Ulster v Connacht Ulster Rugby Live

round 21 of 22 in PRO12 and with a spicy derby to enjoy tonight, Ulster

travelled to Connaught. All-star have already earned a top four macro

slot but a semi-final place is not quite guaranteed. Connaught are in

fine home form and they have not lost a home game since the start of

the year. Joining me in the studio tonight, Brendan Cunningham. Against

Connaught in the past a win was pretty much a formality but times

have changed. No, Connaught now can pretty much get the highest they

have ever had in the league. They have a lot to play for. A lot of

them will be very interested in putting in a big four months.

kind of game are you expecting tonight? Rumack I think conditions

are perfect in Galway this evening. Allston will have to meet them on

the front foot and respond to it. Allston in pole position at the

moment. That win last week took them back to the top. Another game we

will be keeping an eye on tonight is Oscar against Osprey. Osprey cannot

slip up. Pre-Christmas things were looking pretty rosy and then they

went through a long. They have got their momentum back. They want to

continue that with the Connaught name and also with the Cardiff Blues

as well. They should finish top of the league. The importance of the

game, the coach has laid down a marker when you look at the strength

of this Ulster line-up this evening. Yes, Johann Muller is back slightly

ahead of schedule. Look at the backline. Pienaar and Jackson, a

strong back free. Then the foreman of the team who was the man of the

match last time and has used performance. Yes, I think the

line-up shows how well some of the guys have done over the last few

weeks. Stevenson, Lutton, who has been excellent as well. In previous

years, the likes of Henderson would have just gone straight in, and they

have that depth now and the players are playing well. It is exciting and

as Tony mentioned, it is a strong backline. The Connaught team, plenty

of experience upfront and talented backline as well. Yes, they are very

strong. You know what you were going to get with Dan Parks at ten and

that is where the Ulster backs rave. A lot to play for. This team of

every proud of their home record. Unbeaten since the turn of the

year. They want to continue that. They have a lot to play for with the

outgoing coach and the incoming coach. Connaught will be going out

all guns blazing. Let's hear from the coaches. We expect Ulster to

come out. We are very comfortable at home. We

do not fear anybody at home. We have proven that in the last couple of

years. We have got better and better. We are looking forward to

this match. The last in the PRO12 for you. How special is that?

it is just another game. It is not about my last PRO12. All that

remains is fine but I am not thinking like that. What was your

message to the boys this week? looked improving. Analogous to build

pressure by keeping people in hand. -- allowing us to build pressure. By

keeping the ball in hand. The track is good. It is beautiful now.

the Ulster coach will be looking to that last performance against

Connaught at Ravenhill when they kept their school and ran away with

a win. A couple Invariably he brings a bit

of magic. It took Ulster ten or 15 minutes to get ball in hand last

week. The pace of the game increased dramatically then. You think back to

last season and Connaught had that victory. They did and they are a

very proud side at home. Everyone knows the Sportsground is a very

difficult place to win. They are seen as just a argued defensive

orientated team but they have a bit of skin there as well. -- a bit of

skill. There are some young guys. They do have talent and they have a

nice mix of experience and youth coming through. Back on the wing for

Ulster tonight is Andrew Trimble, Island's forgotten man for much of

the season but determined to end his Ulster season with some silverware.

COMMENTATOR: Pienaar. What a score for Trimble!

Magnificent from Ulster! I have been really pleased with the

way things are going. I feel like I performed very well. I am not

getting picked for Ireland but that is just one of those things.

Sometimes you get picked and sometimes you do not. I have only

put on a green shirt once this year and it has been disappointing. It is

very straightforward what I'm doing and I can be very confident with

Sean and no that I am rated higher here than I am with Ireland and that

is something that is very good for my confidence. I have really enjoyed

that. I have bought into it quite a bit and made it simple. COMMENTATOR:

set piece move our excellence. are in a good position now. But if

we do not push on now and win the league it will not be for anything.

So be putting ourselves under a lot of pressure. Is there a little bit

of you that hopes that there will be a nudge from Warren Gatland? You do

let herself daydream. It is not good for your head. -- you do let

yourself daydream. It is a lot simpler thinking about Connaught

this weekend. It seems mad. People think, that guy does not have a

chance. But you think, who knows what might happen? But I'm trying to

concentrate on Connaught. I'm just performing well and they chance to

get out on the pit. It does seem like a long shot but who knows?

very honest interview from Andrew Trimble but what we do know is he's

very highly rated by the Ulster coach.

Yes, you can see the way Mark Anscombe picks his boys. He does not

like to take a backward step. Andrew is one of the best wingers. For me,

he's probably in pole position for a of the season for all stuff.

deadly finisher. Yes. Very clever. He is calling for the kick in the

corner now. A magnificent piece of execution. Andrew has seen the

space. Able to read the situation. He puts himself in the right

position to take it. It is the physicality he brings but also every

week he is consistently performing at a massively high level. Andrew is

there every week performing nine out of ten. We have heard the Connaught

coach, Eric Elwood, here he is prepared to go toe to toe with

Ulster this evening, but I imagine Connaught will want to avoid that

physical battle. Be injured player is back early and has hit the ground

running. Although it was a disappointing game against Saracens

I thought he did well. He's getting up to nearly full place now. -- full

pace. Then you have Jared Payne and probably the only thing for him is

that he has had a future is hampering him a little bit. So he

has struggled to get the same form he had earlier in the season.

you have to learn to go by it and Ulster are probably not going to do

it correctly to begin with. Two white too fast, I think you will

see. -- too wide. We want to see the likes of Trimble, Payne get the ball

with one hand because if we can get them quick early released we will

see damage. You have Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble, two big strong boys

but Connaught have a couple. They are big strong boys too. The game

has changed slightly. What is the key for an Ulster success tonight?

