Connacht v Ulster Ulster Rugby Live

STUDIO: After back-to-back European success, return to the Pro12 for

Ulster, Boxing Day battle against Connacht. A rejuvenated side this

season, unbeaten at home. The last two meetings between the sides have

been very close. COMMENTATOR: What a score. This time last year, Ulster

edged a narrow win. It is an Irish Derby in the West from the sports

ground, in Galway, and it is all live here, on BBC Two. Welcome to

Ulster Rugby live on this bitterly cold boxing night, get your feet up,

settle in for Round 10 of the Guinness Pro12, in the company of

former Allston and Ireland players. -- former Ulster and Ireland

players. You have both played in these festive derbies, what makes

them special? Not necessarily the fact it is a festive Derby, the fact

it is a derby, end of, so it is an exciting time, very difficult to

play around the Christmas New Year period, people like to, just because

they are professional sports people, does not make them immune to the

festivities! It is a difficult one to get your head around, it can make

a potential banana skin. Looking at the table, Llanelli Scarlets our top

despite losing to the Ospreys by a point today, but I suppose that it

is not often we see Connacht above Ulster at this stage of the season,

it is all change. Due to the fact that Connacht have been probably the

one province that have been less affected by the World Cup. They did

what they have to do, they won a lot of games in the early part of the

season and they have had a great run of form. Ulster, fortunately, have

been able to turn their form around in the last few weeks, a couple of

great wins against the loose rugby, they will want to maintain that

momentum going into the New Year. A lot of the internationals left out,

but they are fielding a strong 18 as possible, they have only won once on

the road in their last seven games of the Pro12 but what will that away

win against a loose rugby have done? -- as strongly team as possible. I'm

looking forward to seeing them get back into domestic competition to

see what that has produced physically and mentally, it is

something, success breeds success, I'm looking forward to it, it was a

big scalp to go to to lose and bring it down. I'm really looking forward

to it. -- bring it to to loose rugby. -- Toulouse. What kind of

confidence is there around the squad, given what has happened? It

is not guarantee as anything in the next game, it is about hard work and

smart work, allowing us to play the kind of job that we like to. That

will be difficult against Connacht, it is going to be tough. Are they a

different prospect down here? They have not been beating here yet this

year, they will be keen to keep it that way. They are a good team

around the park, battling at the breakdown. We will see what the

referee allows and does not, both teams will have to adapt, it will be

interesting and it will be physical. What will Ulster bring today? Some

composure, as we have done to recent games, we want to play a style of

game that the guys love, but we know it does not just come to you. I hope

that we get the basics well together. I hope that we can support

each other well, and play like a team, if we do that, the individuals

that have been shining will get a chance to shine. That is what we

will be after. Winning breeds confidence, how clean will he be

that Ulster keep up the good meant? As Andy has said, it is a difficult

period, over the festive period, to produce your best rugby, but good

management and leadership can help that. No better man than less, at

the helm, to really preach the basics, work on the breakdown, the

set piece, and build a solid foundation for the defence, which

they have done in the last few games. If they can maintain that

level of accuracy, then they have every chance of breaking Connacht's

stronghold. Sounds like he's expecting it to be very tasty, Les

Kiss local derby always fires up passion in the boys. Connacht have

done brilliantly, have not lost at home in any competition this season,

Ulster are going to have to pull up their socks, and go one step further

than they have achieved in the last couple of weeks to come away from

here with a scalp. Is it about every week trying to pitch the level of

performance the way that they did in the games against Toulouse, and do

that on a regular basis? The last thing you want to do is have such a

high, and then bring it down, just because perhaps the level of

competition is lower, and not as glamorous. That is when the leaders

come in, the coaching staff, those that can propel up the performance,

to maintain that level. They have shown what they can do against

Toulouse, in the last two rounds of the European cup, so there is no

reason why they cannot repeat that. They will be disappointed if the

level of performance drops. After two big games, it is about getting

the mental attitude right. It really is, without doubt, it is a physical

game, and today, this is what it is going to take, if you are right

upstairs, you will be good on the pitch. Connacht's only victory in

the last 18 fixtures with Ulster, back in 2012, most people expecting

this one to be close. Time to join the commentary team. Good evening,

happy Christmas! COMMENTATOR: Condiments of the season from the

city of the tribe, delighted to say, despite the awful rain, things are

fine here, no rain worth talking about for the last couple of hours.

Should be a pretty decent evening for running rugby, that is the

watchword for Ulster, for the last couple of games. Usually important

for both. In terms of qualification for Europe next year.

I can tell you that Ulster have made four changes. From the game last

week, Williams starting in the back row, and Rory Scholes coming onto

the wing, among them. STUDIO: We are having a few technical problems,

with the cameras at the sports ground at the moment, the teams on

their way out, and we have lost cameras for the moment, but let's

hope that we can restore things in the next couple of minutes. So that

you will not miss a thing. We are expecting this game to be a close

one! Pretty much, the part that I like a lot, the Ulster centres at

the minute, the partnership has been going week in, week out, getting

stronger and stronger, as a group, they seem to be working a whole rot

Better Together, Paddy Jackson has come into form, so the right guys

are doing the right things. Thank goodness, he are the pictures! We

have not missed a thing. Back to the commentary team.

COMMENTATOR: The referee, from monster, Fitzgibbon, refereeing his

65th Pro12 game. He has been a referee since 2009. -- macro

monster. -- Munster. Andrew Trimble, taking it forward, pain are finding

his fellow South African. Cap many times for the Springboks, Pienaar.

-- Pienaar. Paddy Jackson, which on it, that is what they have been

doing all season. Roll on the first tackle, into touch. I'm delighted to

say, back from Biarritz, O'Sullivan,,

-- back from Biarritz, Eddie O'Sullivan, a great day for rugby.

CO-COMMENTATOR: Full house at the sports ground, looking forward to a

good game. Always intimidating, new is gone by, coming year, the old

days of the old Winter pros, you thought that you would pick up the

points but that has long disappeared into the mists of the West of

Ireland. Hard days work here to get a result, let me tell you. First

line-out. Well taken at the back. The redoubtable skipper, John

Muldoon, playing his 201st league game, more league games than anyone

else in the competition. That is why Connacht have had such a great

season. The young openside flanker, George Connelly, taking it away,

chip into space, well covered and gathered. Nice drinking kick. --

dink. First penalty of the chilly evening for the home side. Did well.

