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This season started so brightly for Ulster, with three wins ml - - in a | :00:33. | :00:43. | |
row. Things were looking good. But then it all started to go horribly | :00:43. | :00:50. | |
wrong. Ulster lost to D of sprays grime of were slain by The Dragons, | :00:50. | :00:57. | |
turned over by Treviso for the very first time, and left with red faces | :00:57. | :01:04. | |
at the Scarlets last week. Tonight Ulster would try to get their | :01:04. | :01:09. | |
season back contract here at Ravenhill against Connaught. This | :01:09. | :01:15. | |
is the man Ulster Hall can rejuvenate them, John a full up | :01:15. | :01:24. | |
makes his eagerly anticipated debut. - - John a full. It is an Irish | :01:24. | :01:30. | |
Derby on Guy Fawkes night. Lucky that the Ulster mask what is called | :01:30. | :01:40. | |
:01:40. | :01:41. | ||
Sparky! Welcome to Ravenhill for Ulster against Connaught. Kick-off | :01:41. | :01:47. | |
is in 10 minutes. Look out at half- time for a special feature with | :01:47. | :01:52. | |
Ulster hooker Rory Best. He gives us a unique insight into art - - | :01:52. | :02:02. | |
:02:02. | :02:02. | ||
into his training regime. Joining me here tonight is Eddie O'Sullivan | :02:02. | :02:06. | |
and Andy Ward. Before we hear from you we will take a look at the | :02:06. | :02:10. | |
table, which does not make good reading for either of the teams | :02:10. | :02:20. | |
:02:20. | :02:35. | ||
tonight. Connaught are marginally How important is a win for both of | :02:35. | :02:39. | |
these teams this evening? As I think it would be more important | :02:39. | :02:49. | |
:02:49. | :02:57. | ||
for Connaught, as they have been Our real dip in form for Ulster, | :02:57. | :03:03. | |
and missing Ruan Pienaar, who will be out for up to six weeks. That is | :03:03. | :03:07. | |
a big blow. We have been looking forward to these World Cup players | :03:07. | :03:14. | |
coming back into the next, and with Ruan Pienaar to be sitting on the | :03:14. | :03:19. | |
sidelines means there is a month - - there is an opportunity for Paul | :03:19. | :03:23. | |
Marshall, so he needs a big night tonight. The hottest ticket in town | :03:23. | :03:29. | |
is for the MTV Music Awards. That is for tomorrow, and there are | :03:29. | :03:35. | |
plenty of new stars and show tonight. One of them is Ulster's | :03:35. | :03:45. | |
:03:45. | :03:57. | ||
It has been full on. Coming straight off the plane. The boys | :03:57. | :04:03. | |
have been fantastic, cheering me through training. Everything I do | :04:03. | :04:07. | |
good they start clapping, and that is always good for the confidence. | :04:07. | :04:12. | |
I am struggling to remember all the names, but I am working on it. | :04:12. | :04:18. | |
what kind of game would you bring to Ulster? I want to be a rock at | :04:18. | :04:23. | |
the set-piece. The set piece is the key for most games, so scrum and | :04:23. | :04:29. | |
line-out. I want to bring good defensive line speed. Hopefully | :04:29. | :04:36. | |
score a few tries and hang it on the wing! We have seen some big | :04:36. | :04:42. | |
tries over the years, one against Wales a remember. Yes, indeed. I am | :04:42. | :04:48. | |
really begin forwards to playing some good gains here. I'm just | :04:48. | :04:54. | |
really excited to be here. What have you heard about Ravenhill? | :04:54. | :05:04. | |
bit of a fortress. I have met - - made - - met a lot of supporters | :05:04. | :05:14. | |
:05:14. | :05:18. | ||
and they have been very welcoming. Straight into the starting line-up. | :05:18. | :05:22. | |
David Humphreys is talking live together and Andrews. How big a | :05:22. | :05:30. | |
boost is that they have John in action tonight? It is a huge boost. | :05:31. | :05:40. | |
:05:41. | :05:41. | ||
The Irish players coming back has been a boost to the whole squad. | :05:41. | :05:47. | |
What about Stefan Terblanche and? Well, we will get him on a plane | :05:47. | :05:51. | |
hopefully early next week. Given the run of results, how significant | :05:51. | :05:58. | |
is tonight? Every results issue to significant. Tonight is a big game | :05:58. | :06:01. | |
because it is Connaught and there is a big log jam in the middle of | :06:01. | :06:06. | |
the table and we need a win to put us in the top half of the table. | :06:06. | :06:13. | |
Looking forward to the next couple of weeks, that's what we want to do. | :06:13. | :06:18. | |
John Afoa will only be here for a couple of weeks before he has to go | :06:18. | :06:23. | |
back to be best man at a friend's wedding before returning. How big a | :06:23. | :06:29. | |
lift is it to get in here for two games? A player of his calibre will | :06:29. | :06:34. | |
lift everybody, especially after winning the World Cup. It will give | :06:34. | :06:43. | |
energy to the team. I think you will have a big impact tonight's | :06:43. | :06:47. | |
and the other two front-row players are back from the World Cup, so | :06:47. | :06:53. | |
that will help as well. Jared Payne got injured and they have signed a | :06:53. | :06:58. | |
short-term replacement, Stefan Terblanche. When he comes, what | :06:58. | :07:04. | |
kind of impact can he bring? He has got a wealth of experience. He has | :07:04. | :07:08. | |
been around a long time. An international player and he is a | :07:08. | :07:12. | |
world-class player. He reads the game exceptionally well and is a | :07:12. | :07:18. | |
very balanced player, very composed. I think he will be a good servant. | :07:18. | :07:22. | |
He played 14 out of 16 games for the Sharks in the Currie Cup this | :07:22. | :07:27. | |
year and scored four tries on his debut against Ireland in 1998. It | :07:27. | :07:33. | |
is a short-term fix that the need with Jared Payne out. No question. | :07:33. | :07:37. | |
It is a good time to put this in now. They are heading into an | :07:37. | :07:42. | |
important part of the season. They need to get into the Heineken Cup | :07:42. | :07:47. | |
and make a good start. Hopefully he brings that extra spark. Can you | :07:47. | :07:52. | |
put your finger on what just as come wrong with Ulster and the last | :07:52. | :07:57. | |
four performances? It is hard to picture finger on it. They have | :07:57. | :08:02. | |
just got to be very composed. I think there has been a lack of | :08:02. | :08:12. | |
:08:12. | :08:12. | ||
leadership collectively. A team full of Indians is better than a | :08:12. | :08:21. | |
team full of chiefs. How big a factor is a loss of confidence for | :08:21. | :08:25. | |
a team, which seems that Ulster had. It is not an unusual thing to | :08:26. | :08:35. | |
:08:36. | :08:36. | ||
happen. It is about pulling together, the senior players taking | :08:36. | :08:41. | |
control and focusing on getting those results. It is a fine to | :08:41. | :08:45. | |
pinpoint. Once you get a few wins and your belt second run the other | :08:45. | :08:50. | |
way for a Jew. Rory Best and Stephen Ferris will be both out | :08:50. | :08:54. | |
tonight. The first time for Stephen in a long time. That has got to be | :08:54. | :09:04. | |
a big lift. Not just the fans, but also for a third team to. I am | :09:04. | :09:09. | |
looking forward to see if Rory Best can continue to form of this life | :09:09. | :09:15. | |
at the World Cup and bring it to Ravenhill. I thought Rory Best had | :09:15. | :09:20. | |
a world class World Cup. He is a leader, a talisman and he will lift | :09:20. | :09:30. | |
:09:30. | :09:32. | ||
things, as well Stephen Ferris. a word on Connaught tonight? I am | :09:32. | :09:37. | |
surprised that the number of changes that have been made. And | :09:37. | :09:45. | |
they played well against Cardiff, so the form has been good. I am not | :09:45. | :09:53. | |
sure what Eric is thinking, and it is a bit surprising the line-up. | :09:53. | :09:56. | |
Were you surprised that Niall O'Connor did not start at Number | :09:56. | :10:00. | |
Ten for Connaught? A little bit. It is difficult to know maybe what is | :10:00. | :10:07. | |
going on, he could be carrying a few knocks. He has bedded himself | :10:07. | :10:12. | |
well in down at Connaught. They are in form. Ulster are fragile at the | :10:12. | :10:17. | |
minute. If Connaught get on top of them early, God knows what could | :10:17. | :10:25. | |
happen. We always loved Irish Macros. For Ulster this is very | :10:25. | :10:34. | |
important. They need a win to steady the nerves. The Heineken Cup | :10:34. | :10:39. | |
next it is very important and the need a good start at home for that. | :10:39. | :10:47. | |
Thank you both very much. Our commentary team is Ryan Constable, | :10:47. | :10:57. | |
:10:57. | :11:03. | ||
the men from the West. A lovely crispy evening tonight. A couple of | :11:03. | :11:11. | |
changes in the pack. Thomas Anderson returns to Ravenhill. | :11:11. | :11:21. | |
:11:21. | :11:27. | ||
Eoghan Grace also starts. Gavin Duffy is the skipper. It has been a | :11:27. | :11:37. | |
:11:37. | :11:39. | ||
while since Connaught was ahead of Ulster in the table. This is an | :11:39. | :11:46. | |
Ulster side who will be desperate to put an end to an alarming slump. | :11:46. | :11:51. | |
The word crisis has not been used at this stage, but Ulster will not | :11:51. | :11:55. | |
want to lose five on the bounce after having won their first three | :11:55. | :12:02. | |
games. Rory Best and Stephen Ferris make this season's debuts after the | :12:02. | :12:12. | |
:12:12. | :12:14. | ||
World Cup. Ruan Pienaar's injury means a recall for Paul Marshall. | :12:14. | :12:20. | |
Darren Cave gets the nod at outside centre. Simon Danielli is at | :12:20. | :12:29. | |
fullback for the second game in a row. There is in John, who has | :12:29. | :12:35. | |
swapped the All Blacks strip for the all-white strip. Had the | :12:35. | :12:45. | |
:12:45. | :13:01. | ||
referee is from Tipperary. - - and of the kick-off, and Paul Marshall | :13:01. | :13:11. | |
puts plenty of height on that. Knocked forward by, it - - not | :13:11. | :13:21. | |
:13:21. | :13:41. | ||
of the ball, but they did it illegally so the first penalty | :13:41. | :13:46. | |
ghost Ulster. Ulster look is that they mean business. By will | :13:46. | :13:56. | |
:13:56. | :13:56. | ||
certainly be happy with the opening. A regulation take, I could kick and | :13:56. | :14:06. | |
:14:06. | :14:07. | ||
now they have the penalty. A very positive start from Ulster. | :14:07. | :14:11. | |
Humphreys on a pretty perfect night for goal-kicking has elected to go | :14:11. | :14:21. | |