What have they got to get absolutely right? Kickoffs have been an issue.

In Saracens, in the quarter-final of the Heineken cup, they kicked

badly. Set pieces will have to go well. Again, a big bonus on putting

a marker down this evening. Set pieces in term of lineout. Intensity

is one of the main things. We want people to play with a massive

intensity. The bench is outstanding that can come on. If you look at the

guys like Henderson, Marshall, Michael Allen. All of these guys can

make an impact. So they should not be waiting for 64 things to happen.

You have to go out early and make it happen. Eric Elwood is the driving

force behind Connaught. Will it be a strange situation for him that the

incoming coach, Pat Lam, is there already and monitoring things? There

are not many coaches who would accept that? You can rest assured

that the players will be playing very much for him this evening. He

is a man who is green through and through. He has never played any

rugby anywhere else. He commands a massive amount of respect. Rest

assured, it will play hard for him this evening. Ulster, obviously,

after having had such a good season and being runaway leaders in the

PRO12, they do not want to slip away with this. They want a guaranteed

home semi-final. It is crucial for them. They did slip a bit and they

have got back again, so hopefully a big four months tonight and that

will assure them of possibly top edition in the league. Thank you

both very much. Connaught have only beaten Ulster once in their last

three team meetings but that was at the Sportsground last year. Time to

see how this Irish Derby unfold this evening in the company of Ryan

Constable and you merely. Good good evening. Jackson and Pienaar

combined together once again. Jared Payne returns to the full-back

position. It is a game that Ulster will be expected to bring but they

simply cannot afford to lose. Last weeks when turning over the Glasgow

Warriors bring Ulster to the top of the league once again. There is

Gavin Duffy with what I assume is a little baby Duffy. Mike McCarthy is

off to Leinster. Muldoon is open side flanker. Full-back Robbie

Henshaw has damaged his forum so Duffy is in the last line of

defence. Marmion starts his 20th consecutive league game. The referee

is from Munster am an Irish international referee making his

47th league appearance this evening. Jackson, who played in the centre in

the corresponding fixture a year ago, when Ulster went down by 26-21,

starts here at the Sportsground in goal way. -- in Galloway. -- in

in Ulster's favour. -- other wind. The vastly experienced Connacht

front row. A penalty straight away against Ulster. That does not bode

well for the rest of this game. Given the experienced in the Ulster

front row, Rory Best will be able to lead that scrum. It will be an

intriguing contest. First set piece Connacht line-up. Taken by Mike

McCarthy, who has had a very successful season. This is Adrian

Flavin taking them forward. Good work by Dan Touhy. Did he take that

Kieran Marmion has given that a fair bit of height. Jared Payne was

with him. Ruan Pienaar I is seeing if there is anything in the way of

options, and there wasn't. It is going to be a try for Connacht. And

George Naoupu dead sin for the first try and Ulster are in all

kinds of trouble. -- gets in. committed performance. The kick was

inch-perfect. Well-played by trembled. Commitment to the ball at

the break down, very difficult to defend. Bolster very short of

numbers and an easy run in at the end. -- Ulster. Big George just had

to saunter over the line. A great start for Connacht. It came from

themselves. Dan Parks is the lead's top scorer by some distance. --

league. He does not normally miss them from this range but it goes

wide, so a let-off for Ulster. They gave away the penalty and they gave

away the try. Ulster don't want to allow Connacht to get off to a good

start at home. When you are playing with the wind at your backs you

have to maximise the points you get from that. Kieran Marmion waits and

takes his time. That was a penalty, Jared Payne went in for the ball

and was taken in the air. Got a bit of a bump, I don't think it was

militias but it was certainly a careless tackle by Danie Poolman.

It was a fair challenge but the man was tackled in the air and, rightly

or wrongly, it was always going to be a penalty. His eyes were

certainly on the ball as he looked to contest that but contact was

made and a penalty duly awarded. A chance for Ulster to get some of

those points back. The wind is very definitely behind Ruan Pienaar. It

seems to be drifting down towards Galway Bay, so a bit of a swirl on

he has not made it. 5-0 in Connacht's favour. Dan Parks has

spent more than a decade with Glasgow and then a couple of

seasons with the Cardiff Blues. Making sure everybody is behind him.

Taken by Ruan Pienaar. He looks to put the pressure on Connacht and

that is a very good kick. Ulster have the home side where they want

them. He saw the space in behind, very cleverly executed kick. When

you have the wind at your back, there is no point playing rugby in

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can shift this. They kept can't stop scoring tries, and that

was a belter. The identification of where the space was to support the

player holding his line. That is very clever communication and

understanding from the players' of where they are supporting players

were coming from. Stuart Olding's finish was perfect. Ruan Pienaar

adds the extras and Ulster find themselves in the League. -- the

the Ulster number rate. That is quite a clever kick. -- Ulster

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has used the wind well. Great Ulster try, referee had a little

look and said it was no problem. That was out of the top draw. The

build-up, once again, identification, and then look at

this piece of magic. Ruan Pienaar has the skills to release the ball.