Had the momentum, Andrew Trimble did his best but I think the numbers

were against them. This is an opportunity. Trimble may have had a

case for thinking there was a player blocking him from doing the clearing

out. Aiming for the post, they have gone for the line-out.

Played nine, won five, lost four, and second in the table, winning

seven, losing only two. The Ospreys have beaten Llanelli Scarlets. Does

not change the position in the table. This is a terrific drive by

the men in green. Ulster's down, Robbie Diack getting into the way.

Jack Carty, running himself. Great stuff. What a start this would be

for Connacht if they could squeeze it over for a try. One of 12

personnel changes from last week's lost Newcastle Falcons. Maybe that

should have been given by Craig Robinson. -- Craig Donaldson. It of

support, good defence yet again by Ulster. Standing them in good stead,

two European games against Toulouse, kicking his heels a little bit. The

referee seemed to have the hand-out, playing advantage. Oh, putting in

the tackle for Ulster, huge amount of pressure. Alan Masterson, moving

from the flank to number eight for this game. -- Eoghan Masterson.

Nicely presented. My work, they have been transformed under Pat Lam.

Little kick, where is that going to go? Not backwards, dead ball area,

it's given going back to the penalty. Yes, they knew that was a

freebie, they ran out of steam. Interesting seeing this. The last

maul was pretty impressive, brambles well up the field. You have got to

wonder if it crossed their minds. They may go to the maul. Still being

discussed. They are going to go into the corner. In somewhere between

where you got the ball and the corner flag. What some raw from the

crowd. Capacity crowd. Six hours and here. They have shortened the

line-out, at the back. Tight head prop, Nathan white. Part of the

Irish World Cup squad. David Heffernan, 24-year-old, to throw.

Well taken. Here they go, it has worked well, Ulster have got to be

very careful, it has gone to ground, legally so. Off-loaded to the

skipper, Muldoon, well held up by Stuart McCloskey. Nice presentation.

Men over on the far side. Ulster relieve the pressure again.

Luke Marshall... Straight into the hands of O'Halloran, he will run.

Marshall makes the tackle. Chance of an overlap, this is Connelly, high

tackle by Rob Herring. Nicely taken on by Matt Healy, loads of face.

What a great start. Ronaldson. Ulster up quickly.

Ronaldson, scrum-half. Aly Muldowney... Having to check a

little bit. The man on his left overran him.

Chance gone. Yes, they blew it, well worked opportunity but Ulster

defended the first maul brilliantly, shifting its... Head of steam up.

They work really hard. Winning the turnover, loose kick by Marshall.

Almost scored, roaring back. Twice at both corners they had them

stretched. A couple of high tackles. Play on, O'Halloran got it away.

Eoghan Masterson will not like looking at that again, the young

fellow. Ulster get their first put into the scrum.

The atmosphere is really boiling, the average weight of Connacht

tackle is 18 stone, Ulster, half a stone lighter, unusual that they

come up against a side with such a superiority. Peter Fitzgibbon played

his club rugby in Limerick. He is a referee development manager with the

RFU now. In successive European weeks,

Pienaar has won the man of the match award. Nick Williams gets it away.

McCloskey... Tries to step, outside Connelly, making good ground.

A lot of adventure in Ulster's play. Tackled into touch. Connacht get the

line-out. Ulster trying to run the ball. Felt like I was going against

the tide sometimes these days, got loose, could have been a pass, you

would think that Ulster would steady the ship, given a lot of momentum,

ball in hand, maybe it is better to put the ball into the bleachers,

start with the line-up, build the defence yet again. -- line-out.

Taken up the front by John Muldoon. Connelly has the ball tucked in,

steps all too easily inside Andrew Warwick. Tight forwards must make

their tackles. Making a good run. Clever kick and a

nasty hanging tantalising effort. Into touch. Did it come off

Connacht? It is in Ulster line-out. Take that, get them into their own

half, they have been under the palm for the first nine and a half

minutes, dealing well but it is time for Ulster to steady the ship and

spend some time in Connacht territory. 25-year-old from Nigeria,

Niyi Adeolokun, spent five years studying at Dublin University,

University College Dublin, as we used to call it. Rob Herring,

captain for the ninth time. Good pressure, sloppy line-out work.

Pienaar is outside his 22. Connacht straying offside. They have just

about the right amount of weight on that.

Ulster putting in... My whole host of tackles... Good break by the

24-year-old prop, born in Canberra, and for the first time Ulster find

themselves outside the ten metre line. Ulster need to take care of

the kick. A bit narrow on the kick chase, and you could see Connacht

loading it up on the outside channel. If it went wider, a few

more problems. Having a word with Ruan Pienaar. Pat Lam, seems to be

working... What a wonderful player he was, he captained Samoa back in

1996, when they beat Ireland at the old Lansdowne Road.

Good piece of positioning plate. There comes Ruan Pienaar. Moving it

wide. Well tackled. Complaining about something, Jackson, moving it

wide, Robbie Diack took it in. Ulster's good defending matched by

Connacht. Setting up well from the scrum, the attack on the left flank,

and then Ulster went wide again, from touchline to touchline. Very

comfortable again and winning the turnover, putting the player into

touch, they have got to be sensible around the outside channels. It is a

turnover. They had been operating well. They do not want to give them

these opportunities. The throw is picked up. Despite the attentions of

Muldoon, Robbie Diack has made it available. Nick Williams is Cardiff

bound at the end of the season. Ulster into the Connacht half. Or at

least the ball is. Trying to hold him up, it has come away. Taken

whereby Bundee Aki -- taken away by Bundee Aki. Making ground. Nathan

White battling on the breakdown. McCloskey trying to get through. The

referee seemed to be happy with that.

Rob Herring, Ulster captain. Connacht trying to stretch wide,

really getting across... Nicely done... Good work down the far

touchline. Great work by Ruan Pienaar. The ball is out on the

Connacht side. First penalty of the evening,

Ulster, 14 minutes gone. Good work, but they seem to get caught narrow.

