > :46:16.few Ulster players in the wider channels outside the 15's. They were

:46:17. > :46:21.always going to go back inside. That is where the holes are. He slips off

:46:22. > :46:28.the tackle. He has gone past Matthew Rees. Unfortunate for the Blues.

:46:29. > :46:33.It's exactly what they didn't need. Too high in the contact. Looked to

:46:34. > :46:39.hit him around the chest. He's a big strong guy, is Marshall. Too much

:46:40. > :46:47.space to cover between Matthew Rees and James Downs. Ulster are right

:46:48. > :46:51.back in. Crossing outside the 22 before Sean Reidy got his hand on

:46:52. > :46:54.the ball. He has a point. A play Ulster use quite a bit. They bring

:46:55. > :47:02.that winger back into that breakdown. A set play. They look to

:47:03. > :47:07.get some blockers in play. The silence broken as Paddy Jackson's

:47:08. > :47:12.kick brings Ulster back level. We are approaching the final 10 minutes

:47:13. > :47:17.of the game. A see saw game. There is nothing to choose between them.

:47:18. > :47:22.It's Ulster 24, the Blues 24. Just see a little bit of dogleg. As soon

:47:23. > :47:28.as you are through that first defensive line, it's so difficult to

:47:29. > :47:32.stop. Well-worked Ulster. First time they have kept a bit of tempo in

:47:33. > :47:37.this game. They will have their tails up Ulster. They know they are

:47:38. > :47:50.within sight of a bonus point. Three tries a piece.

:47:51. > :47:58.They've got to go for distance on this exit for me, have Ulster. We

:47:59. > :48:03.will soon find out. Same hanging kick towards the touchline. Trimble

:48:04. > :48:07.puts pressure on Anscombe. He gets it away quickly to Matthew Morgan.

:48:08. > :48:21.Looking to hold up the Blues fullback, and they have done.

:48:22. > :48:32.Ulster's put in at the scrum. It's been the favoured tactic this

:48:33. > :48:37.evening. Very much. Too big guys. They have got under the ball,

:48:38. > :48:41.Matthew Morgan. Forced the turnover. The Blues have 10 minutes to win or

:48:42. > :48:48.get some points out of this game. They have to stop momentum that the

:48:49. > :48:52.Ulster team are building. Some anxious Scarring supporters watching

:48:53. > :49:12.this one, let alone Blues supporters. Edinburgh a real

:49:13. > :49:17.fightback. 19-22. Great pass out to Piutau. Over halfway. Puts in the

:49:18. > :49:24.kick. Across comes Williams. Takes it over the far side. Defended for

:49:25. > :49:38.now. The pressure is building from Ulster. Superb pass. Cuthbert

:49:39. > :49:43.defending in that front-line. You have to give Williams credit. Picks

:49:44. > :49:54.the ball up. He starts on the opposite wing, left hand wing.

:49:55. > :50:02.Here's a test for the Cardiff Blues. Game all square. Ulster in the

:50:03. > :50:08.ascendancy. They played so well for 72 minutes. Have they got another

:50:09. > :50:15.eight in them? They have Charles Piutau wandering out 10 meters off

:50:16. > :50:23.the back of this line-out. Stuart Olding goes through. Here come

:50:24. > :50:30.Ulster on the charge. Paddy Jackson, Pienaar. Sean Reidy. It's all hands

:50:31. > :50:44.to the pump now for the Blues. They are under the pump. Robbie Diack.

:50:45. > :50:48.Pienaar, to Jackson. Sean Reidy the Blues have almost run themselves

:50:49. > :50:53.into a standstill. Ulster are full of running, full of vigor. Everybody

:50:54. > :50:59.flying in, bodies being taken off the ball. Ulster can sense this

:51:00. > :51:05.could be it. Marshall with a pass. Piutau can't gather. Olding does.

:51:06. > :51:14.Five meters from the Blues' try-line. They lost possession.

:51:15. > :51:19.Matthew Morgan clears. The siege is lifted momentarily. Here comes Paddy

:51:20. > :51:31.Jackson, again. Albeit from the 10 meter line now. Trimble. It's a

:51:32. > :51:37.grand stand finish to a game that's given pretty much everything. Need

:51:38. > :51:46.to get off that line, shut any sort of time down that the Ulster ball

:51:47. > :51:49.carriers want. Six minutes for Ulster to find a bonus point try.