He left his defender who was tracking him backwards by that

change of angle, an outstanding team tried by Ulster. Two out of

the top draw by Ulster. They will still be smarting a bit, having

Pienaar couldn't quite bring it in. What a turn around, though. Ulster

have capitalised on the slightest of chances. The fire power they

possess out wide has really been brought to bear on this game.

legally. -- by Tommy blow perfectly. They go through multiple phases to

get small amounts of ground. Their tactics will switch at half-time

and they know what they will have to do with wind at their back.

the second scrum and we have played tackle by Stuart Olding on his

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started very well, physicality and passion, but undone by a couple of

turnovers and Ulster are capitalising now. It is Ricky

Lutton's third start for Ulster. Good work by Robbie Diack swallowing

up. Wilkinson made a decent hit of ground. Connaught looking pretty

good here. There is going to be a picked up the ball then and took the

vacant position. Not an intentional knocked down so only the knock on.

Wilkinson, another man born in South Africa who is now Irish qualified.

Tonight is his 121st league game for Ulster 's defence was really wanting

there. Yes, system error in defence it looks like from all stuff. Cave

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experience having lost here a year in for the near post. That is a

cracking kick from Dan Parks. Still inside the first quarter and it is

12-12. An excellent throw always pass that got the attacking player

on the outside and a clinical finish. Look at this for a kick,

and understanding of the conditions. held the ball off the ground to

hand if the referee blows his whistle Connacht will get the tail-

end of this scrum. Bolster get the put-in to the scrummage. -- Ulster.

You are looking at technicalities there and old stubble certainly

welcome an opportunity to have some set-piece possession and stamp

their authority on proceedings. Jackson, we haven't seen much of

him. Clever stuff from holding. -- from Olding. I thought a player was

tackled before the ball had passed to him. He certainly directs the

team around the park very well. Off the left, of the right, back on his

feet. All action stuff. Forced the pass a little bit in terms of the

defending player was already on top of the receiver. This might well be

all-star's first lineout of the game. It has gone more or less

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vertical from PNR. - from Ruan surprised defeat last week are

bouncing back again. Ulster and Leominster are at the top of the

table and Glasgow are keeping the pressure on them. There is an

injury. Gavin Duffy went up for the ball and his head clashed with

another Connacht player. Duffy seems to be fine. It is George Naoupu who

got the bank on the head. Clumsy stuff but no malicious intent.

looks a little wobbly but he is running and seems to be happy enough

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will come back for the penalty. And Connacht are giving Ulster rob a

bleak more problems than Ulster would like. Excellent structure in

the rolling ball. Continuing to move, Ulster players working their

way forward. The Ulster manager will be concerned. This juncture in the

game with 15 minutes left and a 12-12 scoreline. They will be

acutely aware they need to get full treacherous when by Dan Parks. He

hit it very hard so there was no chance of it deviating. For all

stuff it is just about possession. They have shown what they can do

with ball in hand. They just need to get their hands on the ball. Well

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Identifying the ball carrier and heating with numbers. Look at that

appetite for work. Getting bumped off initially and then double man

tackle forcing Ulster backwards. Very committed stuff. It just

epitomises, but's -- Connacht's possession. The best way for

Connacht to approach this is to wind the clock down by doing what they

do. They take the sting out of handling errors. About half a dozen,

I reckon. Although the scrum has never been really under serious

pressure. That was a slip. There is a further on the bench, and

Henderson and Marshall, who, when he comes on, will win his 100th Ulster

this evening. Ulster have the quality to unleash off the bench to

give that final momentum for added all-star get the penalty. Eight

Connacht player knocked the ball forward and another touched it. It

might have been Michael Swift. good clear out from Stevenson. But

gave the momentum to all stuff, just piling in, and temptation too much.

It is a tough call sometimes. You see the ball even though it has come

off one of your own players, and the 15-15. A very entertaining game.

Plenty of width to it and plenty of missed tackles. That is what has led

to this entertaining game. Some excellent angles have been taken.

Clever passing. The Connacht forwards have been split evenly on

either side. He has put up straight into touch. That scrum or lineout.

They have the option to take the lineout if they wish. Nick

Williams, who we have seen off the back of that scrum. You can see the

two wings salivating at the prospect of more ball in hand. Plenty of

options. On the Ulster left, Stuart Olding, bow-mac... But it is all

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about these fellows. You have to Good to see Tommy Bowe getting

involved. Went again, excellent work. -- once again. Ulster have now

established field position. Let's see what they can do from that

platform. Good work initially by Connacht. That is when the ball went

wide, and McCartney -- McCarthy was Best. The lineout was affected. Very

patient in the way they said that up. Once that protection was in

place, they were steady on their feet and they started inching their

way forward. Connacht not sacking the player initially and then not

committing enough layers to stop that. Rory Best saw the opportunity,

straight from the back and over. That just gives Ulster some

separation. A much healthier scoreline for them. They don't want

Pienaar. He really caught that one. It looks like being a high-scoring

encounter, both teams with plenty foot and they will have to do the

whole thing again. Good break by excellent break, as we see him

shrugging one-off and trying to get into a position for support.