Connacht have spotted that. Having to work hard to contain Connacht but

when they get there, good job, but that has been a good first 15

minutes for Ulster, defending in their own half, without the ball

most of the time, if they can get a score, after all the work Connacht

have put in, would be good. Must be the only game in the world where you

can have a good 15 minutes without the ball! I have had to work hard,

lucky to hang in there, you cannot fall them for effort, but I would

like to see the defence wider, giving them more work to do. A

chance here to make a statement, first option to attack the ball.

Inside the Connacht half for the first time, now inside the 22 for

the first time, Ruan Pienaar takes it nicely, bit of a loopy pass, well

set up. Ruan Pienaar. Robbie Diack has had a couple of very good

weakens of European rugby behind him.

Franco van der Merwe, he has had another couple of good games in

Europe. Pienaar looking to change direction. Luke Marshall. We bit of

adventure from Ulster. Ruan Pienaar again, slip past, making a decent

run. Connacht may have turned that one

over, they have the penalty anyway. Very good work at the breakdown.

Guess who, John Muldoon. Great work. You saw them, the inside pass,

reminiscent of the winning try in Toulouse, but Connacht have their

homework. -- have done their homework. Showing ambition but not

really troubles, good shape in defence, and eventually, winning the

turnover. Sneaking in ahead of the pair of

them. Still inside the first quarter. Winning only once in the

last 18 games, way back in April. Heffernan. Getting across the ten

metre line. Kieran Marmion. Nice kick. Great kick. Kicking out in the

area. A bit naughty. Tempers beginning to get up, Paddy Jackson

the arbiter there. Saying, putting the camera down...

OK, we will have a look. The referee wants to have a look at the big

screen, he has asked Jude Quinn, the TMR, to have a look, landed on his

backside... Had it been on his neck or shoulder, that would have been a

yellow card, I think it is going to be a penalty. He was lucky. Very

lucky. Never going to get the ball, and he dived in. He has landed on

his back. It is a timing issue. Rather than intentional? Yes. Going

for a penalty, this time. Fair enough. You must go to the ball if

you are going up in the air, better judgment next time. Pretty reckless.

Andrew Trimble landed on his back, or his backside, as opposed to his

head or neck, there was no intent, according to the officials, Ulster

will be mightily relieved to get the penalty. 17 minutes played.

Paddy Jackson playing his seventh consecutive game of the season, with

Ruan Pienaar, Andrew Trimble, playing his 199th game for Ulster,

game number 200 against Munster, next week. The referee asking them

to do that again. INAUDIBLE maintain the gap at all times.

Putting his hand into the space, which is not allowed to do, before

the ball is thrown. Just as well. Connacht came thundering through but

not that one on. Robbie Diack at scrum-half. Ten metre line.

Going back for the original knock-on. Making a nuisance of

themselves. Uncomfortable is the best word for it. They have won the

ball but it has not been the best delivery, that is a pity, very

difficult to build a cohesive attack on the line-out, when it studies

like that. Good scrum opportunity. Alan O'Connor... Down in the second

row... With Franco van der Merwe, for the third game in a row.

Replacement against Edinburgh for the injured Dan Tilley, he will be

out for some time. -- Dan Tuohy. They have themselves a penalty at

scrum time and they will be delighted with that. Craig Ronaldson

runs in and gives his front row a pat on the back. Not sure what it

was for... Up against the Hon Hoechst -- up against Wiehahn

Herbst. This is another look at it, in it goes. That looks all right, on

this side. Unless Ulster were deliberately trying to pull it

around, or coming out of the scrum. Very unusual to have a penalty for a

scrum that does not collapse. They have absorbed that, they seem to

have the ball under control. The line is hard to make out but trust

me. Heffernan... Knocked forward, kicked into touch.

I think at the moment, the game has gone a wee bit scrappy in the last

few minutes, Connacht dominated the first 15 minutes, Ulster came back

and created nothing, they had a good 15 minutes but created nothing, and

here, they have put the ball on the ground, back to the scrum again,

still puzzled by the last one. We will see if this one is similar, but

again, looking at Ulster trying to get out of their half. We will see

how they exit here. Three forward changes have come in the front row,

Rob Herring in for Rory Best, and Warwick is in for the injured Kyle

McCall. The scrum has gone down on the far

side again. The Australian against the South

African. And the referee has gone around the Ulster tight head side to

have a look. He seemed to have adjudicated that this was a loss of

footing rather than anything illegal. It is not that solid

underfoot. He has to factor that in when making any decision.

This time the penalty goals against Connacht. Finlay Bealham, his head

and shoulders going below hip level. It can go either way. People think

that has gone against Ulster but that is good refereeing.

Saying to John Muldoon that his loosehead was heading down. Paddy

Jackson, good kick. Ulster side -- Ulster inside Connacht's ten metre

line. Well taken. Luke Marshall. No change in the collar defence. Ruan

Pienaar, Jackson. Organised in mighty fashion. Ruan Pienaar. That

was good work by Sean Reidy. Luke Marshall. Alan O'Connor. Still

therefore Ulster, better still from the men in white. Well done by

Marshall. To cut slip past by Jackson. And Nick Williams. They

have kept possession. Jackson. Trimble, from the right wing. Has to

himself. Ruan Pienaar. Robbie Diack. Taken well by Nathan White. Louis

Ludik has to stretch. Under pressure from the Connacht defence. Ulster

get the penalty. And it looks like it might be within the range of

Paddy Jackson. All of that patients might just have paid off. Taken

quickly by Ruan Pienaar. Not one of his better decisions, Andrew Trimble

was not expecting that. One of those nights when it will be determined by

the number of mistakes. The defence was in control from Connacht. He

seems within kicking range and you think three points for Ulster and

tonight is going to be typed on the scoreboard. That could be the

difference. Connacht -- Pienaar must have seen something that was on.

Coming up to 25 minutes played and still no score. The first scrum of

the evening through Connacht. Nathan White, the 34-year-old from his

eland. 19 stone. Rob Wilson can play outside half. That was too far.

Louis Ludik. Connacht have made 50 metres on that one. Pienaar. What a

tackle on Robbie Diack! That was a thumping tackle. He did well to get

the ball out of the tackle but he was going backwards so quickly. The

energisers can lift the team and Robbie Diack was there. He is a

feisty player. Also don't have as many Internationals on their side.

They have got two more on the bench. The insect Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne,

Darren Cave, Henderson, Dan Tuohy. Henry. -- names like. The second

scrum in a row for Connacht. Solid, controlled by Eoghan Masterson.