:14:21. | :14:22. | ||
for the posts. He was looking forward to playing against his old | :14:22. | :14:32. | |
:14:32. | :14:47. | ||
team-mates Niall O'Connor, but he That is not only a very good kick, | :14:47. | :14:54. | |
but such a confidence booster for himself and his team. Each could | :14:54. | :15:02. | |
see that impact Stephen Ferris can have, shrugging tackler as a way. | :15:02. | :15:12. | |
:15:12. | :15:23. | ||
He can certainly inspire his team Great enterprise from Ulster, Paddy | :15:23. | :15:30. | |
Wallace, gets across the 22. Again, Paul Marshall Shipping to kick. And | :15:30. | :15:36. | |
that is what he does. Andrew Trimble but the chase. Wonderful | :15:36. | :15:46. | |
:15:46. | :15:50. | ||
take from Shearer no Harron. -- O'Hanlon. Could take from Simon | :15:50. | :16:00. | |
:16:00. | :16:05. | ||
Danielli. Plenty of support in white journeys. Jerseys. Humphreys | :16:05. | :16:14. | |
was well covered by Wilkinson. good hands, identifying the overlap | :16:14. | :16:19. | |
and preserving the space on the outside. Those magic feet, very | :16:19. | :16:27. | |
good tackle. They could have taken a couple of the back row forwards | :16:27. | :16:37. | |
:16:37. | :16:46. | ||
But that was the Kevin -- clever kick into space. That almost worked | :16:46. | :16:53. | |
out nicely. Heavy kick from Petrie Bannenberg. He likes to run-up the | :16:53. | :17:00. | |
opposition players. He took his eye off that for a second. That is good | :17:00. | :17:04. | |
support from the men in green. Ulster trying to squeeze towards | :17:04. | :17:11. | |
the touchline. And the ball was held off the ground. The referee | :17:11. | :17:17. | |
has given the scrum to Ulster. So, the Defence working well as well. | :17:17. | :17:21. | |
The line speed has been one of the key features of Ulster over the | :17:21. | :17:25. | |
last few years and that is one of the key aspects you look for at the | :17:25. | :17:35. | |
:17:35. | :17:44. | ||
beginning of the game. That get their first few of the | :17:44. | :17:50. | |
scrummaging ability of the New Zealand World Cup winner. That was | :17:50. | :18:00. | |
:18:00. | :18:00. | ||
untidy. Just a fraction closer. Keep your head and shoulders above | :18:00. | :18:07. | |
the hips. Tom Court, pressed into service at short notice last week, | :18:07. | :18:12. | |
the tight-head prop, because of the failure of Declan Fitzpatrick. He | :18:12. | :18:20. | |
did pretty well at loose end. Against the youngster from New | :18:20. | :18:27. | |
Zealand. Rodney Ah You. He has taken the Irish international | :18:27. | :18:36. | |
straight down. I think it is a bit far out to contemplate going for | :18:36. | :18:41. | |
the post. The angle is mitigating against that. They will try to get | :18:41. | :18:45. | |
at line-out working and an opportunity for the drive and try | :18:45. | :18:51. | |
to establish some dominance up front. No angle to work with but | :18:51. | :18:55. | |
Ian Humphreys has put in a very good kick and has put Ulster into a | :18:55. | :19:00. | |
very good attacking position. Seven minutes played. Ulster have taken a | :19:00. | :19:04. | |
couple of players out of the line- out. One of them, ominously, | :19:04. | :19:14. | |
:19:14. | :19:24. | ||
Stephen Ferris. Rory Best. Pedrie Wannenburg. Untidy. John a full | :19:24. | :19:33. | |
well. Plenty of support from his new team-mates. Rory Best. That | :19:33. | :19:39. | |
great World Cup he had in every aspect of the game. Trimble. Simon | :19:39. | :19:45. | |
Danielli, managed to give it away to Craig Gilroy but it was forward. | :19:45. | :19:49. | |
Good defence from Connacht. They came up quickly and did not break | :19:49. | :19:54. | |
their line at all. The second man, trying to get around the corner but | :19:54. | :20:04. | |
:20:04. | :20:07. | ||
read very well. Andrew Trimble just offloading. He tips the ball off to | :20:07. | :20:12. | |
Craig Gilroy. The referee has got around to the side were the ball | :20:12. | :20:17. | |
has been put in. The loose-head side. Brett Wilkinson is up against | :20:18. | :20:27. | |
:20:28. | :20:35. | ||
John Afoa. Ulster get that early squeeze. Interesting that he | :20:35. | :20:40. | |
brought them back and they have taken a quick tap. It was made in | :20:40. | :20:50. | |
:20:50. | :20:56. | ||
front of the referee. Not much option but to go to the end. | :20:56. | :21:01. | |
Underneath, Simon Danielli. Andrew Trimble supporting. Here is Stephen | :21:01. | :21:11. | |
Ferris. Well taken by another Irish international. Dan Tuohy. Also need | :21:11. | :21:17. | |
the quick ball and they have got it. Nicely done. Just gets inside | :21:17. | :21:23. | |
Wilkinson. Support from Stephen Ferris. Dan Tuohy, again. Johann | :21:23. | :21:30. | |
Muller is there. Humphreys. Paddy Wallace. How delicately placed is | :21:30. | :21:37. | |
that? Very. No, it's not! I thought that was in. It has gone straight | :21:38. | :21:42. | |
into touch. From here, it looked like Paddy Wallace had put in the | :21:42. | :21:49. | |
most delicate of kicks. Small margins on that occasion. Just a | :21:49. | :21:59. | |
:21:59. | :22:06. | ||
little too much. Reports from the assistant referee... There might | :22:06. | :22:13. | |
have been a high tackle on the part of Rodney Ah You. Kay 10 down, | :22:13. | :22:23. | |
please. -- keep them down. He has been told exactly what that was | :22:23. | :22:30. | |
four. In goes Stephen Ferris. It was marginal. I have seen a lot | :22:30. | :22:35. | |
worse being let go. Stephen Ferris is none the worse for that. | :22:35. | :22:39. | |
Tactically correct but not too much damage done. Ulster having a good | :22:39. | :22:45. | |
run of possession, here. They need to turn some of that possession | :22:45. | :22:55. | |
into territory. That was a good kick from Paddy Wallace. The only | :22:55. | :22:58. | |
Ulster man to be involved in three Rugby World Cups. He did not get | :22:58. | :23:07. | |
much time in any of them. Rory Best. He did not get that one right. That | :23:07. | :23:17. | |
:23:17. | :23:17. | ||
was a good steal from Connacht. Penalty against Ulster for coming | :23:17. | :23:23. | |
in the side. Oh! That isn't like Johann Muller. Something has really | :23:23. | :23:28. | |
annoyed him. Fisticuffs breaking out. Former team-mates having a | :23:28. | :23:32. | |
real go. It must have been something quite serious to prompt | :23:32. | :23:37. | |
him to swing his fist. It will be interesting to see what the referee | :23:37. | :23:47. | |
:23:47. | :23:59. | ||
says... Excuse me... Move back. Five? 7 Kay men after the initial, | :23:59. | :24:09. | |
:24:09. | :24:09. | ||
from the distance. Did he make contact? I did not say. Yes? OK. | :24:09. | :24:19. | |
:24:19. | :24:20. | ||
Yes, perfect. Captains? Come here. No. 7 from one side or the other | :24:20. | :24:26. | |
came in a legally, it seems. penalty will remain from the side. | :24:26. | :24:32. | |
You stay away and the next player who gets involved, I will have no | :24:32. | :24:42. | |
:24:42. | :24:45. | ||
option. Have a word. Have a word. Let us see what happened... That is | :24:45. | :24:50. | |
what the penalty was for. I am not sure what prompted the fisticuffs. | :24:50. | :24:54. | |
Johann Muller had a swing at somebody. He must have felt that | :24:54. | :24:59. | |
something had gone on that he was not happy with. Who knows what they | :24:59. | :25:04. | |
get up to within those tight exchanges. The result is a penalty | :25:04. | :25:08. | |
standing with Connacht. They have not had much ball in the opening 10 | :25:08. | :25:17. | |
minutes. I'm sure he has got himself back to his normally | :25:17. | :25:27. | |
:25:27. | :25:28. | ||
composed self-. Not the greatest piece of possession. Connacht have | :25:28. | :25:38. | |
:25:38. | :25:42. | ||
lost 10 metres. George Naoupu. Born in Christchurch. Could offer it. | :25:42. | :25:52. | |
:25:52. | :25:53. | ||
Some thrust from Connacht. Paul O'Donohue. Adrian Flavin. They have | :25:53. | :26:00. | |
got themselves a penalty. And the referee has asked Paul O'Donohoe to | :26:00. | :26:06. | |
come back. Connacht are not happy with that. Some needle coming into | :26:06. | :26:12. | |
this game. Yes, it is an awards ceremony tomorrow night in Belfast | :26:12. | :26:16. | |
but that one could have been a nomination. It was a little tap and | :26:16. | :26:23. | |
they made the most of it. What happened to him? Johann Muller just | :26:23. | :26:32. | |
gave 10 and shelve and down he went. -- gave him a shove. I do not know | :26:32. | :26:38. | |
if he would even get nominated for that one! It is the second penalty | :26:38. | :26:43. | |
given away by Ulster, probably unnecessarily. Connacht have | :26:43. | :26:50. | |
advanced into the Ulster 22 for the first time. Paddy Wallace's father. | :26:50. | :26:54. | |
Just on the left-hand side. I am not sure who the pretty lady in | :26:54. | :26:59. | |
pink is. It is important for Ulster to concentrate on the basics. They | :26:59. | :27:04. | |
cannot let any unsettling attacks from Connacht disrupt their | :27:05. | :27:14. | |
:27:15. | :27:15. | ||
continuity. Adrian Flavin, taking his time. Ulster grappling a way. | :27:15. | :27:22. | |
Connacht moving forward. That was good possession from Connacht. | :27:22. | :27:29. | |
Rodney Ah You, quite explosive from a standing start. George Naoupu. | :27:29. | :27:33. | |
Watkinson is in there. This is a good piece of play from the | :27:33. | :27:43. | |
forwards from Connacht. Miah Nikora. Nearly the intercept. Well taken by | :27:43. | :27:53. | |
:27:53. | :27:56. | ||
Darren Cave. Paul O'Donohoe again. Beaten by Stephen Ferris. Miah | :27:57. | :28:06. | |
Nikora, nearly three. Well covered by Pedrie Wannenburg. Good | :28:06. | :28:16. | |
:28:16. | :28:20. | ||
continuity from Connacht. And they are still pressing. Paul O'Donohoe. | :28:20. | :28:28. | |
Brett Wilkinson, the veteran. Ulster have conceded another | :28:28. | :28:36. | |
penalty. Paul O'Donohoe. Michael Swift. This is great stuff from | :28:36. | :28:42. | |
Connacht. Miah Nikora. Craig Gilroy. He just about got away with that. | :28:42. | :28:46. | |
That will be interesting. When the referee bring them back for the | :28:46. | :28:52. | |
penalty? I think so. It will be a penalty to Connacht at the other | :28:52. | :28:57. | |
side of the park. Dangerous times for Ulster. Paul O'Donohoe are | :28:57. | :29:03. | |
doing very well around the fringes, he is stepping himself and creating | :29:03. | :29:07. | |