Excellent work by Dan Touhy. think it might have been the

presence of Nick Williams who knocked a couple of Ulster players

Leinster next year. -- Mike McCarthy. Ulster may well feel that

the kick for goal will be the best option. Peter fits Gibbons sane but

Ulster have decided to have a shot. They head physio is on having a

look at Nick Williams. -- their head. Still a bit of concern about

Williams. He was getting back to full fitness but he had a couple of

minor setbacks. He is always keeping the ball in play. Or start

on making very good decisions as to when to commit numbers. --. Are

making. -- Ulster are making. might be where Nick Williams got

himself twisted. He is up on his feet again, they might want to

bring somebody on but there is not that much time to walk -- to the

and no more. Just dropped a little bit on the short side so it stays

15-22. He shakes his head. That was very close. A decent handful of

Ulster supporters have made this trip to the west of Ireland. It

used to be about three days' camel ride. Now you can do it in a matter

of hours. Well taken by Jared Payne, and he has done well to get away.

The referee said it was knocked forward. Well tackled by Eoin

Griffin on a Dan Touhy. Ulster's penalty right in front of the posts.

Errors, errors, errors. Going long body and offering some extra

protection to the ball. Darren Cave looking very hungry to get ball in

hand and he made a number of telling contributions there. Parks

has not made a lot of ground but if the wind is in Ulster's favour I'm

not sure that seven points is the kind of lead they will relish.

Connacht are showing signs of dying down and Ulster will certainly

relish for that. -- welcome that. McCarthy just weights and then goes

in to protect Kieran Marmion. Just about a minute remaining so there

may be time. Paddy Jackson communicating what he wants offer

this, you imagine he will try to get into the wider channels. He

might get on the boat out wide and see what they can achieve -- Tommy

Bowe. Longwell spoiled by Connacht. That was a line-out that Ulster

simply had to win. -- well as boiled. -- spoiled. I'm sure if

Connacht when this scrummage there were just put it straight into

touch. -- when the scrummage. they will be reasonably

disappointed with some of those missed tackles that led to some of

those Ulster tries but overall they are in a reasonably good position.

Down goes the scrum. A pat on the head there from Mick Kearney, who

is 6 ft 5. I am sure that Kieran Marmion will know exactly what to

do with this, should Connacht win it. And he did exactly what his

team would expect of him and he has put it into touch. The underlying

current seems to be too many errors from Ulster. They have shown they

are up for the defensive aspect of All-star outscoring Connacht by

three tries to two. And the visitors been involved sums it up. Cracking

rugby. Both sides playing with a lot of pace. The viewers are probably

happier than the Ulster back room team, though, because there has been

a high error count. Yes. In some ways they have been the authors of

their own downfall. Whenever they lose concentration they get sloppy

and make individual errors. A rare error by Ruan Pienaar at the start

of the game got Connacht off to the best possible start. Yes, you do not

expect it from him. He makes very few mistakes. Normally he takes the

right options in the right positions. Connacht started the game

pretty well. They got their forwards and that is very good because the

ball is going to hold up to the challenge. It looks like there are a

few forwards they're not expecting it. After an initial great take by

Andrew... Well taken by Mike McCarthy. It is a simple counter

across. Simple Connacht play. They have worked hard. Dan Parks has hit

the ball. They have seen a lot of airtime. A rare moment of

indecision. It is a bit like with Saracens as well, they play to your

mistakes. There was a very good pass as well. He just held it a little

bit and fielded it over the head. Fair to Ulster. They responded in

emphatic style. Some nice, intricate build-up play as well. It was really

Darren Cave that makes that score. He puts pace on the ball first of

all. The left-hand pass to Andrew. Great support life. A simple try.

That is perfect rugby, that? Yes, it is support play. Darren Cave

provided a lovely skip past and he's back in the action again. He ran the

inside line and then held -- Olding there again. PML, we talked about

the mistake he made at the start of the game but since then he has

bounced back. -- Ruan Pienaar. fantastic bit of play here . From

this, again, Tommy Bowe picks up the loose bits and pieces, drives in,

and again we just assess the options. Ball on, transfer wide.

Yellow word -- that is world-class. And it is good. Players understand

each other. Trimble knew that Ruan Pienaar had the ability to do that.

Pure class from Ruan Pienaar and following it up as well. We talked a

lot before the game that Ulster were going to have to try to get their

fingers into the game tonight. And they have done that successfully.

They have gone looking for it. That is in TUC from Andrew Trimble. --

that is something you see from Andrew Trimble. He will be the first

to put his hands up. He has gone looking for the ball. He has been

very impressive with the ball in hand. He's so strong as well.

in this try the problems start from the inside. You can see that there,

far too tight. That in turn puts pressure on Darren Cave. Trimble

just makes one of those decisions, which he does a lot, and quite often

they come off. On that instance it didn't. It was a great finish and

certainly Connacht getting back into the game very quickly. All four

wingers were very impressive. mentioned earlier about wingers

going looking for the ball. You do not normally expect that of wingers

but they are big, strong boys and they see the opportunity. We have

already seen the importance of when there is a turnover. The speed of

your response. And that is the key to Ulster's third school.

Absolutely. We contested well at the breakdown. Tommy Bowe's real first

groups of open space this afternoon. Click into touch which is shepherded

away but then from the lineout. Our set pieces have struggled the last

couple of weeks. This is classic. Comfortable throw, beautifully set

up. Ruan Pienaar joins the back of the ruck. But it all came from that

initial turnover, and the speed of thought there to try to get Tommy

down into the action quickly. Exactly right. If it wasn't for that

breakdown, if that had not happened, there would never have been a try.