Craig Ronaldson. That has gone forward. Just as well, because they

made a mess of that. That should have been walloped downfield. That

was well read by the defence. Ulster hacked it upfield. That was a try

scoring opportunity. Luke Marshall almost created a chance but the

fly-half was missed. Rory Scholes would not be included in Michael

O'Neill's Northern Ireland team for the forthcoming championship final.

It happens. Still no score, coming up to 30

minutes played. In terms of possession, it has been mostly

Connacht. The order rare incursion into Connacht territory, but they

have made nothing of it. It is a great season that Pat Lam is

having. Nick Williams switching direction. Marshall. That is a good

tackle. Still therefore Ulster. Robbie Diack. Pienaar. It is still

therefore Ulster but they are on the retreat. Knocked on by Ulster.

Ulster trying one or two things when perhaps pragmatism might be the

word? It is risky, those semi off-loads. Defence dominating, and

we're seeing players and we're not in confidence that is up there,

players coming out of the line. It seems to be working. This is why we

have all of the scrums because of the pressure on the receiver, the

knock-on and defences dominating. Just inside their own half. Three on

either side. Which way will they go? Assuming they win the scrum. He

leaves it for 91 macro and goes to his left. Craig Ronaldson. Well

taken by Louis Ludik. He was outside 22. Ulster give away the penalty.

That was well taken by Louis Ludik but the support did not get there in

time and Connacht got over the ball. They will take the three points

here. The way the game is going, it is going to be very tight. Both

defences are dominant. And the sign that Connacht is using the cross

kick to get territory on the ball. Well, Connacht have asked Craig

Ronaldson, who scored 144 points in his 21 Lord league appearances, 80%

success rate... With his kicking in this coveted. -- in this

competition. This is probably the wrong side of the field for him and

there is a bit of a wind but this is in his favour. This will give

Connacht and decried in Galway a considerable list. -- decried. The

crowd. Three points have gone begging. You know they are going to

be as tight as it possibly can be. Paddy Jackson gets it away from

Stuart McCloskey. Nicely done. Kieran Marmion ). It will be a

Connacht Leonard. Good piece of play between Paddy Jackson and Rory

Scholes. Little needle, there. It was the Ulster line at. -- line-out.

He is going to have a word with Tiernan O'Halloran. The referee

giving him a slap on the wrist. There have been no niggles so far.

Starting his fourth game for Ulster this season, Rory Scholes. Five men

in it and plenty of options in terms of jumpers. Nicely done by Franco

van der Merwe. And he has lost it! How did that happen? Good work by

the assistant referee. There were hands on the site, for sure.

Connacht came through, it was interfered with before. This gives

Paddy Jackson, having watched Craig Ronaldson missing a couple of

minutes ago, a chance to give Ulster the lead. I think Connacht have had

most missed opportunities. More territory and possession and have

had the chance and they have missed it. This will give Jackson the

chance to get a score on the board and open up the scoring after 33

minutes, almost. Hard to believe. Paddy Jackson's 65th league game for

his province. Including seven tries. He needs to nail this one.

That looks pretty decent. That is a good kick from Paddy Jackson. And in

a game is tied as this, they all count. The first scorer goes to

Ulster, with about six minutes to go until half-time. I think Ulster will

be happy with that lead. You have to give them credit, they had a chance

to take it. Robbie Diack, Louis Ludik, Luke

Marshall. Taken by Bundee Aki. Ruan Pienaar, Jackson. That will hang a

little bit underneath. The Connacht skipper, Aldon. Some blocking, I

think, by Dave Heffernan. The referee let that go. Jack Carty

changes direction, that is clever. Was that knocked forward? Play on,

says the referee. Rather nervous start by Rory Scholes. Connacht will

be happy with that Leonard. It makes no difference at the end of the day.

It might have come off his hand. They called for the knock-on but

Connacht still have possession. Peter Fitzgibbon telling John

Muldoon he does not want to see any more huddles. Here goes Dave

Heffernan. Well done by Ultan Dillane. Taken by Bundee Aki. One of

his own players, the referee is happy enough. Again, some blocking

by Eoghan Masterson. Niyi Adeolokun, blisteringly fast. That was well

wrapped up by Ulster, Andrew Trimble in their to help Louis Ludik.

Connacht up to the Ulster 22 and they have given away the penalty. It

is not working for Connacht? They are working with a lot of width but

to give credit to Ulster, they are working hard around the corner and

when they see opportunities, they get right in to those 3rucks. --

rucks. It is all about working hard and here again, over the ball and

winning the penalty at the breakdown so it is probably from the

perspective of the game of rugby, it is very stop start. Another good

strike by Paddy Jackson. Peter Fitzgibbon is being very

consistent, he told John Muldoon off for spending too much time in the

huddle and has told Rob Herring something very similar. Jackson,

Stuart McCloskey. Across the halfway line. Nick Williams gets under way

nicely. Louis Ludik, Rory Scholes. Into touch. Adventurous stuff by

Ulster but equally good defence by Connacht. The same situation, Rory

Scholes into touch but the defence getting him. Nice turnover again and

a promising situation coming to nothing. That was good covering by

Niyi Adeolokun. Well taken by Ultan Dillane for

Connacht. Kieran Marmion. Well taken by Rory Scholes. Great work by Rory

Scholes. He has thrown it away. The loosehead prop, Andrew Warwick. Nick

Williams. Powerful drive. Ruan Pienaar again. Little slip past two

O'Connor. Ruan Pienaar in quickly. Franco van der Merwe. Jackson. That

is a nice pass. Andrew Trimble. McCloskey. Strong as ever but good

Connacht covering defence. They might have just turned that one

over. The penalty has been given. The crowd do not like the referee at

this moment. Any penalty against Connacht will not get much support.

But it is interesting on the replay... Ulster have the numbers

but of his feet. He lost his feet around the ball. It was Craig

Ronaldson. Definitely a penalty. That was a good referee call.

McCloskey did the right thing, he released the ball having been

tackled to the Connacht players had to stay legal and they did not. Two

minutes left Ulster just three points between them. -- and just.

That did not look straight, they made a real mess of that. Bundee

Aki, Archduke O'Halloran. -- out too. That has gone into touch.