opportunities and that was a nasty moment for Ulster, were recovered | :29:07. | :29:13. | |
by Craig Gilroy. The much more experienced Frank Murphy had a | :29:13. | :29:15. | |
number of years playing in the English Premiership but Paul | :29:15. | :29:25. | |
:29:25. | :29:32. | ||
O'Donohoe has certainly justified Ulster had been on the back for it | :29:32. | :29:42. | |
:29:42. | :29:47. | ||
ever since, mainly thanks to mistakes and penalties. Miah Nikora | :29:47. | :29:55. | |
has the chance to put some points on the board. Not a breath of wind | :29:55. | :30:04. | |
at Ravenhill. He turned away as soon as he had hit it. That brings | :30:04. | :30:10. | |
it back to level pegging. What Connaught are doing well are | :30:10. | :30:17. | |
sending runners of the fringes. They are getting over the advantage | :30:17. | :30:22. | |
line and that is creating the unsettled defence and Ulster are | :30:22. | :30:26. | |
trying to slow possession down around Iraq and are being penalised | :30:26. | :30:36. | |
:30:36. | :30:36. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :30:36. | :31:23. | |
of Ulster can move this. Tom Court was just back in the middle of that | :31:23. | :31:33. | |
:31:33. | :31:58. | ||
and slowed everything up. Still against Connaught. Taken quickly by | :31:58. | :32:08. | |
:32:08. | :32:17. | ||
Marshall. Pedrie Wannenburg could just not quite hold. It is going to | :32:17. | :32:27. | |
:32:27. | :32:27. | ||
be at Connaught scrum. Increasing the tempo is incredibly important | :32:27. | :32:37. | |
for Ulster. Stephen Ferris offloading their, and they were | :32:37. | :32:42. | |
unable to hold its, unfortunately. It is that tempo that they need in | :32:42. | :32:52. | |
:32:52. | :33:14. | ||
their game. Good covering their by seems like he has been around for | :33:14. | :33:24. | |
:33:24. | :33:27. | ||
ever. He has played over 113 league games for Connaught. Unfortunately, | :33:27. | :33:37. | |
:33:37. | :33:39. | ||
Michael Swift is going off. That will not do it the Connaught said | :33:39. | :33:49. | |
peace any good. He is such a great scrummager. Dave Gannon is coming | :33:49. | :33:59. | |
:33:59. | :33:59. | ||
on to play his 59th league game for Connaught. John Muldoon is a back- | :33:59. | :34:08. | |
row forwards and has also on the bench for Connaught. This is a | :34:08. | :34:18. | |
chance for Ulster to put on some pressure. There is still fun and | :34:18. | :34:28. | |
:34:28. | :34:30. | ||
games going on and decide between Rodney Ah You and Tom Court. The | :34:30. | :34:35. | |
pitch is starting to cut up pretty slightly, it is in good condition | :34:35. | :34:45. | |
:34:45. | :35:24. | ||
but it is soft after all the rain George Naoupu did very well to | :35:24. | :35:33. | |
clean all that up for Connaught. Once again Ulster have taken | :35:33. | :35:43. | |
:35:43. | :36:15. | ||
Stephen Ferris and Chris Henry out Great defence by them. Can they | :36:15. | :36:25. | |
:36:25. | :36:58. | ||
hanging on to him. I'm not sure he was meant to be chasing that kick, | :36:58. | :37:06. | |
Rory Best was probably not the one intended. Connaught are coping well | :37:06. | :37:10. | |
with the pressure, but if you spend enough time defending in your own | :37:10. | :37:17. | |
22, it is inevitable that you will start to his give up points. That | :37:17. | :37:27. | |
was nicely struck by Ian Humphreys. This time Connaught shortened line- | :37:27. | :37:37. | |
:37:37. | :37:53. | ||
Holding On, says the referee. And yes, Johann Muller hanging on to | :37:53. | :38:00. | |
the arm of his opposite number. He will have no complaints about that. | :38:00. | :38:04. | |
All the pressure now coming from Ulster, and it has to be converted | :38:04. | :38:09. | |
pretty soon. A couple of turnovers at the breakdown, technical | :38:09. | :38:16. | |
infringements, that is just increasing the pressure. Connaught | :38:16. | :38:21. | |
defend very well. They don't have outstanding individual players, but | :38:21. | :38:29. | |
they are coached well and are a good unit. They have three | :38:29. | :38:37. | |
internationals in their starting 15 as opposed to 11 from Ulster. Good | :38:37. | :38:47. | |
:38:47. | :38:53. | ||
interception by Ulster. That is another good kick by Ian Humphreys. | :38:53. | :39:00. | |
Turnover ball, he looked at the options and decided to put it deep. | :39:00. | :39:05. | |
Once again, it is building pressure and maintaining their position | :39:05. | :39:13. | |
inside the 22. A week ago that tactical kicking from Ulster was a | :39:13. | :39:23. | |
:39:23. | :39:48. | ||
A very good all-round footballer, Gavin Duffy. He has won 10 caps for | :39:48. | :39:55. | |
Ireland. Interestingly, he has never played at home for Ireland's. | :39:55. | :40:02. | |
At very confident footballer. He seems to be very composed, what | :40:02. | :40:12. | |
:40:12. | :40:40. | ||
ever he is doing. He is one of the be a penalty to Ulster. Good to see | :40:40. | :40:44. | |
Simon Danielli wanting to get involved. He had a difficult week | :40:44. | :40:51. | |
last week, but it was difficult for everybody. He is really pitting | :40:51. | :40:58. | |
some speed on the ball and allowing players to take angles of them. | :40:59. | :41:03. | |
Ulster have not been able to dominate the breakdown area and get | :41:03. | :41:13. | |
:41:13. | :41:22. | ||
the clean ball they require. That discussing some of the finer points | :41:23. | :41:31. | |
of scrummaging. Rory Best had an outstanding World Cup campaign and | :41:31. | :41:35. | |
a lot of people in the media talking about him being the best | :41:35. | :41:45. | |
:41:45. | :41:48. | ||
hooker at the World Cup. So, Ian Humphreys from the opposite fight - | :41:48. | :41:58. | |
:41:58. | :42:10. | ||
- opposite side of the field from have got to get all your penalties. | :42:10. | :42:16. | |
If he sold the game last night between Leinster and Munster, Jonny | :42:16. | :42:24. | |
sexting got seven penalties out of seven and that is the sort of | :42:24. | :42:29. | |
return you would expect from your number one goalkeeper. - - goal | :42:29. | :42:39. | |
:42:39. | :43:17. | ||
low, as that is the only way to off the ball, and now the referee | :43:17. | :43:27. | |
:43:27. | :43:49. | ||
line-out. 28 minutes played and it is still honours even. Ulster just | :43:49. | :43:57. | |
have not been able to get past the third or 4th fears. Connacht - - | :43:57. | :44:07. | |
:44:07. | :44:08. | ||
they are defending very well against Ulster. Rory Best having a | :44:08. | :44:18. | |
:44:18. | :44:18. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :44:18. | :44:59. | |
on the part of Ulster not going to is nicely done by Tiernan | :44:59. | :45:07. | |
O'Halloran. Pedrie Wannenburg did enough to slow up the attack. Great | :45:07. | :45:14. | |
action from the hooker. Adrian Flavin. 32 years of age. Mike | :45:14. | :45:24. | |
:45:24. | :45:25. | ||
McCarthy. And that could Ulster Defence forces him to kick but he | :45:25. | :45:35. | |
:45:35. | :45:37. | ||
has kicked very well. Taken quickly by Ulster. Simon Danielli. The | :45:37. | :45:46. | |
Ulster forwards have had to bond a long way back. -- wrong. Ian | :45:46. | :45:53. | |
Humphreys, waiting to receive the ball from Paul Marshall. It will go | :45:53. | :46:03. | |
:46:03. | :46:07. | ||
to one of the tight forwards. Better position for Paul Marshall. | :46:08. | :46:17. | |
He keeps it infield. Paul O'Donohoe. Here is Paul Hanlon. Fetu'u | :46:18. | :46:27. | |
:46:28. | :46:40. | ||
Vainikolo. Can Ulster turn this one over? Brian Tuohy goes then. Paul | :46:40. | :46:49. | |
O'Donohoe has a little glance. Well covered by David Humphreys. Awarded | :46:49. | :46:59. | |
:46:59. | :47:01. | ||
the mark of the fair catch. Simon Danielli. It has not carried into | :47:01. | :47:07. | |
touch. That was cleverly done. Well read by Paul Marshall. He took the | :47:07. | :47:14. | |
tackle well. Knocked forward by Connacht. Advantage to Ulster. And | :47:14. | :47:21. | |
it will be the Ulster scrum. Quite scrappy. Not a huge amount of play | :47:21. | :47:27. | |
going on. Three or four phases a little errors creeping in. Nobody | :47:27. | :47:35. | |
is stamping authority on two things. Tom Court down. But that was a bit | :47:35. | :47:40. | |
problem. Paul Marshall, a remarkably has put in an | :47:40. | :47:44. | |
extraordinary sequence, he has been in every match-day squad for the | :47:44. | :47:51. | |
last 37 games. 30 last year. He started the first six and had to | :47:51. | :48:00. | |
give way to Ruan Pienaar. He has a nasty hamstring injury. He | :48:00. | :48:10. | |
:48:10. | :48:11. | ||
certainly will miss the opening Heineken Cup games. Here in a few | :48:11. | :48:17. | |
weeks and then after that, against the Leinster Tigers. He has had a | :48:17. | :48:23. | |
difficult time. But his service has been very good. Certainly stepping | :48:23. | :48:33. | |
up to the plate tonight. Maybe it is more than a problem with Tom | :48:33. | :48:41. | |
Court's but. He must get up. Straight back into the scrum. Tom | :48:41. | :48:46. | |
Court had a very good game a tight head last week. And a very good | :48:46. | :48:55. | |
World Cup for Ireland. He must be the warmest person in Ravenhill! | :48:55. | :48:59. | |
Just over seven minutes remaining. It has been a very scrappy first | :48:59. | :49:09. | |
half at Ravenhill. The front row have got their act together. Good | :49:09. | :49:18. | |
show from Ulster. Knocked forward by Connacht. Paul Marshall has | :49:18. | :49:23. | |
taken too much out of the ball. Ulster had the dominant scrum, it | :49:23. | :49:27. | |
was moving forward and then it got scrappy and Ulster were probably | :49:27. | :49:31. | |
too dominant for their own good on that occasion. They have another | :49:31. | :49:41. | |
:49:41. | :49:43. | ||
chance. The referee says, good scrum. Will they maintain their | :49:43. | :49:53. | |
:49:53. | :50:07. | ||
ball. Ian Humphreys, not standing at outside-half. Here goes Darren | :50:07. | :50:15. | |
Cave. Taken by Eoghan Grace. The referee has got in the way. Penalty | :50:15. | :50:19. | |
against Connacht, taken quickly by Paul Marshall. Here is Pedrie | :50:19. | :50:29. | |
:50:29. | :50:29. | ||
Wannenburg. Simon Danielli in the middle of that. Rory Best. He takes | :50:29. | :50:35. | |
the tackle. Paul Marshall again. Here is David Humphreys. More | :50:35. | :50:45. | |
:50:45. | :50:45. | ||