, would have had easy possession. So it is down to read's try. -- it is

down Tuohy's try. Let's hear a bit more from Stuart Olding on the

scoresheet tonight. At the start of the season his name would not have

been one many would have put on the Ulster team sheet but the

20-year-old has made quite an impact and he has now scored four tries in

the last six games including a man COMMENTATOR: Ryan Golding does

brilliantly. We said we would get five point against the Dragons and

everyone is very happy with that. It is always nice to get a man of the

match. Have you found blending in with some of the guys you watched

growing up? It was quite strange at first. But it is pretty special.

Tommy Tait Mack Stuart Olding. Hopefully they are getting more

comfortable lead playing with them. He has grasped the nettle and stood

up and been outstanding. The energy that he brings and the excitement.

It really gives us all a real boost to see a young player taking his

chances. The first try for all stuck -- my first right for all-star was a

way to Glasgow and that was very special. -- my first try wrote for

Ulster was against Vasco and it was clean break. He's going all the

way! Is there no end to these first half? Fairly nerve wracking

for myself sitting there with the rest of the Ulster support.

played here for two years. What is going to be said in the dressing

room for Eric Elwood's last match? Play the corners, keep the pressure

on and pick up your points. What is the approach from the all stuck in

the second half? -- from Ulster. Hopefully we can score a future eyes

as wide and get the win. probably can't hear me. There is a

massive noise here, a massive atmosphere. You think it is a case

of Ulster having to use the bench? Yes. They will be on at some stage.

there who has had another game that was good this evening. He is just

two years out of school and has ten Ulster caps under his belt. He's

very assured, has lovely balance, which is always good to see in a

player. What is nice about his left foot step is he does not lose pace

with it. He continues with it and that takes him through the defensive

line. Ulster have some serious talent at inside centre now. Do you

expect Ulster macro to claim this game quickly? Certainly I would say

it is theirs to lose. Thank you very much in deed and let's hope for

another thrilling 40 minutes in this second half. Back to our commentary

get into the scoreboard this week. The wind is still blowing very much

doubt the pitch towards Galway Bay. All stuck again take the option of

the scrummage. -- Ulster. Ulster fought on the far side about taking

the quick lineout. Jarrow Hain decided to drive the quick lineout

option that Rory Best, the skipper, had already told the referee that

the scrum option was his preferred option. No sign of any change,

especially on the Ulster side, and no changes on the Connacht side.

There have been two tries wrote for the home side and three for the

visitors. Interesting to see if they play the double bluff on this one.

The referee has penalised them. Good refereeing. I am pretty sure that

Ulster will still go for the their armoury, they have shown. A

number of clean breaks. They have converted them as well. It becomes

about possession and they should have plenty of that in the second

play and Connacht squeeze them into touch. Frustrating for coaches when

the ball goes into the touch-line Williams. Smith -- good work by the

Finance BI Team on the charge. -- by Ulster on the charge. They need

points, given that Connacht have the wind. I think Lewis Stevenson

took a bash to the head. He was pushed back and his neck was a

jarred a bit. I don't think he knows what day it is. I think they

might have to take him off. Yes, the doctor is saying, we need to

make a change. He is like a boxer who has taken a heavy thump and he

is disorientated so, I'm pretty sure that Johann Muller will be

coming on. He has probably featuring a bit earlier than

anticipated but he will certainly add something. Off goes the

unfortunate Lewis Stevenson and on comes Johann Muller. He has

captained the side on 47 occasions to date. Lewis Stevenson does not

look too bad but every safety precaution has been taken. A rueful

smile from the big fellow. Robbie Diack has played 13 of the last 14

games, he has started 13. That was a shambles by Ulster, really not

satisfactory at all. They will be disappointed to have surrendered

that position. That is the luxury of having the wind at your back, if

Connacht can get their foot to the ball it will go a long way. They

will be looking for Dan Parks to kick deep into the corners and

has gone very high and he has been Connacht get the put-in to the

scrum. McCarthy sensing the opportunity, holding the ball up

and Andrew Trimble's frustration, trying to use his feet to clear

that possession false do. -- for Ulster. Ricky Lutton is going off

and comes on John Afoa. That is where Ulster lost position. John a

floor has a very fine new haircut. He is looking very streamline. --

and John Afoa. Free kick against Ulster Furley engagement, very

silly. -- for early engagement. Ulster had a great position, they

have conceded position and so little. Connacht have an aunt --

a replacement on, number 22, Miah Nikora. At Kieran Marmion has a

break. Connacht have an extra man Connacht staff, down the hill, the

wind behind them. Penalty against Ulster. Referee still playing

advantage. Miah Nikora for the drop at goal and he has misted but the

penalty will stand. -- he has missed it. If body-language changes,

the other side will get a whiff of it. We said just before the

interval that seven points might not be enough. The wind is not

blowing a gale it normally is but it is distinctly in Connacht's

favour and they will look to capitalise early. They are well

used to turning it around, coming with the breeze at their backs.

There will be an increase in physicality. The breakdown is the

area they have profited from in terms of turnover. His left foot

puts it right between the posts and it is looking rather ominous for

Ulster, not for the first time. We have played 8 minutes in the second

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half. Connacht will be looking for is hurt. Taking a heavy tackle as

he tried to slip that ball on to the inside. Excellent work by

Fetu'u Vainikolo, spotting that opportunity. Adjudicated forward by

the referee. Dan Parks has been replaced by near -- by Miah Nikora.