:51:50. > :51:55.Six minutes for the Blues to hang on to a draw. Or can they magic up a

:51:56. > :51:58.bonus point try? Not the way the game is going at the moment. .

:51:59. > :52:08.Deserve something from their efforts. Jackson looks for the gap.

:52:09. > :52:19.Stockdale leaves it this time to Rob Herring. Navidi hurt in the tackle.

:52:20. > :52:24.They can't afford to be a man short defending the Blues. Sean Reidy gets

:52:25. > :52:29.his hands on the ball, once again. Andrew Trimble appearing all over

:52:30. > :52:35.the place. Pienaar, to Robbie Diack. Forward. They are allowed to carry

:52:36. > :52:40.on. Pienaar arrives, again. Real pressure on them. The ball has been

:52:41. > :52:47.split forward this time. Again, the Blues survive by the skin of their

:52:48. > :52:52.teeth. Now there will be time for a breather and a scrum. You could see

:52:53. > :53:05.the bodies scattered along the field. It's great tempo. It's great

:53:06. > :53:15.energy. The Blues are, woing very hard defensively. At the moment,

:53:16. > :53:19.it's coming out. He's forced the turnover. It allowed the Cardiff

:53:20. > :53:27.Blues players to get a bit of a breather. To regroup. Corey

:53:28. > :53:31.Domachowski has come on. Gethin Jenkins has given everything in the

:53:32. > :53:40.75 minutes he has been on the field. Yeah, fair play to him. He has been

:53:41. > :53:45.everywhere. He is their defensive leader. Very much an organiser in

:53:46. > :54:03.midfield. Throughly deserved this five minute rest.

:54:04. > :54:13.Callum Black on for Andy Warwick on the loosehead for Ulster as well.

:54:14. > :54:19.Two completely new front be rows. Instead of two 36-year-olds and a 40

:54:20. > :54:23.combreerld you have two 19-year-olds and a 25-year-old in the Blues front

:54:24. > :54:27.row now. It's an experience they can't buy, whether it be positive or

:54:28. > :54:32.negative. It's something they will learn from. Here's hoping this scrum

:54:33. > :54:41.holds up. There hasn't been a draw in the Pro12 so far this season.

:54:42. > :54:52.Pressure on that scrum. Navidi tries to relieve it. He's done well, has

:54:53. > :54:57.Navidi. Lloyd Williams giving himself as wide a base as possible.

:54:58. > :55:08.Anscombe's kick is infield to Stockdale. Good tackle, Nick

:55:09. > :55:14.Williams. They have to be squeaky clean as well not to give a penalty

:55:15. > :55:21.away, the Blues. They don't want to give cheap penalties away. Give a

:55:22. > :55:27.meter at the breakdown. Get onside. Locked at 24-24. Three tries a

:55:28. > :55:32.piece. What the game has been. What a finish it is as Iain Henderson

:55:33. > :55:37.drives on relentlessly. Ulster come again. They don't want anybody going

:55:38. > :55:44.in there. Let the tradesmen do it. Piutau. He tries to step his way

:55:45. > :55:50.through. So many attacking threats u l possess. Rodney Ah You wants his

:55:51. > :55:55.hands on the ball. Now, he does. Another half minute knocked off the

:55:56. > :56:00.clock by the Blues. It must seem like hours for them out there. This

:56:01. > :56:09.tackle count must be huge in the second-half. Penalty goes the Blues

:56:10. > :56:12.way. Massive relief. Brilliant work on the floor. Superb work, Josh

:56:13. > :56:30.Navidi. Not a happy bunny. Assiratti makes the initial tackle.

:56:31. > :56:36.He's low. Three guys step over the top. As soon as he's so low, Josh is

:56:37. > :56:41.a big, strong guy he will always be hard to move. Had to find the touch,

:56:42. > :56:48.Anscombe, didn't matter where. Buy a few more seconds to walk to the

:56:49. > :56:59.line. Get the call. Win the ball and stay away from that try-line.

:57:00. > :57:07.They have gone with five man. Nick Williams is heading out to this

:57:08. > :57:13.wider channel, just underknead us. Williams and Navidi in midfield. As

:57:14. > :57:17.the Blues go into the final two minutes at the Kingspan all square.

:57:18. > :57:23.Halaholo to Lee-Lo. To Matthew Morgan. Slots it through. First

:57:24. > :57:30.attack the Blues have had in quite a while. Piutau can't gather. It's

:57:31. > :57:34.gone forward. Double lock on here. They haven't given it, they are

:57:35. > :57:38.trying to attack the Blues. Got to give them credit for that. Speaks

:57:39. > :57:47.volumes on how they have approached this game this evening.