promising. The referee says play on. That has gone amiss. Paul Marshall | :50:45. | :50:50. | |
has picked it up. There is a great chance for Ulster. Here comes Simon | :50:50. | :50:58. | |
Danielli! His foot on the gas. Chris Henry. Played on. Quicker | :50:58. | :51:08. | |
:51:08. | :51:08. | ||
ball for Ulster. David Humphreys. That was a good transfer. Knocked | :51:08. | :51:13. | |
forward by Darren Cave and the try was there for the taking. An Ulster | :51:13. | :51:17. | |
seemingly very nervous and not quite able to put that final | :51:17. | :51:23. | |
crucial scoring pass together. There was a real lack of composure. | :51:23. | :51:28. | |
Simon Danielli moved it forward, it looked like he would get around and | :51:28. | :51:33. | |
then the recycled ball and that huge overlap. Stephen Ferris, | :51:33. | :51:38. | |
preserving the space. And just not going to hand. Symptomatic of | :51:38. | :51:42. | |
Ulster this evening, small mistakes robbing them of that next phase and | :51:42. | :51:47. | |
being able to get that scoring opportunity. When you do not take | :51:47. | :51:51. | |
them, you tend to get frustrated and force things. Ulster will have | :51:51. | :52:01. | |
:52:01. | :52:14. | ||
to force this that they are going pack. Connacht more than standing | :52:14. | :52:20. | |
up to them. Ulster will need that next week against term want. They | :52:21. | :52:27. | |
love to scrummage. Watching Leinster against London Irish | :52:28. | :52:31. | |
earlier, there was a penalty try from the scrum and a couple against | :52:31. | :52:40. | |
the head. The Hansson investigation of that ahead of them. -- they have | :52:40. | :52:47. | |
some. A couple of minutes before the interval. That was a good shove | :52:47. | :52:53. | |
by Ulster. Into touch. And the referee has awarded the line-out | :52:53. | :52:57. | |
because it came off the Connacht player. Ulster would prefer that | :52:57. | :53:03. | |
because they have more options. It should release the Ulster back line. | :53:03. | :53:09. | |
So far, they have not made much of a dent in the Connacht defence. | :53:09. | :53:14. | |
Without the lion's share of possession, will they have the | :53:15. | :53:19. | |
energy to insure the about a defence they have had to take in | :53:19. | :53:28. | |
the first half? Stephen Farrans, the assessed. Paul Marshall. Pedrie | :53:28. | :53:32. | |
Wannenburg. Nicely done by Paddy Wallace. He needs the quick ball | :53:32. | :53:40. | |
and they have got it. Humphreys. Darren Cave. Nobody really in the | :53:40. | :53:45. | |
right position to receive the pass. Paul Marshall might switch to his | :53:46. | :53:51. | |
right. It is a bit slow. Connacht have had time to stream the men | :53:51. | :53:57. | |
across. Simon Danielli. Pedrie Wannenburg. Too far away from the | :53:57. | :54:05. | |
heart of the action. Tom Court, likewise. Better a ball from Ulster. | :54:05. | :54:10. | |
Rory Best. He scored the try against Connacht last season in | :54:10. | :54:17. | |
this very fixture at Ravenhill. Here comes Humphreys! Gilroy! The | :54:17. | :54:24. | |
first try. What a score from the youngster! His second of the season. | :54:24. | :54:28. | |
And all that Ulster pressure and this time they kept their composure | :54:28. | :54:34. | |
and they put the passes together and it was just about perfect. A | :54:34. | :54:40. | |
exactly what Ulster needed, to score going into half-time. Rory | :54:40. | :54:46. | |
Best drives at forward and then managed to get possession. Then Ian | :54:46. | :54:51. | |
Humphreys and that little inside ball, clever run from Trimble. | :54:51. | :54:54. | |
Halting the Connacht defence. Maybe some interference but you take what | :54:55. | :55:01. | |
you can get. And an excellent finish from Craig Gilroy. He really | :55:01. | :55:09. | |
has a great guy and a nose for this. It was clever-dick called. That was | :55:09. | :55:19. | |
:55:19. | :55:21. | ||
now on perfect. And he finishes very cleverly. -- cleverly called. | :55:22. | :55:31. | |
:55:32. | :55:40. | ||
He has only got one try this season He has gone the other side. So, one | :55:40. | :55:46. | |
kick out of three attempts for Ian Humphreys. But the crucial time is | :55:46. | :55:50. | |
that period of five minutes before and after the interval. An Ulster | :55:50. | :55:55. | |
have taken advantage. They will be reasonably happy. That might just | :55:55. | :55:59. | |
to reassure them and give them more composure on the ball. They are not | :55:59. | :56:03. | |
searching for that try, they have established the lead and able want | :56:03. | :56:07. | |
to take that into the second half. They do not want to concede | :56:07. | :56:17. | |
:56:17. | :56:18. | ||
anything silly. Paul Marshall. He has put that into the atmosphere, | :56:18. | :56:28. | |
:56:28. | :56:42. | ||
somewhere. Paul Marshall having a word with his back line. Craig | :56:42. | :56:48. | |
Gilroy standing on the outside-half position. Well taken by Connacht. | :56:48. | :56:54. | |
Paul O'Donohoe. Miah Nikora has to juggle. Duffy uses that great | :56:54. | :57:01. | |
strength of his. The referee says the word more. And Ulster have held | :57:01. | :57:09. | |
Duffy off the ground. In goes Mike McCarthy. If they stop, the referee | :57:09. | :57:14. | |
will give the scrum to Ulster. And that should be half-time. Good | :57:14. | :57:18. | |
defensive play from Ulster. And although Ulster had the advantage, | :57:18. | :57:23. | |
they will not try for anything more. And that is the end of a very | :57:23. | :57:28. | |
scrappy first half. Bright and by that Craig Gilroy attempt at the | :57:28. | :57:38. | |
end. And that unconverted try from Craig Gilroy sees Ulster are going | :57:38. | :57:48. | |
:57:48. | :57:56. | ||
in for a much-needed break and a It is Guy Fawkes' Night, we were | :57:56. | :58:01. | |
expecting fireworks. With the debut of the World Cup winner and World | :58:01. | :58:04. | |
Cup stars returning but as yet there have not been too many | :58:04. | :58:08. | |
fireworks except for the last couple of minutes. Ian Humphreys | :58:08. | :58:14. | |
with that solid penalty. The touchpaper was lit momentarily. | :58:14. | :58:21. | |
That soon fizzled out. Some pressure from Connacht leading to | :58:21. | :58:26. | |
three points. Miah Nikora slotting over that very nice kick. And | :58:26. | :58:31. | |
eventually, just before half-time, all that Ulster pressure paid off | :58:31. | :58:39. | |
with Craig Gilroy preaching the defence. And that separates the | :58:39. | :58:46. | |
sides at half-time. 8 - 3. Eddie O'Sullivan and Andy Ward have been | :58:46. | :58:53. | |
watching with me. Give me a assessment. Up until that score it | :58:53. | :58:58. | |
was pretty poor. Some huff and puff but going nowhere. Early in the | :58:58. | :59:01. | |
have, also played too much in their own half and they give away silly | :59:01. | :59:06. | |
penalties. But then they turned round and played for position and | :59:06. | :59:10. | |
put the pressure on, and eventually got that try but it did need to | :59:10. | :59:16. | |
arrive before half-time and they have their foothold now. A Ulster | :59:16. | :59:21. | |
dominating possession. Does the team still look lacking in | :59:21. | :59:30. | |
confidence? Very much so. They really need to get forward with the | :59:30. | :59:36. | |
ball. Ulster at their best when the ball comes out quickly. Paul | :59:36. | :59:40. | |
Marshall needs to get the ball away quickly. There are a lot of players | :59:40. | :59:45. | |
who want to go forward but it's not happening. Ulster deserving of | :59:45. | :59:51. | |
their lead at half-time? Yes, they deserve to lead and they should be | :59:51. | :59:56. | |
ahead by more. There have been occasions when Connacht have been | :59:56. | :00:02. | |
for the taking. Silly mistakes, fumbles, and Connacht got off the | :00:02. | :00:10. | |
hook. It takes pressure off them going into the half-time. It has | :00:10. | :00:19. | |
been pretty scrappy. When they get the quick ball, they are effective? | :00:19. | :00:24. | |
Just slowing them down. Craig Gilroy comes down nicely. Uses his | :00:24. | :00:32. | |
feet. There was that build up. They know what they're trying to achieve. | :00:32. | :00:39. | |
What about Kilroy? Perfect finishing. He changes direction and | :00:39. | :00:44. | |
scores really well. He had a line very well. That was a well-taken | :00:44. | :00:47. | |
try and force you can hold onto the ball, when they get into that | :00:47. | :00:56. | |
strikes and, they have the players. But they have to hold onto the ball. | :00:56. | :01:02. | |
Plenty of ball. As we can see... This sums up their night. Nothing | :01:02. | :01:10. | |
was really going well. Nothing going right. Ian was up on his own. | :01:10. | :01:18. | |
Not having the bounce of the ball. There is no real penetration. Those | :01:18. | :01:24. | |
last couple of passes, that was 50 - 50. That could have gone anywhere. | :01:24. | :01:29. | |
But they have regained this. Darren Cave is a good player but he should | :01:29. | :01:33. | |
have taken that ball. It is all about possession and building | :01:33. | :01:42. | |
momentum and pressure. Those little mistakes, they are symptomatic of a | :01:42. | :01:45. | |
team getting frustrated. They know they should be playing better. They | :01:45. | :01:51. | |
were snatching up the ball a key moments. They have to hold on. Just | :01:51. | :01:56. | |
keep the pressure on Connacht and the opportunities will arise. If | :01:56. | :01:59. | |
they get another score in the second half they can relax but | :01:59. | :02:04. | |
Connacht have also made their mark, they have defended well and have | :02:04. | :02:08. | |
held onto the ball. They have not been a real threat. Only when | :02:08. | :02:16. | |
Ulster got sloppy. But if Ulster trust themselves on the defence, | :02:16. | :02:21. | |
they cannot worry too much. But they have to hold composure. | :02:21. | :02:26. | |
Ulster tried to throw the ball around too much? -- are also | :02:26. | :02:33. | |
trying? Ian Humphreys was very smart, he got field position and | :02:33. | :02:38. | |
they did create chances. It is those little mistakes. Those forced | :02:38. | :02:45. | |
opportunities. They have got their hold on the game. This was one of | :02:45. | :02:51. | |
the best moments. The opportunity was there. And they responded. Just | :02:51. | :02:57. | |
hold your head, do not force anything. Connacht were in big | :02:57. | :03:05. | |