He was got in the ribs, I think. He took a fair rolled thump from fair

to Vainikolo, but I think he is fine. -- old thump. Only four

points between them. A lot of rugby left to be played in this game and

we hope it is as entertaining as the first half. You think that the

team that can assert themselves at breakdowns... The referee will want

things in terms of the top two finish. Connacht take it on the

initially conceding territory in a dodgy scrum. And they get the

offences since he came on and next time I think it will be a yellow

card, so the haircut is not doing him too much good! A great kick by

Miah Nikora and Ah You in a very good position. -- Connacht in a

very good position. The crowd starts to surge behind you, the

players get that belief and they get into a fever where they are

difficult to stop. The break down, you sense, will be key in

determining the outcome. Connacht's line-out a bit untidy and stolen by

Ulster. A good clearance by Pienaar. Ulster are still inside their first

-- their own half. First-half tries by Rory Best, Andrew Trimble and

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then at the end it's just not there. Was that an early tackle again do

you think? It is the run by Payne that set up the break and Ulster

can play with that. It is difficult to see off camera whether that was

a grab before he received the ball. I thought that Pienaar was slightly

impeded there were and he took that pass. Payne missed five games in a

row. Peter Fitzgibbon seems to be enjoying himself. Etienne Reynecke,

the 31 South African, is set to come on. That is a penalty. The

referee must have seen that. That has probably saved Dee a try. --

Connacht a try. Adrian Flavin, who has played his last game as a

professional in this Jersey, is replaced by Reynecke. 15 minutes

played in the second half. The only score was a penalty for Connacht by

Miah Nikora. Good squeeze by Ulster. Tom Court penalised for coming in

at an angle. That happened in the first scrum of the game and he has

done it again. Very unusual for a team in command of the scrums to

give away a penalty. They are in a defensive position and a penalty

goes against them. -- defensive position. -- offensive. Another

replacement for Connacht. Ben Wilkinson is going off. -- Brett

Wilkinson. I think it might be trying to bring the player to the

ground. When two men get in there and create a good body position they

create that sandwich. You cannot help but admire Connacht's

application when coming up against teams stacked with inspiration.

There is the old finger test to see if there is anything wrong, and Rory

Best seems to have passed that finger test. There is Pat Lam, the

new coach. There is less case, the man who is going to lead Ireland to

north America in a couple of -- Racine. -- wrote Ulster seem in

Ah You. I think the referee possession map -- I think the

referee's attention was called to that. The strength of the wind there

is fairly clear because Pienaar has not made a good deal of ground. We

come to the third quarter of the game and Ulster lead by only four

points. They need a fume or insurance points. That was pretty

awful. Pienaar managed to get it away, only as far as Trimble, way

this game turning in Connacht's momentum, Brian? The more this

happens, the more confidence they start to play with. Establishing

some field is issued for Connacht. Ulster are going to make a change.

Henderson has gone off, Nick Williams has gone on. Diack will go

winning the collisions, much better at the breakdown. We have seen that

choke tackle used by both teams now to bury good effect. It is a very

potent weapon. Ireland have used it and that is starting to filter down

to these provinces. A sizeable and always bossy for as Ulster

contingent trying to get it high into. -- sizeable and always bossy

McCarney has gone off the field. And Andrew Browne, number 19, has gone

They gain, Miah Nikora suffering. No, he was not given much

protection. He was forced into a brush kit. They, not afford to give

cheap session back to Ulster, and Ulster have shown over the course of

his game that with enough quality possession they will make clean line

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It may well be held up. They will have to go upstairs to the Tiempo.

-- T M O. It is not any reason why they cannot award the try. It is

down to Seamus Flannery. It is all about whether Payne did make contact

with the ground or whether it was held up. It certainly looks like

Poolman has got between the ball and the ground on the initial contact.

Whether he has managed to hold it up after that will be decided. If it is

held up it is going to be a five metre scrum and they will not

complain against that. No, it will not be the worst result for Ulster.

They are still checking. Is this going to be the angle? There is the

ball and does that get down? It is held up on a forearm. I do not think

that has made contact with the turf. Somebody's forearm is beneath that.

I think it is the Connacht player 'ss forearm, Poolman's forearm. So

metre scrum. -- holster macro have -- no try, but Ulster have the five

metre scrum. Night has fallen in the West of Ireland. Ulster really need

to get something from this if the light of silverware is going to keep

Arguably the most important scrum of passage of play but even bolster can

manage seven points they will feel a lot more comfortable. -- if Ulster

Ulster, I am sure, we'll go for the scrum again. Absolutely. Trying to

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penalty. And Ulster will take another scrum. No prizes for that

one. When you have that much dominant and you have had two

penalties preceding this decision, there is absolutely no doubt what

Ulster are trying to achieve. they have to do is make sure they do

not engage early, and then get the squeeze on, and then the penalty try

may just come. But let's not take anything for granted. Rory Best get

a grip of his best international said the scrum was up, and Ulster

will do it again. The fifth macro time. Ulster it would have been

disaster for Ulster if the game had continued and the ball was out.

all the time the clock is ticking. 12 minutes remaining. Four points

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scrum. Have Ulster blown their chance? They are still on the right

part of the pitch, four points up going into the last few minutes of

this game. Would you rule out a breakaway try? Not the way this

game is going. Connacht getting the last push at the end to. Connacht's

defence in the second half has been terrific. Making a replacement, the

scrum-half has gone off. Paul O'Donohoe is the man who has come

on. What a good game Kieran Marmion has played, he has started every

single league game this season. If Ulster ever need to put the squeeze

on the opposition front row, it is now. Early engagement by a Ulster.