There are still going to be an Ulster Minor. This will have to be

better than the last one. -- line-out. The referee will be cross

if they do not worry. -- Herriott. That was outside and no more. --

Perry up. Well taken by Robbie Diack, he has had a terrific

sequence in the last few weeks. The Leonard according to the referee is

over. Ruan Pienaar. They have got their feet in that kicking position.

Rory Scholes needs today that he does, good work. Ruan Pienaar. Nick

Williams. Going backwards. That lead up by McCloskey. Pienaar. Jackson,

Robbie Diack. Rory Scholes back inside. Still there for Ulster. 20

seconds remaining. Jackson, Matt Bonner is very slippery. A lot of

normal sure handling, they cannot get it away. Here comes Louis Ludik.

Pienaar looking to see what is available. Franco van der Merwe. He

has played 40 minutes. Acronyms. Bludgeoning run. He needs to keep

the session and he does. Pienaar, quickly. Ulster kicking men out of

the side when they are not involved. They have got the penalty. That is a

very rare, overriding call. They want to Mid Ulster seem to have

pimenton in the first-half and it comes to nothing. -- meant. Into

touch. It was all was good to be tight but we did not think it was

quick to be like this. Just three points scored? At the end of the

day, it has been dominated by both defences. But making any inroads.

Stop start scrums. Conditions are not a factor, the

ground is slippery underfoot, what do you expect? EBorders greasy but

we're in the middle of winter and no reason for the game to go the way it

has gone. It is defensive at the moment. Half-time in Galway, 3-0. It

has been competitive and close but it has not been a classic? Bill, it

is one you wish you had kept your turkey dinner

these derbies can go one or two ways, like what we have seen. It is

down to the defence. The team that cracks under pressure will lose it.

If you like watching defensive ruck, it has been all for you. Plenty of

endeavour in terms of how Ulster have tried to play, playing with

tempo and width on the ball but the conditions are tough, to play that

style of rugby. Some of the basics are letting them down, passes going

behind the man and Connacht have been very competitive at the

breakdown and I am impressed with the outside backs, as soon as they

sniff an opportunity they apply in and have created some turnovers and

penalties. It has been a bit of an arm wrestles for. We can look at the

break them. The penalty count at the breakdown has been even? Yes, both

sides have been very combative at this point, this was the initial

surge, you thought this was going to be good, setting the store I'd but

in the first ten minutes, Connacht were on fire, going after

everything, harassing everything from Ulster. But in the pressure on.

And the mistakes that come, bad tackling, kicking out of hand and so

forth, Connacht really go after things and push hard and you cannot

shoot the limelight that. That is just bread-and-butter for

professional players, that leaves a gap. That leaves the wide channel.

You can see the weather Connacht are really for this. Really going in

with full commitment. It is a tough day. We're just very fortunate later

on that we did not conceive the try. This early Connacht pressure, Ulster

did well to withstand that? Yes, Connacht are trying to get off-line,

targeting for the second receivers, putting them under as much pressure

as they can and that has paid off. You can see the dominant scrum from

Connacht. They have turned down some shots at goal. And they have backed

the mall, which was very strong. Ulster should start defence to hold

them and they nailed them in the first-half. Connacht came out firing

on all cylinders and Ulster were taken aback but you have to throw it

back, David back tenfold and Ulster took 20 minutes to get into this.

Was it sensible when the game is so close for Ulster to turn down two

very kickable penalties? I am a very big believer in keeping the school

board ticking over and both sides on this occasion, Connacht could the

9-3 up, quite easily. Hindsight is wonderful. But it worked for them

against Toulouse in that home game, Ruan Pienaar created that demented

and created scores but on this occasion, Andrew Trimble was not

raising from the -- reeling from the same hymn sheet and with the

turnover, those points might be crucial. Hopefully not. That is take

a closer look at the breakdown. It was good to be interesting to see

the interpretation of the referee today. It is a technical area.

Standing on your feet and cleaning the boys I'd. For me, the first half

so far, I just think that Ulster have been second best that a lot of

these situations. We're just slow at getting to that ball carrier. Ulster

are watching the ball going to ground and then reacting. Connacht

reacting as it goes down. They are picking the right rucks. This

situation, if you watch Andrew Trimble, two steps from the ruck, we

know what is happening. We need to be further forward and honoured.

Ulster did seem to get more joy as the half went on? For sure. And an

example here again, isolated in that outside channel. Connacht planning

in. Andrew Trimble was very unlucky, for Ulster to win that penalty

because it was a judgment, he is driving on the man when he goes to

ground. Unfortunately for Connacht, there. What about the Connacht

defence? Out of those lines very quickly? Brilliant. That has kept

them in the game and if they can keep that level of performance going

they will probably win the game because they are just so

in-your-face. Luke Marshall getting shunted back nine metres, all of the

Ulster players have to come back to get back into the game. Not making

the gain line and so forth. Only living on the wrong side of the

sideline? They can only play with the referee is giving them. They are

coming up so fast. That is brilliant, that is class. They have

obviously done their analysis on Ulster very closely because they are

getting into that receiver's Hants. -- hands. Pressurising the second

receiver. One meaningful Ulster full attack -- Ulster attack from deep

inside their own territory? That is only Ulster have been playing. Not a

lot of space to work with, fullbacks all over the shop, just like with

the balance. -- lucky with the 3bounve. This turned into a 70 metre

game. I suppose this is all about keeping the home team quiet, Ulster

or in with that advantage at half-time? Very much so, it could

have been up a more. There was that to be penalty. It could have been

another three points but as you say, it is keeping the home side quieter.

Throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Ulster and have not come

away with as much as they would have liked. Ulster are well within this

and if they can persevere, weather the storm, fight fire with fire, we

could be OK. Watch out in a moment but first, the festive spirit was

not lost on Ulster rugby this year, players took to the streets in

Belfast to hand out some surprise gifts to fans and the Christmas

shoppers. It is as famous as players to meet up with some supporters in

the time, it is crazy. It is nice to say hello. And hand-outs and gifts

as well. Here go. That is what I like to see. The last couple of

weeks have been brilliant. Everybody is getting fully behind the team.