trouble. It is all about having patience, you put teams under | :03:05. | :03:10. | |
pressure by holding onto the ball and then they start to panic. | :03:10. | :03:15. | |
Ulster are just coughing this up a little bit too much. Ulster are at | :03:15. | :03:22. | |
their best when they're going forward. Forcing passes. Those tiny | :03:22. | :03:32. | |
:03:32. | :03:32. | ||
things. Those are the small turning-points. They were trying so | :03:33. | :03:41. | |
hard to get their form. You have to play into it. When Ulster made | :03:41. | :03:44. | |
mistakes, Connacht tried to capitalise and played some good | :03:44. | :03:50. | |
territory? It is hard to control the game. This was after a number | :03:50. | :03:55. | |
of phases. Connacht got onto the front foot and they do hold onto | :03:55. | :04:01. | |
the ball well. This was speculative. But that was on the back of the | :04:01. | :04:08. | |
penalty so it did seem like 50 - 50. That led to those three points. If | :04:08. | :04:12. | |
you put Connacht in field position, like earlier in the game, not | :04:12. | :04:16. | |
trusting defence and giving away silly penalties, they will hold | :04:16. | :04:20. | |
onto the ball and force you into mistakes. At that point, you have | :04:20. | :04:26. | |
to worry for Ulster. But Ulster have to build on this and they | :04:26. | :04:30. | |
score early in the second half, they can have victory but they must | :04:30. | :04:34. | |
again get back into this game of wearing down Connacht. No silly | :04:34. | :04:44. | |
:04:44. | :04:46. | ||
stuff. What have you made of your fellow Kiwi, John a full? Very good, | :04:46. | :04:51. | |
the scrum has been a major concern. It is good to see that it has been | :04:51. | :04:55. | |
sure-footed. There is a good platform, it looks solid and | :04:55. | :04:59. | |
threatening. That is a good thing. That is an international front row | :04:59. | :05:05. | |
and that is what Ulster needs. is talented. As good as you'll find | :05:05. | :05:11. | |
in Europe. You can see come out being put under terrible pressure | :05:11. | :05:17. | |
and they are struggling. It depends on how many scrums. It becomes a | :05:17. | :05:22. | |
major issue when five metres from the line. The scrum is a good | :05:22. | :05:31. | |
platform. The line-out has been a fee for both sides. -- the line-out | :05:31. | :05:39. | |
has been problematic. Other than that, he has done well. Everybody | :05:39. | :05:47. | |
wants to see him running. He is a good footballer. Even though he has | :05:47. | :05:51. | |
number three on his back, he is comfortable with the ball and his | :05:51. | :05:55. | |
hand and that is one thing you get from the southern hemisphere. They | :05:55. | :05:59. | |
are as comfortable as the winners on the ball. That can only be good | :05:59. | :06:06. | |
for Ulster in due course. Thank you. We always want to hear from you. | :06:06. | :06:15. | |
Send your thoughts to Twitter. One player who has enhanced his | :06:16. | :06:20. | |
reputation is Rory Best. And with many pundits he was on their team | :06:20. | :06:30. | |
:06:30. | :06:33. | ||
of the tournament. Gavin Andrews Rory Best enjoys a quiet life off | :06:33. | :06:43. | |
:06:43. | :06:51. | ||
the pitch. But things are very different on the pitch. What a try! | :06:51. | :06:54. | |
On the family farm outside Banbridge, he mucks in but rugby is | :06:54. | :07:02. | |
never far away from his thoughts. This conversion is a one-off. | :07:02. | :07:06. | |
is already a lot of practice, it takes the elements out of it. I can | :07:06. | :07:11. | |
come home from training and do my own practice. I can spend an hour | :07:11. | :07:15. | |
every evening just throwing 80 balls and trying to get everything | :07:15. | :07:24. | |
right for Saturday night. Basically, it is an old been from the farm, | :07:24. | :07:29. | |
and myself and my father modified this so that I could throw lots of | :07:29. | :07:35. | |
balls. I think I can see the benefits. From the tail-end of last | :07:35. | :07:44. | |
season, the Six Nations, the line- outs went well. Myself and Stephen | :07:44. | :07:48. | |
are coming back in, we have been part of the Ireland team that went | :07:48. | :07:53. | |
very well and then lost in the quarter-final. We have enjoyed some | :07:53. | :08:01. | |
unbelievable highs but also a few lows. We felt that we should be in | :08:01. | :08:07. | |
the top four. And we have not taken that. It was disappointing. It was | :08:07. | :08:10. | |
great that so many people turned up and they said that we did the | :08:10. | :08:15. | |
country proud. But it was strange because we did not see it that way. | :08:15. | :08:19. | |
We really felt that it was a chance that had gone by. And we let | :08:19. | :08:24. | |
everyone down. There are very few things that are more important than | :08:24. | :08:29. | |
rugby but you feel that you let your family down whenever you sun | :08:29. | :08:33. | |
comes over and gives you a big hug and your father round your wife | :08:33. | :08:38. | |
tell you how well you have done. You can take some solace from that. | :08:38. | :08:45. | |
For a split-second you forget about it. It is great winning things for | :08:45. | :08:49. | |
Ireland but there is something extra special trying to win | :08:49. | :08:55. | |
something with Ulster. Sometimes it is too much of a fantasy when it | :08:55. | :09:03. | |
comes to getting stuck in with the forwards. But when you go away from | :09:03. | :09:07. | |
it, there is that mindset that you should be going out to hurt teams | :09:07. | :09:13. | |
and that you heard them in the first minute, you can do it. This | :09:13. | :09:22. | |
Ulster team is more than capable. That is what Ulster will be looking | :09:22. | :09:27. | |
for in the second half. Leinster and Munster were back in action at | :09:27. | :09:30. | |
last night at the Aviva Stadium. And it was Jonathan Sexton who | :09:30. | :09:36. | |
kicked seven penalties out of seven. And that helped Leinster keep | :09:36. | :09:42. | |
bragging rights and Rob Kearney also dropped a fantastic drop goal | :09:42. | :09:46. | |
to help Leinster to that 24 - 19 victory and that helps keep | :09:46. | :09:56. | |
Leinster top of the table. 8 - 3 at half-time. The next score will be | :09:56. | :10:02. | |
critical? I think so, it will be the big difference. If Ulster score | :10:02. | :10:07. | |
early on, they should win the game comfortably but if Connacht score, | :10:07. | :10:13. | |
it is back on. Ulster are being fickle with their confidence. | :10:13. | :10:20. | |
Ulster need to pick up where they left out. They need to kick on from | :10:20. | :10:25. | |
here. To see that confidence coming back. Thank you. The Ulster crowd | :10:25. | :10:31. | |
are in good voice tonight at the Ulster rugby headquarters. Back to | :10:31. | :10:41. | |
:10:41. | :10:45. | ||
European Cup campaign will be over. An Ulster are really using this as | :10:45. | :10:49. | |
a dress rehearsal to take on a mighty Clermont. This man will | :10:49. | :10:53. | |
certainly be needed against the French giants because they can | :10:53. | :11:00. | |
scrummage like nobody else. And they have to go without John a full | :11:01. | :11:06. | |
offer that game against the Leinster Tigers. Will they be happy | :11:06. | :11:16. | |
:11:16. | :11:47. | ||
and 40 minutes? We are about to confident start by Ulster. Yes, an | :11:47. | :11:50. | |
excellent restart. For Ulster there is a number of players coming back | :11:50. | :11:54. | |
into the fold. New players arriving. They have to assimilate into the | :11:54. | :11:58. | |
team. They looked nervous on the ball. They will look for more | :11:58. | :12:01. | |
confidence in what they're doing in the second half. They are coming | :12:01. | :12:08. | |
back for the line-out to Ulster inside the Connacht 22. It was hit | :12:08. | :12:12. | |
by a Connacht lake and therefore the ball was effectively carried | :12:12. | :12:16. | |
back inside the 22 and the direct kick into touch meant that Ulster | :12:16. | :12:26. | |
:12:26. | :12:26. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :12:26. | :13:16. | |
Tom Court who has done it. Excellent composure from Ulster. | :13:16. | :13:21. | |
They established their territory, went around the fringes in pairs | :13:21. | :13:24. | |
and eventually just broke down this Connacht defence. Composure is the | :13:24. | :13:34. | |
:13:34. | :13:38. | ||
key. A real intensity of purpose in Tom Court had set it up. He did not | :13:38. | :13:42. | |
rest on his laurels at all. He is lurking with serious intent and | :13:42. | :13:49. | |
squeezed underneath for the second Ulster try of the evening. That is | :13:49. | :13:52. | |
what we talk about, composure on the ball, no panic, throwing the | :13:52. | :13:56. | |
ball out to the backs. The forwards knew if they maintained possession | :13:56. | :13:59. | |
and went through the phases, eventually connect running out of | :13:59. | :14:04. | |
numbers. He has enjoyed that, as all prop forwards do. By the time | :14:04. | :14:10. | |
he gets home he will have run in for his own 22. How did you do | :14:10. | :14:20. | |
:14:20. | :14:26. | ||
that? We will talk about that later UN Ulster stand. It is looking a | :14:26. | :14:36. | |
:14:36. | :14:43. | ||
missed two of the three in the first half, that is the way to | :14:43. | :14:53. | |
:14:53. | :15:11. | ||
electronic clock. We will try to keep you up-to-date. We have played | :15:11. | :15:16. | |
about four minutes in the second half. Ulster have increased their | :15:16. | :15:26. | |
:15:26. | :15:36. | ||
and the first chance from this particular viewpoint does the the | :15:36. | :15:43. | |
players. The problem seems to be the... The referee goes round to | :15:43. | :15:53. | |
:15:53. | :15:58. | ||
gained and celebrating with his 6th league try. Referee Rat Pack -- | :15:58. | :16:04. | |
REFEREE: Once the ball is square and steady weekend scrum, OK? Clear. | :16:04. | :16:14. | |
Let him get his boys. The referee insisting that Tom Court be allowed | :16:14. | :16:24. | |
:16:24. | :16:51. | ||
to get his bang in. It is difficult Connacht will get a foot into the | :16:51. | :17:01. | |
:17:01. | :17:01. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :17:01. | :18:14. | |
from playing professional rugby and go back to his medical studies | :18:14. | :18:18. | |
because of an ongoing hip problem. Thomas Anderson also played in that | :18:18. | :18:25. | |
side. Some excellent work there by Trimble. It was either Wallace or | :18:26. | :18:29. | |