That has given the free kick to Connacht. They will probably really

Willie it down the middle of the park. That is a good kick. Ulster

on the back foot. Good positional Bowe. He may well have won it for

Ulster, and with a bonus point. Henderson took off the side line

but had the presence there of mind to see that the defence had over

committed. He nearly stumbled, managed to stay and then it was a

very clever offload out of the back of a hand. A deadly finish and

Ulster will be very happy that this game looks beyond doubt. Great

things will happen to Henderson, great things have happened to Tommy

Bowe. That was a heck of a combination, B pace, the offload

and the poacher's finish. -- that Beautiful kick. Is it safe for

Ulster? Eight minutes remaining. What a run by Henderson and Tommy

Bowe came from nowhere to finish it off. They had too much on the bench,

one of those substitutes, in to dead. -- Miah Nikora has left

five for Ulster. This is certainly going to win it for the league

leaders. Connacht tiring, Ulster's bench as strong. Scrappy kicking in

the interchange and the ball bounced fortuitously, Rob Herring

doing very well. Too much pace, he goes all the way. Jared Payne was

in the perfect position to support and the perfect position to finish.

He had to run a lot further than Tommy Bowe but those five points

are just as good as Tommy's. Jared Payne's 6th League drive. -- try.

Last season he only played less than a handful of games. At 22-18

for most of the second half, this game was in the balance but it has

very definitely swung in the balance of Ulster. Pienaar has not

made good the conversion but in the long run it is not going to matter.

The game is really secure now, those late scores have really sewn

it up. Not many teams have ever beat Connacht down here but it is

the quality you can bring off the bench, and that has been the

defining factor here. A bit of Ulster robbery history about to be

made. Paul Marshall is going to come on the field and when his

100th Ulster cap. -- win. Jared Payne is going off and Peter Nelson

is coming on. Congratulations to not too dangerous. The referee is

playing the advantage to Connacht. Mata Fifita has come on for

Connacht. Good tackle by Ulster's line-out, less than four minutes

remaining. They would not have liked to be out of the European

competition but it does give them a break, they have Cardiff at home.

Mike Allen coming on for Ulster. Tommy Bowe is going off. Not a bad

return to Ulster Rob very -- rugby since he came back from injury.

will be a nervous 10 days for a lot of players, seeing if they make the

plane to Australia. It looks like Tommy Boyle will get three and a

bit more minutes to press his claim for that, because it looks like he

is not leaving the field. -- Tommy Bowe. The referee is playing the

advantage. Advantage is over. Jackson gave that plenty of air.

of the park there by Connacht. Reynecke, who likes to run wide.

Connacht still driving forward, Ulster have got themselves offside.

Three minutes remaining. Connacht trying to give Eric Elwood and

evening to remember. -- and evening. They are not a team that give up,

they are playing to the final whistle. They are trying to erode

the margin to give added respectability to their efforts.

Ulster a little warning about stepping across the imaginary line

played more games for Connacht than anybody. Ulster are digging in,

they don't want their line crossed for a third time. They may not have

any choice, the ball has gone loose. has had another impressive, solid

game for Ulster. Connacht swarming forward like a pile of angry bees.

Ulster hanging on to them, into the last minute of the game. I think

even the losing bonus point is beyond them but a try would give

them a great sending off. And Paul Marshall on the occasion of his

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into it with gusto as always. -- Robbie Diack. I think a punch may

have been thrown somewhere there. It has all been played in pretty good

spirit thus far. The referee has seen it all before. He is not the

first to a bit of how is your father. Fifita is going to be

penalised. Danger is joining of the to do is make a dead, and he does,

and Ulster have survived for 25 minutes of trepidation in the second

half, having been 22-18 up and looking a bit iffy, they have come

back with style and when this game with a 5-point bonus when, top of

was an excellent entertaining Friday night game of rugby. Certainly value

for money. Seven tries and an Ulster bonus point win five in the first

half, three for Connacht. Ulster huffed and puffed and eventually the

Connacht defence creaked and Ulster breathed a sigh of relief, two

second-half scores and they are top of the PRO12 and looking very good

of the PRO12 and looking very good now for a home semi-final. Not quite

guaranteed yet because Glasgow have also won. They still need to win

their final home game to make sure precarious. But Ulster close the

game very well. You just felt almost the game was slipping away from

Ulster. We saw them quite early on introducing Johann Muller, which was

to be expected as well. Once he and the other substitute came on, a

degree of experience, but they had to absorb and play a lot of, its

player early on. One of the players certainly came on and made a real

impact and that was Henderson, who set up that great Tommy Bowe try.

goes from strength to strength. He has an amazing ability to always

beat the first tackler. Henderson looks like he stumbles a little bit

but he regained himself and it is a good turn of pace, but it is the

offload on Tommy Bowe. Someone of Tommy Bowe's pace and strength.

There has obviously been good communication there as well.

pass was superb but the one thing that has impressed me the season

about Iain Henderson, his ability to go forward. He only knows one way

every time he gets the ball. does, and he gets five yards further

than he should really have. It is bizarre how he manages to do it but

his ability to fly at and not just died with the ball. Quite a lot in

the second half, players were dying with the ball or being held up in

the choke tackle situation so he showed a lot of lovely strength.