From the squad perspective, since there is has come in, there is a lot

of excitement. -- Les. Over the last four weeks, the rugby were playing,

he is looking dangerous and hopefully we can have a couple of

big games over the festive period. It is a good place to be, Ulster

going well and hopefully we can keep things going. It is great to see the

guys going so well, there is some fierce competition. We will give it

a go. I will prepare myself for that and that has not changed. This is

one of the rare occasions when I get the enjoyment of Christmas and can

spend some time with friends and family, which is different to

previous years, then the game on Boxing Day and training all the way

up. I will have a good time. And then put my feet up and relax. The

fans are loving but the men have done and I think that has generated

some positive views about Ulster so it is good. It has been two months

but I did some running this morning so, step-by-step, I am slowly

getting there and I will be able to play. Two tickets to the next match.

You can give them to someone. I am going to be able to enjoy my turkey

this year and not worry about staying offered for the big game.

Hopefully, the recovery is coming on but it is taking some time so I will

enjoy myself this Christmas and look forward to the New Year. Fair play,

well done. The Christmas shoppers will not fit in with the Ulster

players! It is like getting new signers back. Fantastic if they come

back and don't take too long to hit the ground running. It is the nature

of the beast. The game has become bigger and stronger. And the

injuries are more long-term. One controversial moment was the

challenge on Andrew Trimble, that deserve to be a yellow? He's far too

honest, I would say! He has gone up, he has been clattered, landing on

his head, if he stayed down, like many players do, if he feigned an

injury, the referee would go to his pocket for a yellow card. It is

reckless, news not looking at the ball, he ploughs into him, in a

dangerous situation. Is it fair to say that we have seen red is given

for that? That is no worse than Jarrod Payne, against Saracens a

couple of seasons ago. Watching that in slow motion, you can see the

opposition coming straight through, watching the ball for a good period

but he is travelling from a long way out, he completely takes his eye off

the ball, he knows where he is going and what he is potentially doing.

Where will this game be won and lost in the second half. Ulster's

fitness. They have been stabbed and resolute, and hopefully, coming

through 60 minutes, seeing their fitness coming through. Hopefully

they will be tired. fitness coming through. Hopefully

easier for them to create try scoring opportunity. What is going

to be the key to get through the defence? A lack of mistakes and

trying to stay true to what we are trying to get at, we were trying to

get it nice and wide in the first half, we have got to get the rocks

nice and quickly, clean the ball, get it out quickly. As Paddy has

said, see the fitness come through. In the last five minutes of the

first half, you could see that Connacht were not pushing as hard as

they were in the first five minutes. -- 25 minutes. They are in a good

position, the confidence of the last couple of weeks will do them no harm

as well, and so I don't think that Connacht have been in such an

armrest will at home in Galway. Huge confidence going down there, that

they can come away with a victory. Paddy, Andy, thank you very much,

now back to the commentary team. COMMENTATOR: The temperature in

Galway has not gone up any since you were last with us at the sports

ground, but the atmosphere is beginning to heat up, could not

really be much closer. 0- three, half-time. The Irish coach, joseph,

he is here, he is watching. He has his eye on a couple of players. --

Joe Swift. That will be cold back on a week to week basis, Paddy Jackson

scored the only points of the first half, getting the second half under

way. -- Joe Schmidt. John Muldoon, what a performer he has been, for

his beloved Munster, down the years, three Irish caps, 11 for the

wolfhounds, and this is his 201st game in the league for Connacht.

Stealing, getting it away nicely. McCluskey has a look, trying to get

inside Bundee Aki. Lively start. Popping up from

nowhere. Helped by the captain. Good work by Robbie dear. Good

support by Franco van der Merwe. Did not release the ball in the tackle.

CO-COMMENTATOR: Like the first half, East rugby, not enough north-south.

I would like to see both sides tactically adjusting. More runners

from the ninth. Instead of everything running through the ten.

Not much advance. You might say Ulster and Connacht changing.

First set piece of the second half. Quickly won by Connacht. Into

space... Well covered. Try to get away from Donaldson, and does so.

Robbie Diack, who gave away the penalty... Making up a bit of

ground. Nick Williams is there to take it on. Trimble has

positioned... Gets it away to Marshall...

Something of a purple patch this season. Well stolen.

Connelly had men outside him but has taken it forward.

O'Halloran is very quick, who has made a decent break. Should have

stayed with them a little bit more. A wee bit of that blistering pace of

his, here they come again... Nicely moved... The referee says play on.

That has gone forward. Good work by Connacht. The one thing that started

out at the first half, Ulster on defence. Connacht getting wide. They

are still not making too many inroads, once again, as they did in

the first half, readjusting the defence... Very lateral and wide,

both teams playing lateral and wide, I would like to see more directness.

Good start by Ulster, then they gave away the penalty. Connacht kept

possession. All-star line-up. White -- Ulster.

Llanelli Scarlets were beaten by a single point, at home, against the

old rivals, Ospreys. Does not change things at the top of the table,

Llanelli Scarlets stayed top. At the moment, Connacht in second place,

they have made a change, off goes Andrew Warwick, on comes his

replacement, Callum Black -- Callum Black. Very clean jersey.

Taken in by Ulster at the back of the line-out.

Pienaar and that is a good kick. Good touch. Difficult kick to

make... I cannot see Eddie O'Sullivan... He does his little top

up, new looks like -- he does his little top up, he looks like ET!

LAUGHTER Good work at the breakdown by Ulster

the momentum is with the men in green. Running out of options, Rob

Herring coming through the middle, legally. First score in the second

half could well be crucial. Niyi Adeolokun loses his footing...

Kieran Marmion... Men are over, if they can shift this. Rolls into

McCluskey, as big as most modern second row forwards.

Good continuity by the home side. Big tackle that was why it Nick

Williams. Referee having a good look at the breakdown, Ulster may well

have got the ball. A lot of hard work by Connacht, a

lot of endeavour. Hard work from Ulster. Maybe they will try to keep

hold of it, but Ulster looking comfortable, perhaps adjusting

again. Good defence by Ulster, Connacht

making inroads. He has a bit of a bang, Louis Ludik, not looking so

great. The penalty after 32 minutes, in the first half, separates the

sides. Fourth and final year. Great crowd pleaser, particularly in his

first year. Kieran Marmion told to use it. Big

tackle by Andrew Trimble. Riding the tackle.

Good tackle by Williams. Steps inside.