another player holding up the Connacht player. A couple of times | :18:29. | :18:33. | |
they have done that, keep the player off the ground. It is | :18:33. | :18:43. | |
:18:43. | :18:49. | ||
therefore a maul. The FT goes to left-hand corner of your screen. | :18:50. | :18:59. | |
:19:00. | :19:36. | ||
Cent -- seven 1/2 minutes played in Ulster crowd. The referee is | :19:36. | :19:46. | |
:19:46. | :19:47. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :19:47. | :20:32. | |
Ulster. Chris Henry has up and fit again. It is going to be an Ulster | :20:32. | :20:39. | |
line-out. A good passage of play by Ulster. A opportunistic, Ulster | :20:39. | :20:43. | |
floating, running from depth and pace. Good support lines. Whilst | :20:43. | :20:49. | |
playing the advantage the move breaking down. Eric Elwood, the | :20:49. | :20:53. | |
former Irish international, Ireland's number one and number ten | :20:53. | :20:57. | |
in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, took over the reins at | :20:57. | :21:07. | |
:21:07. | :21:13. | ||
Connacht from Michael Bradley, who Good covering back by Connacht. | :21:13. | :21:17. | |
Great support played by Paddy Wallace for Ulster. There was a | :21:17. | :21:21. | |
great chance here, ferries had a little bit of a cheque and stepped | :21:21. | :21:27. | |
back inside and again, Ulster recycling the ball. There was a | :21:27. | :21:31. | |
decent chance here, a forward pass there and it did not make a false - | :21:31. | :21:35. | |
- it did not make the task any easier and he could not get it away | :21:35. | :21:39. | |
to Craig Gilroy and the advantage was lost. He read it well | :21:39. | :21:43. | |
defensively. We see Chris Henry receiving treatment. There was a | :21:43. | :21:53. | |
:21:53. | :21:57. | ||
clash with the man we seen leaving Rogers. The South African from east | :21:57. | :22:07. | |
:22:07. | :22:07. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :22:07. | :23:58. | |
took his eye off the ball slightly and spilled at Ford and the referee | :23:58. | :24:02. | |
will give the scrum to connect. disappointing end to a promising | :24:02. | :24:06. | |
passage of play by Ulster. Excellent ball security in the face | :24:06. | :24:09. | |
of stern defence by Connacht, going through the phases. Throwing the | :24:10. | :24:14. | |
dummy, the ball coming out of the hands. Here's looking for Simon | :24:14. | :24:18. | |
Danielli to come in on the angle at got a consolation pat on the head | :24:18. | :24:23. | |
by his team-mate. The crowd have more to get enthusiastic about. | :24:23. | :24:29. | |
That is the replacement Connacht prop who is on, Dylan Rogers. A 27- | :24:29. | :24:36. | |
year-old from East London. From South Africa. Rory Best having a | :24:36. | :24:38. | |
book replacement and another couple have Connacht replacements coming | :24:38. | :24:48. | |
:24:48. | :24:57. | ||
on. Two more in the front row, but those collisions. They were getting | :24:57. | :25:00. | |
the ascendancy in the breakdown. That is allowing them to get | :25:00. | :25:04. | |
football, that is when they are dangerous. Connacht quite | :25:04. | :25:09. | |
rightfully reacting to bat with fresh substitutes. Two of the more | :25:09. | :25:15. | |
experienced members of Connacht's front row players, Brett Wilkinson | :25:15. | :25:19. | |
and love-in going off. It is an entirely new Connacht front row | :25:19. | :25:29. | |
:25:29. | :25:37. | ||
against this international Costa the ground. They have done well to | :25:37. | :25:47. | |
:25:47. | :26:10. | ||
get that back, Connacht. It is safe for Connacht. 15 - 3. Humphreys. | :26:10. | :26:17. | |
Stephen Frears, he seemed to lose his footing. Paul Marshall. Simon | :26:17. | :26:26. | |
Danielli. Andrew Trimble! Well, he did that well. Paul Marshall did | :26:26. | :26:36. | |
:26:36. | :26:40. | ||
even better. Tom Court, somebody is injured for Ulster. Simon Danielli. | :26:41. | :26:44. | |
And again, Connacht have managed to get themselves into a very good | :26:44. | :26:52. | |
defensive position. Chris Henry. He does well. Stephen Ferris is down | :26:52. | :26:57. | |
and injured. And are very concerned referee has penalised Ulster | :26:57. | :27:04. | |
underneath the posts. Stephen Ferris is down. I do not think it | :27:04. | :27:14. | |
:27:14. | :27:16. | ||
is his knee, it is the ankle. That isn't good news. His feet went from | :27:16. | :27:24. | |
underneath him. We were looking on. He'd just slips on the foot. That | :27:24. | :27:31. | |
looked absolutely awful. That is his ligament. Having lost Jared | :27:31. | :27:41. | |
:27:41. | :27:41. | ||
Payne and Ruan Pienaar. And Stephen Ferris is up. You would really have | :27:41. | :27:45. | |
expected somebody to come on with and gone and put him out of his | :27:45. | :27:53. | |
misery but it is a long way from that. Will he stay on? I think so. | :27:53. | :28:02. | |
15 - 3. Ulster will be Conservative if there is any doubt. Stephen | :28:02. | :28:05. | |
Ferris has obviously said to the medical staff, let me get on with | :28:05. | :28:13. | |
it. Because he is desperate to play for Ulster. He has not played for | :28:13. | :28:21. | |
Ulster sense that away game when he got himself injured. It looks like | :28:21. | :28:27. | |
Connacht are making another change. It might be John Muldoon coming on, | :28:27. | :28:30. | |
vastly experienced. Connacht have cleared their lines and they have | :28:30. | :28:40. | |
:28:40. | :28:51. | ||
got the line-out. Off goes a Eoghan Grace, John Muldoon welcome on. | :28:51. | :28:57. | |
Mike McCartney might go on to the second row. Best, did well. He set | :28:57. | :29:06. | |
that up nicely. Dan Tuohy. One of his quieter evening. Paul Marshall. | :29:06. | :29:14. | |
Well taken, lovely offload by it Stephen Ferris. Paul Marshall again. | :29:14. | :29:24. | |
:29:24. | :29:24. | ||
Paddy Wallace. Disjointed by Ulster and this is Pedrie Wannenburg. | :29:24. | :29:31. | |
Connacht, right on the line. David Humphreys. There were four men | :29:31. | :29:38. | |
outside him. Tom Court was down and injured. And Connacht have turned | :29:38. | :29:48. | |
that one over. Good work. Tries to turn Paddy Wallace. Did he step in | :29:48. | :29:58. | |
:29:58. | :30:01. | ||
to touch? It was pretty close. In less but well gathered in. And | :30:01. | :30:11. | |
:30:11. | :30:14. | ||
gather into touch. Now, concern over Tom Court? The medical staff | :30:14. | :30:20. | |
being called on to the pitch. Some tired bodies out there., it will | :30:20. | :30:23. | |
feel worse than Ulster given the amount of defensive work they have | :30:23. | :30:29. | |
had to go through and Ulster will look to capitalise on that in the | :30:29. | :30:39. | |
:30:39. | :30:42. | ||
last 25 minutes. Ian Porter is coming on. Robbie Diack is coming | :30:42. | :30:50. | |
on. And Paddy McCallister, likewise. Tom Court isn't ready to go off. If | :30:50. | :30:59. | |
there is any doubt, they really need Stephen Ferris. Robbie Diack | :30:59. | :31:09. | |
:31:09. | :31:17. | ||
has come on. Lots of changes being made. Taken on by Dave McSharry. 21 | :31:17. | :31:25. | |
years of age. And he has a lot of support. All of us carry on, it is | :31:25. | :31:30. | |
disrupting Ulster a little bit. They have to regain composure. This | :31:30. | :31:34. | |
certainly have been in the ascendancy for a little while. | :31:34. | :31:38. | |
Defensively, they have held the player up. Paddy Wallace and Ian | :31:38. | :31:42. | |
Humphreys, ably assisted by Craig Gilroy on that occasion. Preparing | :31:42. | :31:52. | |
:31:52. | :31:56. | ||
to concede that not letting the ball get to ground. Tom Court is | :31:56. | :32:06. | |
:32:06. | :32:06. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :32:06. | :32:56. | |
Pedrie Wannenburg staying. On the Connacht. That was a very good kick | :32:56. | :33:06. | |
:33:06. | :33:28. | ||
Afoa. That has been a very satisfactory debut. He had a very | :33:28. | :33:31. | |
long flight earlier this week and he has gone straight into the | :33:31. | :33:36. | |
jersey. Some light touch us around the pack and as he gets more | :33:36. | :33:43. | |
familiar with Ulster, I am sure we will see more of him. | :33:43. | :33:49. | |
understanding the local dialect! That was a good line-out from | :33:49. | :33:59. | |
:33:59. | :34:01. | ||
Connacht. Paul O'Donohoe. Ulster up very quickly and they're holding up | :34:01. | :34:06. | |
the Connacht player. I think it was Fetu'u Vainikolo. Back on to the | :34:06. | :34:11. | |
Ulster side. Rory Best looked around to see if there was any | :34:11. | :34:19. | |
support. Porter. Dan Tuohy. He is having a bigger influence on this | :34:19. | :34:23. | |
game. Connacht have got to get those men out of the way. And there | :34:24. | :34:28. | |
was a bit of nonsense involving Pedrie Wannenburg. That was a good | :34:29. | :34:33. | |
pick up from Darren Cave. Back inside. He could not quite get that | :34:33. | :34:39. | |
pass. And it has been nudged forward yet again and that is maybe | :34:39. | :34:42. | |
the third half decent scoring chance that Ulster have put down. | :34:42. | :34:46. | |
Darren Cave has been very good in this game with his offloading, he | :34:46. | :34:51. | |
carries the ball with two hands. Excellent pick up. He keeps the | :34:51. | :34:56. | |
ball alive in the tackle. Simon Danielli going to ground. | :34:56. | :35:01. | |
Unfortunately for Ulster, not going to hand. It might well have come | :35:01. | :35:09. | |
off that Connacht player. Paddy Wallace could not quite gather. | :35:09. | :35:14. | |
Scrum to Ulster. Tom Court struggling. Good to see Darren Cave | :35:14. | :35:18. | |
back and playing. We did not see much of him last season because of | :35:18. | :35:25. | |
injury. Nevin Spence played 22 successive games for Ulster. This | :35:25. | :35:29. | |
is the first time this season that Darren Cave has got the nod for the | :35:29. | :35:39. | |
:35:39. | :35:40. | ||
outside centre position. It is the one he prefers most. Only Rory Best | :35:40. | :35:44. | |
stays in the position he was in when the game started. This is | :35:44. | :35:49. | |
enterprising indeed. Dave McSharry taken underneath his own posts. The | :35:49. | :35:55. | |
visitors have the ball. And he kicks. Simon Danielli calls for | :35:55. | :36:03. | |
this. Backed up nicely from Andrew Trimble. Good strong, surging run. | :36:03. | :36:06. | |
He had such an outstanding series of internationals. Pedrie | :36:06. | :36:15. | |