:57:48. > :57:59.As long as this scrum holds up, for me, this is match drawn. Unless

:58:00. > :58:04.Cardiff Blues go for double top and this strike left hand side start to

:58:05. > :58:09.play. Good decision by Matthew Morgan. Piutau comes across, from

:58:10. > :58:15.the opposite wing, forces the fumble. Williams is in there.

:58:16. > :58:23.Impressed by him this evening. It's been a magnificent effort by the

:58:24. > :58:26.Cardiff Blues tonight. Those fans, who travelled across, have had their

:58:27. > :58:29.money's worth. They will have a good night tonight, as long as they can

:58:30. > :58:40.hold out for the remaining minute and a quarter. They're narrow the

:58:41. > :58:45.Cardiff Blues backline. Don't expect this play to go too wide. The Blues

:58:46. > :58:51.last win in Belfast was a pass back as 2010. They couldn't possibly,

:58:52. > :58:54.could they, in the final minute? Now, it's Ulster's turn to be

:58:55. > :59:02.squeaky clean and not give penalties away. Set it up once more. Nick

:59:03. > :59:10.Williams gains an extra couple of meters. They've lost the ball. After

:59:11. > :59:12.all that work. Now, Ulster will have one more chance from inside their

:59:13. > :59:30.own 22 though. Good tackle that. Ball is in space. Ulster on the

:59:31. > :59:33.attack. From their own 22. Stockdale. Could they go all the

:59:34. > :59:40.way? Piutau the kick through. Matthew Morgan is back there first.

:59:41. > :59:43.The ball over the touchline. With just 130 seconds remaining the Blues

:59:44. > :59:50.are that close to hanging on to a draw. Superb option from Jackson. He

:59:51. > :59:55.has seen the Blues look to pressurise the exit. They are very

:59:56. > :00:00.flat. Wasn't the wisest of decisions from Piutau to put his foot to ball.

:00:01. > :00:03.They've got to go through this phase of play, the Cardiff Blues. Make

:00:04. > :00:07.sure you get your calling system correct. Everyone knows their

:00:08. > :00:18.individual role. Get this ball off the field. The clock has gone

:00:19. > :00:21.red.ful the Kingspan stadium in Belfast are desperate for Ulster to

:00:22. > :00:22.get their hands on the ball one more time. The Blues are desperate to

:00:23. > :00:47.take the ball and get it off the Lloyd Williams waits for the ball to

:00:48. > :00:51.emerge. Slowly though it does, puts the ball off the pack, and the Blues

:00:52. > :00:57.celebrate a draw in Ulster, and that could be a dent in the Ulstermen's

:00:58. > :01:02.chances of finishing in the top four. The Blues could have done

:01:03. > :01:07.Scarlets a favour, but they need praise for their own efforts. What a

:01:08. > :01:16.game, three tries each, and it ended all square.

:01:17. > :01:23.Phil Steele is with the Blues captain, Gethin Jenkins.

:01:24. > :01:27.Congratulations, Gethin, on a terrific performance. What was the

:01:28. > :01:31.difference between this and last week? We played for 80 minutes. Last

:01:32. > :01:39.week, we came up short. We played with great confidence. A really fast

:01:40. > :01:46.game, and probably good to come away with a win. We came close but

:01:47. > :01:51.couldn't convert it into points. You lasted 75 minutes? Yeah, not played

:01:52. > :01:53.that long in a while. Really enjoyable game of play. Great

:01:54. > :02:00.performance by you and the boys, well done. What a finish. We are

:02:01. > :02:08.breathless in the studio but, as Gethin Jenkins said, they could have

:02:09. > :02:11.won it, and maybe they should. Lee-Lo and Halaholo were brilliant,

:02:12. > :02:15.causing problems, magnificent, but set up a drop goal, take the points,

:02:16. > :02:24.walk away with a result. Why do they go one further, or nothing. Sean,

:02:25. > :02:28.how pleased will Scarlets fans be? Delighted. The Blues didn't deserve

:02:29. > :02:34.to lose though. Fantastic. That is all we've got time for. The dramatic

:02:35. > :02:39.ending has cut short out and chat, but that is it for this week. Next

:02:40. > :02:41.week, Judgment Day. Thanks for your company and good night.