Ulster getting the defence well organised, a couple of men drifting

out to make the overhead pass possible. Connacht have decided to

go route one, referee has the hand-out. This is the right side of

the field for a left footed kicker, surely they will have a go at the

post. They have been able to break, going more direct. I would like to

think that if Connacht had adjusted, they may have been more direct.

These periods of Pienaar, knowing it was a penalty, getting a wee bit

tired... Taking away the advantage... Cannot imagine that

this is not going to end up in this kind of situation. Not supporting

his full weight. The penalty has been given. Ronaldson missed one

after 30 minutes of the first half, has a chance to make up for that.

He has missed a second... This was an easier one for him... Looks of

this belief on the faces of the faithful. Bad mess. The defence are

dominating. Those opportunities, they need to take them if they are

going to win this game. Ulster warming up. Giving Wiehahn Herbst a

bit of a break. Still in possession... Tiernan O'Halloran...

On the lateral side, now moving forward. Loads of strength in there.

Ulster have pulled the ball in. Craig really in the middle of all

that. Last man up with the ball, Robbie Diack, good work.

Lifting the legs of Stuart McCloskey off the ground there...

Referee Peter Fitzgibbon having a bit of trouble in his communication.

Off goes Wiehahn Herbst, starting his 12th game of the season, and on

comes the replacement, and next week Ulster

are at home against Munster, that game will be on BBC radio Ulster.

The big game tomorrow, in Limerick, Munster against Leinster. That will

be a barn Stormers. Both teams looking for a victory after a

disappointing European spell. All bets will be off. Despite the loss

last week to the Newcastle Falklands away from home, still topping the

table, in the European Challenge Cup. Ulster giving themselves a

decent chance of qualification. Runner-up in the Champions Cup

group. Taking control back of the scrum. They get the penalty.

Significant scrum. Ricky Lutton and Callum Black, the two replacement

props making a big impact. Carrying a knock, usually the last 20

minutes, we are not far off that, 51 minutes in. The game will not change

too much in terms of clean line breaks. Good strike from Paddy

Jackson for Ulster. Played one of Ireland's's five games

in the most recent Rugby World Cup but disappointed here in his lack of

game time. Having a word with his skipper, Rob Herring.

Trying to put Ulster on the front foot. Ulster trying a bit of a

rumble forward for the first time, still moving forward, the referee is

having a good look, bodies all over the place, picked up by Callum

Black. In there to help Nick Williams, edging away

from Aly Muldowney. Nice switch. Outside two herring. Popping it up

nicely. Williams back inside, a bit clumsy. Went backward. Always a risk

involving those off-loads, and it was not forward by the men in green.

There is a sense that he's giving the touch judge on the far side and

old-fashioned luck. I think that they were lucky, getting sloppy with

the ball. I think he thought there was a clear turnover. Said to the

referee, they felt they were not in the best position to call it. Bit of

a stoppage in the middle of the park, inside the Connacht 22. A bit

of treatment. What we saw, for the first time, we saw much moderate in

attack. A lot of kick and drive. Came back, the short side. It went a

bit awry. Sloppy pass. Making consistent yardage, that is the

first time we have seen them do that. Change in tactics, probably

not before time. Referee calls time on again. Bit of

strapping on his lower right leg. Trying to fire up his troops again.

They have missed a couple of relatively straightforward penalty

chances, Ulster have taken the one chance that has come their way,

things to Paddy Jackson, just before half-time. 15 minutes into the

second half... Ricky Lutton, on the side of the

Ulster scrummage. Good straight bit of scrummage, that has collapsed...

Lawrie Skolrood gets through and need some help. Good work, came in

off the wing nicely. The referee is happy with that, Marshall... Moving

it wide. Could not gather. Andrew Trimble was looking for a third try

in successive games, but not quite make it, that was a genuine chance

for Ulster. Around his bootlaces. If he had set that up, I think that he

could have done it, drop onto his bootlaces. Marshall did not get

enough of the old left-hander, another couple of feet off the

ground and Andrew Trimble could have been in and how significant could

that have been, we will not know. A try is going to make the difference.

The build-up came from a very direct approach, again, we had a very short

strike up the middle. And again, DirectPlay has been the best

strike up the middle. And again, been very lateral in their game. For

a change, I would like to see them go to the right. Wilson has come on

for Sean Reidy, which indicates that Robbie Diack will probably go to the

openside. Sean O'Brien has come on for Connacht, and Shane Delahunt has

come on for Heffernan. Sean O'Brien, not the Sean O'Brien

of Leinster and Ireland, 21 Sean O'Brien. Number of Connacht players

from Galway. Big fellow, six feet four, playing in the back row. The

captain of the Irish under 21 team last season, or the season before

last, made a big impression. He is a bit of a lump. Connacht's scrummage,

following the knock-on by Andrew Trimble, third quarter... Will be

very happy. There has only been one score between the sides in the last

couple of meetings. Again, the crowd trying to encourage the men in

green. Ulster trying to get the squeeze on, Connacht have dug in

nicely. Pienaar trying to make a nuisance of himself. Kieran Marmion,

into Carty... Scholes has done well, getting away

from the first man. Inside Louis Ludik, but could not quite

controlled it, that has been knocked into touch, Connacht line-out, they

may have the option... Did it come off a Connacht hand? It has been

decided that it came off a Connacht hand and it is an Ulster line-out.

Great work. Got away from his man beautifully. Off-loads... But then

intercepted... Fumbled it back. Connacht might be aggrieved there a

little bit. Still pressure on Connacht the USA World Cup

International, AJ McGinty, has come on. To play outside-half, and

another veteran, Andrew Brown, has come on to play in the second row.

Jack Carty is off, AJ McGinty is on. Ulster line-out. Well taken in by

Franco van der Merwe. Nick Williams. That is awful...

Really quite dreadful! Here comes Bundee Aki. Knocking it backward, he

picks it up... Kieran Marmion gets it, back comes Rory Scholes, and

Ulster could well have been the architect of their own downfall.

Looking outside, nobody there. Play on, says the referee. Kieran

Marmion... Meant for the corner, jumps and catches and gathers.

Connacht on the front foot. Brown. Here is the replacement, Sean

O'Brien. What a roar from this Galway crowd.

That could well have been a Connacht School, could well have been an

Ulster school. Big turning point, possibly, the maul was a bit sloppy.