Wannenburg. That was a clever switch from Porter. Back inside to | :36:15. | :36:20. | |
Robbie Diack. The tackle was fine. Probably Diack has done well. Paddy | :36:20. | :36:30. | |
:36:30. | :36:31. | ||
McCallister. The vastly improving prop forward. Making life so | :36:31. | :36:37. | |
difficult for Ulster at the breakdown. Good driving. And | :36:37. | :36:41. | |
clearing out from Ulster. Still going forward. Dan Tuohy has done a | :36:41. | :36:51. | |
:36:51. | :36:53. | ||
lot of hard work. Humphreys. The door was shot in his face. | :36:53. | :36:57. | |
McAllister could not hold that. He was probably in two minds, whether | :36:57. | :37:03. | |
to let it go or not. Good pressure coming from Ulster. Once again, | :37:03. | :37:07. | |
they are in Connacht territory, inside the 22 I'm going through | :37:07. | :37:13. | |
multiple phases. And come out are doing very well not to let the | :37:13. | :37:19. | |
floodgates open. 90 minutes left. Ulster really starting to dominate., | :37:19. | :37:23. | |
it might get that changed on the outside half and here is a very | :37:23. | :37:30. | |
familiar face. Niall O'Connor. The six-times capped Irish | :37:30. | :37:34. | |
international playing his 7th game of the season for Connacht and a | :37:34. | :37:41. | |
man who played no fewer than 52 games for Ulster in his years here. | :37:41. | :37:51. | |
:37:51. | :37:59. | ||
with the men outside. Darren Cave and Andrew Trimble asking for him | :37:59. | :38:07. | |
to come up just a little bit. If come out want to win this game, | :38:07. | :38:11. | |
they will have to try to run this. They have to work their way up the | :38:11. | :38:17. | |
pitch and be fairly pragmatic and start denying Ulster any chance to | :38:17. | :38:27. | |
:38:27. | :38:29. | ||
capitalise on mistakes. Connacht, taken quickly. They try to run it. | :38:29. | :38:39. | |
:38:39. | :38:41. | ||
Fetu'u Vainikolo. Paul O'Donohoe. Niall O'Connor. Quickly away. That | :38:41. | :38:49. | |
was a very good pass from Niall O'Connor. Good tackling from Andrew | :38:49. | :38:59. | |
:38:59. | :39:02. | ||
Trimble. Paul O'Donohoe. Paddy McCallister with the tackle. | :39:02. | :39:07. | |
Dangerous, but it has worked out well. Tiernan O'Halloran. Not the | :39:07. | :39:12. | |
greatest pass in the world but it was taken well. And he was forced | :39:12. | :39:17. | |
to kick it straight into touch. Lots of enterprise from Connacht. | :39:17. | :39:22. | |
You have to give them a fair round of applause. It is the first time | :39:22. | :39:26. | |
we have really see then use the width available to them, side to | :39:26. | :39:29. | |
side and a lot of speculative passes thrown in. Very well | :39:29. | :39:35. | |
executed to promote the ball up to the halfway line. Frank Murphy | :39:35. | :39:44. | |
coming on. Paul O'Donohoe, who played very well, gives way to the | :39:44. | :39:52. | |
man that he replaced in this game. 29 years of age. Frank Murphy. 16 | :39:52. | :40:02. | |
:40:02. | :40:09. | ||
League games for colic. -- Connacht. Porter. Pedrie Wannenburg. They | :40:09. | :40:16. | |
have not really made any ground for that set-piece, Ulster. Well taken | :40:16. | :40:25. | |
from Dan Tuohy. Porter. Better pass to Humphreys. Now, Paddy Wallace. | :40:25. | :40:35. | |
:40:35. | :40:40. | ||
Well covered by Tiernan O'Halloran. That was a good strike. The main | :40:40. | :40:45. | |
man in the number 15 jersey for a number of years. Tom Court. He is | :40:45. | :40:51. | |
fine and I also hope Stephen for us will be fine. These men will be | :40:51. | :40:57. | |
crucial to the European campaign for Ulster, which begins next week. | :40:57. | :41:07. | |
:41:07. | :41:07. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :41:07. | :42:48. | |
They seem to be enjoying their monstrous tackle and Ulster will be | :42:48. | :42:52. | |
delighted to get the put-in to the scrum but they are coming under | :42:52. | :42:56. | |
pressure and about 12 minutes remaining. Yes, it looked like a | :42:56. | :43:00. | |
Macklin it was, he took a big hit, managed to hold on to the boot | :43:00. | :43:05. | |
laces. We have seen in that passage of play Gavin Duffy coming at pace | :43:05. | :43:09. | |
very direct, met Cherie doing the same thing. That is what Connacht | :43:09. | :43:13. | |
have needed. They have looked fairly impotent in the midfield but | :43:13. | :43:17. | |
all the sudden they're getting football, running on the pace, | :43:17. | :43:22. | |
dominating the collision. They look to have ignited. Stephenson has | :43:22. | :43:29. | |
come on and TUPE has had another busy evening, he has left the field | :43:29. | :43:39. | |
:43:39. | :43:56. | ||
Ulster skipper. In his first asked season in his native province. | :43:56. | :44:06. | |
:44:06. | :44:30. | ||
impressive form, Macklin, 22 years Vainikolo was concerned. Ian | :44:30. | :44:35. | |
Humphreys, a smile of relief, I think. If Connacht had scored | :44:35. | :44:39. | |
through that passage of play it would have made foreign interesting | :44:39. | :44:42. | |
closure to this game but Ulster clearly in the ascendancy on the | :44:42. | :44:46. | |
scoreboard. They have a 12 point buffer. They don't need to do | :44:46. | :44:56. | |
:44:56. | :44:56. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :44:56. | :45:58. | |
anything speculative. They can concede the penalty, that is what | :45:59. | :46:03. | |
he did for Ireland always through the World Cup. He acts like that | :46:04. | :46:07. | |
forced Beck Row, very good over the ball and strength, you can see | :46:07. | :46:11. | |
affecting the tackle. Good technique, shows some space and | :46:11. | :46:16. | |
over the ball, forcing the penalty. He forces the Connacht player to | :46:16. | :46:26. | |
:46:26. | :46:30. | ||
Humphreys. We're into the last ten minutes of this game. Ulster | :46:30. | :46:36. | |
leading 15-three. On Bonfire Night, time to celebrate Hallowe'en here | :46:36. | :46:41. | |
more than anything else. What a lovely sight in the Belfast skyline. | :46:41. | :46:51. | |
:46:51. | :46:51. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :46:51. | :47:33. | |
I hope they have a permit for that! are boos but from the Ulster crowd | :47:33. | :47:38. | |
towards John Lacey. We have seen what they are capable of, they will | :47:38. | :47:43. | |
have to build on that when they play the heavyweights of Europe, | :47:43. | :47:47. | |
and other fixtures to come later in the year. If they can get that the | :47:47. | :47:51. | |
quick ball we have seen the news so effectively, bring in the likes of | :47:51. | :47:56. | |
Trimble and Kilroy out wide, Ulster will move into next week with some | :47:56. | :48:00. | |
confidence buoyed from a much- needed victory. Good to see so many | :48:00. | :48:04. | |
Connacht supporters have made the journey from the much more | :48:04. | :48:14. | |
:48:14. | :48:24. | ||
front row, Ulster with two. McAllister and Mac, the future for | :48:24. | :48:29. | |
Ulster. They are decent prospects, are they? Very impressive physical | :48:29. | :48:34. | |
specimens. They will be learning the art of scrummaging. They have | :48:35. | :48:39. | |
had BJ Botha's tutelage and Tom Court has established himself on | :48:39. | :48:49. | |
:48:49. | :48:49. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds | :48:49. | :49:36. | |
the international scene and has the referee decides before they went to | :49:36. | :49:39. | |
ground that Connacht had done enough to warrant the put into the | :49:39. | :49:43. | |
scrum. Connacht's defence has been very impressive. Yes, of standing, | :49:43. | :49:47. | |
given the number of phases they have been forced to defend throat - | :49:47. | :49:51. | |
- outstanding. They have had personal changes but they have | :49:51. | :49:54. | |
slotted into the system. You are looking into defence, it does not | :49:54. | :49:59. | |
get any better than that. Andrew Trimble realising the threat and | :49:59. | :50:09. | |
:50:09. | :50:14. | ||
neutralising it was perfect effect. point of view, if we can be so bold | :50:14. | :50:18. | |
us to say that Ulster are going to win the game, is that they have | :50:18. | :50:22. | |
stopped a rather alarming downward spiral. They will move ahead of | :50:22. | :50:25. | |
Connacht in the league table but they will be in the bottom half of | :50:25. | :50:35. | |
:50:35. | :50:45. | ||
Trust. Penalty against Macklin, for taking that down. Getting his elbow | :50:45. | :50:48. | |
tucked in a little bit and causing the Connacht loose-head to buckle | :50:48. | :50:54. | |
in would. O'Connor to make some ground for his new province. Not | :50:54. | :51:04. | |
:51:04. | :51:06. | ||
his greatest contact but he has seen a change in the attacking | :51:06. | :51:11. | |
fortunes of Connacht, playing with a lot more rhythm, more direct from | :51:11. | :51:15. | |
the runners and they have made some incursions into the defensive line, | :51:15. | :51:20. | |
unable to convert those into any meaningful points. One or two | :51:20. | :51:23. | |
eyebrows were raised when the Connacht starting 15 worry now | :51:23. | :51:33. | |
:51:33. | :52:03. | ||
stand it wasn't Frank Murphy and injured. It might be more. But he | :52:03. | :52:13. | |
:52:13. | :52:21. | ||
very interesting. Wallace is pretty good at every ball game, whether it | :52:21. | :52:28. | |
is a round ball or an over ball. -- oh well ball. That would have been | :52:28. | :52:33. | |
worthy of a soccer-style striker. He could not quite control it. | :52:33. | :52:36. | |
wonder whether Duffy may have been looking out of the corner of his | :52:36. | :52:43. | |
iron case Trimble was coming flying in to nullify another attack. | :52:43. | :52:53. | |
:52:53. | :53:20. | ||
photographer getting a snap or two very well to the weather but also | :53:20. | :53:30. | |
:53:30. | :53:33. | ||
recovery from the very nasty leg injury sustained at the start of | :53:33. | :53:43. | |
:53:43. | :53:54. | ||
last season. He missed just about He had to stretch for that. | :53:54. | :53:58. | |
running lines disrupt a little bit by the retreating scrum and never | :53:58. | :54:08. | |
:54:08. | :54:14. | ||
really regained their composure whispering that there are two | :54:14. | :54:21. | |
minutes of regulation time and I'm pretty sure the great John West, | :54:21. | :54:24. | |
one of the best referees Ireland produced down the years, will not | :54:24. | :54:34. | |
:54:34. | :55:05. | ||