Jared Payne scored one, probably should have scored two? The first

one was an interesting one. And Ulster tagging from right to left.

Henderson again rubbing a tackle. A reasonably quick tackle. Jarod has

the option here to give the past. I think you have to credit Poolman in

the right wing. He just does enough initially. If they had looked at the

footage for a little longer it would have been interesting. They stopped

quite early. It is not a wonderful kick there, and herring as well. --

Herring does well. We talked about their invention and Payne read that

very early. It is just the change in that pace. Herring takes the ball

and everyone is able it flat-footed and then just from nowhere he hits

it. That is experience. Tommy ran the Trail mine beautifully. -- the

line beautifully. Let's oink our reporter and hear from one of the

try scorers. You are the first player to score 50

tries but I imagined you probably happier with the result tonight?

suppose that is nice. But I think more so the great victory down here

in Connacht. It is a difficult place to come. I hope we say stop -- stay

top of the table. I did not really think I was going to get it. What

was your assessment of the game? It was great from the fans' point of

view. There were plenty of good tries in it will stop we felt it was

a tough match up front. When we held on to the ball and we went through a

fee paces, we held it. We can look forward. There were some nervous

moments at 18-22. I was hoping to get the ball so unfortunately it did

not come, but there were a few moments where it could have gone

either way and Connacht had us under pressure. How much of that can you

take out to Cardiff? A massive amount. We really upped our

performance last week against the Dragons and we did it again today.

To stay top of the league, to get a home semi-final, is very important

to us. As Tommy Bowe quite rightly said

there, a lot of credit to Connacht tonight who really played their part

in a gripping performance. And I think the forwards will come of

battered and bruised. I think Connacht had the better of them. It

was the breakdown area but also been held up in the tackle, the choke

tackle that we talked about. The difference between the two was

Ulster had indeed -- held up and running into hard. Even defensively,

everyone else to people in but whenever, carried the ball they were

happy to keep the momentum and able to regenerate the ball. Ulster work

carrying the ball too high. What did you make of the cynical took on the

shirt of Ruan Pienaar? -- what did you make of the cynical talk on the

shirt? There were two angles. Where is the referee? There is a different

angle that we see later on. He falls and was completely unblinded.

great of Tommy Bowe to get the early momentum. You can see room Pienaar

almost looking to extend this. They probably should have had the

composure to go on and finish it off. Hard to home him for that.

Perhaps if the referee had not seen it. -- hard to blame him for that.

There were several bodies in the way. An excellent win for Ulster

tonight. They scored some fabulous tries but I suppose the coaching

staff are always going to go away and try to pinpoint what did not go

right and there were some Ulster Everest is evening which they will

not have been happy with. Especially scrum a couple of times. This is

again an instance of a contact situation, going in leading with the

ball. All stat have not been able to hit it to generate the ball that has

been turned over. Exactly what they needed. On occasions, you needed

layers to come in and secure that ball and too often, April pass and

they get back and regain it but the end losing it again. -- again, April

to give Connacht a lot of praise for that. They competed very well in

that area. In some of the games Ulster have lost in this season

Ulster have got themselves in a similar position and not gone on to

win the game, so they will be pleased tonight. Half an hour into

the second half, there was not an awful lot of positive to talk about

with Ulster but all of sudden, you last ten minutes were sublime, and

that is what they are capable of giving. That is why they are top of

the season. -- of the table. Let's talk about what Ulster have to do

now to secure their semi-final. They What is your take on that? Quite

simple, they want to win next week. I think they almost forget about the

table, to be honest. Almost forget the permutations. Home advantage,

and the Blues, they are a little bit blue. They are not on form. I

suspect that may be enough. It is probably highly likely Ulster will

get a home semi-final and I imagine at this stage of the season, after

they led for so long, they would be massively disappointed if not.

think there has been payback on the back of the Saracens performance as

well. I think the boys have been feeling down on the performance they

gave. And nearly almost giving it away, coming back strongly again.

Ulster seem to be heeding a bit of form again. -- heating. They are

starting to play some entertaining rugby again. Gavin again, pitch

side. These man of the match awards are

like buses, two coming along at once. The weather was not too good,

very rainy and windy. But it has been sunny today. They gave this a

scare within 20 minutes or so, but all credit to our prize as well. We

did not let them in in the end. physical as well? Yes, I took a shot

in the reads. -- in the ribs. will that do for you but the end of

the season? The five points is exactly what we set out to achieve.

Climax thank you. If you tuned in late this evening,

you missed a cracking match. Four end stuff. It was a question of

drawing the men onto the support lines. Very impressive. You think

about the galaxy that Ulster have. Paddy Wallace, Marshall, a sublime

bit of play here. Two men. They are still about to do their finish and

he takes it with aplomb. And this is obviously from good build-up play.

Good turnover and kick and chase to get the field position. And this was

an area, probably, that Ulster did not excel in as much as they would

Again, fitness, everybody is basically there. They are missing

him Paddy Wallace but the likes of Stuart Olding and Henderson are

putting their name up in Stars. fiercely the supporters will be

disappointed because they would have loved to have seen a final

there. -- obviously. If they can do it twice in one season it will be

impressive. Ulster seemed to be coming good again and playing

really nice rugby. Thank you both very much for your company. One