good stuff, Dave McSharry. Still plenty of energy in the Connacht | :55:05. | :55:12. | |
side. This is Niall O'Connor. Not his greatest kick. And a bit of a | :55:12. | :55:17. | |
ride bald cheers from the Ulster fans. The man they used to applaud | :55:17. | :55:26. | |
on a regular basis. Down the narrow side, nothing available. Enter the | :55:26. | :55:36. | |
last minute. Niall O'Connor again. He steps inside. That was good | :55:36. | :55:41. | |
covering from Stephenson. And there is time for Connacht to go for the | :55:41. | :55:46. | |
corner and tried to force the line- out. But he must give credit to | :55:47. | :55:50. | |
them, it has been a spirited performance and Ulster will | :55:50. | :55:54. | |
obviously when this game but, to have made it very difficult through | :55:54. | :55:59. | |
their application in defence and it had been limited up until the 70th | :55:59. | :56:06. | |
minute mark. But they have certainly given everything. That | :56:06. | :56:15. | |
was a cracking kick from Niall O'Connor. Jean Alesi has been told | :56:15. | :56:20. | |
that the next time the ball goes dead, it will be no side, as they | :56:20. | :56:30. | |
:56:30. | :56:40. | ||
used to say in the olden days. Somebody might have cramped up. The | :56:41. | :56:49. | |
scrummage always causes problems for opposition front rows. The last | :56:49. | :56:56. | |
set-piece of the game. What they take from it Johann Muller. Ulster | :56:56. | :57:01. | |
could just a book that in to touch but they have not got the ball. | :57:01. | :57:07. | |
Johann Muller has won that for Ulster. Is there something left? | :57:07. | :57:14. | |
They will certainly try. George Naoupu. Ferocious Ulster tackling. | :57:14. | :57:20. | |
Here is O'Connor. That did not work out. Picked up by Ulster. And away | :57:20. | :57:28. | |
goes Paddy Wallace. Gilroy! That was a great run from Gilroy. Simon | :57:28. | :57:38. | |
Danielli over ran slightly. Porter. Humphreys. He has done well, good | :57:38. | :57:43. | |
drive. Porter needs to change the angle and here comes Humphreys. | :57:43. | :57:48. | |
Will this be the final round of the game? Individual brilliance from | :57:48. | :57:57. | |
Ian Humphreys. Ulster's third try, just when they were waiting for the | :57:57. | :58:01. | |
final whistle. And Ian Humphreys has dropped kicked the conversion. | :58:01. | :58:07. | |
And Ulster have added another seven points at the death. And it was | :58:08. | :58:15. | |
their skipper, Johan Muller, who is down injured. Adam Macklin did | :58:15. | :58:25. | |
:58:25. | :58:25. | ||
really well to set that up. And Ian Humphreys has finished off the | :58:25. | :58:30. | |
evening in style. And as he comes around the corner, Connacht, for | :58:30. | :58:35. | |
the first time, just sit back defensively and did not close the | :58:35. | :58:38. | |
space and when Ian Humphreys get that slight glimpse of the outside | :58:38. | :58:45. | |
break, it is difficult to stop him. The Ulster replacement has come off | :58:45. | :58:50. | |
and that final flourish will put them in good form for the stern | :58:50. | :58:55. | |
challenge next week against Clermont Auvergne. That is in the | :58:55. | :59:02. | |
Heineken Cup. You can hear that on BBC Radio Ulster. And thanks to the | :59:02. | :59:07. | |
Irish squad colleagues. It was good to see Rory Best play the entire | :59:07. | :59:11. | |
game. He put in a very good performance but we are worried | :59:11. | :59:15. | |
about a couple of injuries. Johan Muller is up on his feet again, | :59:15. | :59:20. | |
thankfully. Ian Humphreys wedding to his family and friends. More | :59:21. | :59:24. | |
stoutly concerning his injury to Johan Muller and he might have done | :59:24. | :59:33. | |
his shoulder. There we are, Ulster have gone back to winning ways | :59:33. | :59:37. | |
after four successive defeats. They did not quite get the bonus point | :59:37. | :59:44. | |
but three tries, two of them in the second half. Fingers crossed that | :59:44. | :59:54. | |
:59:54. | :59:59. | ||
Johan Muller will be fined and It all got feisty in the first half. | :00:00. | :00:07. | |
But it was not a classic Irish Derby. Ulster's play came in fits | :00:07. | :00:11. | |
and starts. A couple of minutes after the restart, Tom Court scored | :00:11. | :00:17. | |
their second try. Connacht huffed and puffed but could not put any | :00:17. | :00:21. | |
points on the board. Worrying times when Stephen Ferris went down | :00:21. | :00:28. | |
injured but thankfully got back to his feet. And right on the final | :00:28. | :00:34. | |
whistle, Ian Humphreys with an individual try sealing the victory | :00:34. | :00:44. | |
for Ulster. Three tries. And that is the result. That moves Ulster up | :00:44. | :00:49. | |
to 7th place in the RaboDirect Pro12 table. Man of the Match is | :00:49. | :00:59. | |
very best. The magnificent trophy, that can go alongside the champagne. | :00:59. | :01:04. | |
It was scrappy. The big thing for us, ahead of next week, was to get | :01:04. | :01:07. | |
the wind and there is a lot of aspects of the game that he will | :01:07. | :01:11. | |
not be happy with but the big thing is we stopped that losing run and | :01:11. | :01:16. | |
we won and onwards and upwards. Connacht put in a very big | :01:16. | :01:20. | |
defensive performance. He cannot underestimate how tough it was to | :01:20. | :01:23. | |
breach that but we did create ample opportunities and we have to look | :01:23. | :01:27. | |
at individual errors. We had chances to put them away with silly | :01:27. | :01:34. | |
knock-ons. Once we keep stepping it up, we have to put this chances | :01:34. | :01:39. | |
away. You look like you enjoyed your first appearance? We enjoyed | :01:39. | :01:46. | |
having him. He is undefeated this season. It was good for him. That | :01:46. | :01:51. | |
is what it is all about. Getting world class players on the pitch. | :01:52. | :01:58. | |
How did you find it? It was great. It was tough but enjoyable. It | :01:58. | :02:03. | |
reminds me of home. And I am looking forward to next week. | :02:03. | :02:10. | |
talk about the set piece, you got the basics right? Rory Best hit it | :02:10. | :02:14. | |
on the head, it is a win. A good chance to learn the names of the | :02:14. | :02:22. | |
team mates. I suppose it was a case of Ulster been very good when they | :02:22. | :02:27. | |
are good but when they were bad, they were fairly ugly? There will | :02:27. | :02:33. | |
be a sense of disappointment. Talking to Rory Best, he wants to | :02:33. | :02:36. | |
win but they got the perfect start in the second half and scored the | :02:36. | :02:40. | |
first couple of Bennett's and then you thought about the bonus point | :02:40. | :02:46. | |
and they did not deliver. They try at the very end had no effect. It | :02:46. | :02:51. | |
was over. By the table does look better for Ulster but it would have | :02:51. | :02:55. | |
been healthier if they had the bonus point and they will be | :02:55. | :03:01. | |
disappointed they did not. Absolutely. They have gone up the | :03:01. | :03:04. | |
table and that is important thing. But they had a lot of missed | :03:04. | :03:08. | |
opportunities. They created opportunities and did not take them. | :03:08. | :03:12. | |
That is the key. Last year they were taking those. They need to | :03:12. | :03:16. | |
step up to the plate. Tom Court with a try at the start of the | :03:16. | :03:21. | |
second half, also showed more physicality? They had field | :03:21. | :03:26. | |
position and the one that line-out. Eventually, it broke and Tom got in. | :03:26. | :03:33. | |
It was surely the perfect start. No rocket science, just hard work. And | :03:33. | :03:36. | |
at that stage you felt it was set up for them to take on. That did | :03:36. | :03:41. | |
not happen but it was a good try. Again, those errors came in and | :03:42. | :03:47. | |
this was the last play of the game. Had also done something like this | :03:47. | :03:52. | |
sailor, the bonus point was for the taking. It is too late in the day. | :03:52. | :03:58. | |
Those opportunities did not really get converted. Rory Best said they | :03:59. | :04:04. | |
will be disappointed that they made so many mistakes again tonight. | :04:04. | :04:06. | |
Absolutely, I am pleased to hear him say that individually they have | :04:06. | :04:10. | |
to look at themselves and that is the key ingredient. Everybody has | :04:10. | :04:15. | |
to stand up and put their hand up. Just small things, some of the | :04:15. | :04:23. | |
passes going behind players, for us to go forward, we talked about that, | :04:23. | :04:28. | |
teams need to get back in and we do not convert and that is the big | :04:28. | :04:33. | |
concern. With Europe looming, they have to convert these opportunities. | :04:33. | :04:40. | |
We are things are going your way, these passes stick. You can click. | :04:40. | :04:43. | |
A two-night, the opportunities were there, they were left behind. | :04:43. | :04:47. | |
problem is that next week in the Heineken Cup, you will not get many | :04:47. | :04:52. | |
opportunities like that so if accuracy is down, you might get | :04:52. | :04:56. | |
more tries out of those chances and that is worrying. They know | :04:56. | :05:04. | |
themselves, they have to get the very allusive but when it happens, | :05:04. | :05:07. | |
you can maybe get three or four tries but finishing isn't there. | :05:07. | :05:12. | |
How do you assess the chances going into the European Cup? Clermont | :05:12. | :05:18. | |
Auvergne at home followed by a Leinster? Two very tough games? | :05:18. | :05:22. | |
There are no easy games in the European Cup, it is all or nothing. | :05:22. | :05:26. | |
They need to step up to the plight. Especially at home next week. They | :05:26. | :05:31. | |
have a very tough outing and they need to raise their bar. Do you | :05:31. | :05:38. | |
fancy their chances in Europe? is stacked against them. I would | :05:38. | :05:42. | |
never bet against Ulster at Ravenhill, you get a good crowd and | :05:42. | :05:46. | |
that crowd and it will not be easy. Clermont Auvergne are at the top of | :05:46. | :05:51. | |
the French league but they might come here and get thrown. I would | :05:51. | :05:54. | |
not be too downbeat but they know that their accuracy has to come up | :05:54. | :05:59. | |
a very long way if they're going to trouble them. But there is nothing | :05:59. | :06:04. | |
like a Heineken Cup to focus the mind. By IQ but very much. You will | :06:04. | :06:07. |