Going up to the DMO, Jude Quinn, to see if there was something

technical. There is the loose ball. Forward pass? Checking if there is

something untoward. Nothing much wrong with that... This is where

Ulster made... Should have stayed on the job. Loose pass... Suddenly,

racing back. Could be Luke Marshall... Taking

somebody else... When he came across... A rather silly

infringement, and he goes into the sin-bin.

Ten minutes with 14 men, from a position where if they had scored,

that was game over. All hands to the pump, to try to stay in the game.

Marshall, in the bin. Ulster coming to the end of the third quarter, in

this tight match. Three points between them.

Connacht will be looking to put in a massive shelf, but they will still

have an advantage in terms of weight. -- shove. Ulster digging in,

good work. Williams... Ulster have the ball back, but kept the pressure

on, good work by Robbie Diack at the breakdown. Taken on by O'Connor...

Pienaar has ball in hand... Very good kick by Pienaar, no time for

Healy to take a quick one. Get it out of the ten metre line. Secondly,

taking off pressure. They are going to have two... Again, they are going

to have to be very careful. 14 men. Connacht will keep the ball around.

Shane Delahunt... Throw in... Finlay Bealham, leaving the field,

Irish international, and coming on to replace him, Ronan Coghlan.

-- Ronan larceny. -- Ronan Loughney. You get the feeling that the tide

has turned. The crowd are sensing this, it is a chance for Connacht...

You really think that Ulster have controlled the game, they get out of

jail, they have a great potential. They could have cleared their lines

again. Simple fumble. Pressure is back on Ulster.

He won his Irish Cup against New Zealand in 2012. Dan Tuohy made his

dead then and scored a try. Dan goes a scrum. -- made his debut. He is

fresh off the bench. If the scrums drastic of problems, the finger

tends to be pointed at the new man on the block. He has to stand wider

apart. As soon as I did, the scrum went down. Perhaps it was too far

apart. Still the Connacht scrum. Three points between them, in

Ulster's favour. Luke Marshall still in the daily. That is a better

scrum. The referee has given a penalty. Ricky Lutton's legs went

from under him. And he just said, your feet were too far back. And

down he goes, under no real pressure whatsoever and that must be a chance

for Connacht to square this game. He was very solid in the World Cup, AJ

Capped eight times by the United States, Dublin born, he went to lack

ruck college. Spent a lot of time in the States and qualified for

residency. -- Blackrock. If he gets this one,

it will mean the cheer of even then, I have no doubt. -- of the evening.

That is a good kick. A lot of happier Connacht faces. 16 minutes

remaining and thanks to AJ MacGinty, it is now 3-3. Ulster need to get 15

men back on the field, trying to stay in the Connacht half for as

long as possible, here. Four changes but this is not the sort of

performance that Ulster hoped to bring here to Galway, bearing in

mind what they did against the mighty Toulouse on successive

weekends in Europe. Bundee Aki with the kick, outside the 22. Well

guided in live Louis Ludik. He runs straight into a lot of green shirts

who drive right over the ball. Luke Marshall is in there, Ulster are

short in the midfield. Pienaar. Looking, calculating... Pienaar

again, Jackson. Did he see a little bit of space? Maybe. Into Tiernan

O'Halloran. That has gone into touch for the Ulster Leonard. Luke

Marshall will be coming back on sin. Another line-out in the Connacht

have, a chance to run the clock down and slow things down and get 15 men

back on the field. There is a huddle, here. Peter Fitzgibbon is

getting at them again for taking those huddles. When the referee

warns you, you should heed those warnings. Pienaar, well gathered.

Jackson, McCluskey. Pienaar again. Nick Williams. He hit that at pace,

Pienaar. Alan O'Connor. Pienaar switches. Williams. Clever stuff by

Williams. Pienaar again. Jackson. That is a good kick by Jackson.

Great play, exactly what Ulster needed. Pull the wings off.

Beautiful kicking into the corner, it takes Connacht inside their own

22, the clock running down. That is smart play by Ulster and very

direct. No east-west rugby, very direct. The Connacht line-out, Shane

Delahunt. He started two games this season for Connacht. Just four men

in a little club, just to get this one right, and he does. Nicely

taken. Bundee Aki. Kieran Marmion inside his 22. That will give Ulster

the line-out. Connacht have cleared away from the danger area. Still

good for Ulster. The clock is running down. Taking their time.

Damage limitation for the yellow card and in a tight game like this,

that is the host importance. Connacht about to bring on Rodney Ah

You. Well taken. Pienaar. Luke Marshall, getting no change from the

midfield. They should think about trying something else. Here comes

Williams again. Pienaar. Alan O'Connor. That was a good tackle by

Bundee Aki. Pienaar again. Williams, inside of trouble. He nearly

flattened Peter Fitzgibbon. Robbie Diack. Connacht, the defence well

marshalled. There was some crossing by Ulster. He has got himself

caught. Connacht have stood on that. -- stolen. The penalty against

Connacht but he is playing advantage to the bed and green. Young James

Connolly takes it forward. And again, the roaring Ingleby builds

up. -- in Galway. Trimble penalised for the side injury. Luke Marshall

is still off the field. Paul Marshall is coming on. Interesting

change by Ulster. I think we have an injury. Ulster player down. Pienaar

got caught in two minds, he saw that the winger was waiting in the corner

and held onto long. He got turned over. He had most of the team in

front of him when he got tackled and the momentum has changed, Ulster

were controlling the game beautifully with the yellow card.

Any onto the ball and forcing Connacht to kick out. One mistake

and suddenly Connacht or on the rise again and on the front foot. They

are a very long way from the posts. AJ MacGinty has given Connacht a

very good position. Nick Williams are going for the toss

because Andrew Trimble ran into the referee and it should have been a

scrum to Ulster. I have to stand somewhere, he says. He has a point.

Had the referee not been there, Andrew Trimble could have been right

through the defensive line and at this stage, that is a certain score

so he does have a point. If Trimble goes through, boom. That is a line

break. With someone of his power and pace. Fine margins. Luke Marshall

wedding to come back, he might come back as this line-out is waiting to

take place. That has not find touch. Louis Ludik runs into three Connacht

defenders. Paul Marshall on the field for Pienaar. Not a bad kick

coming infield. Well taken by Trimble, knocked back by Ulster.

Marshall does it again, clever kick by the replacement scrum-half Andy

bounce is kind. That is a belter about Paul Marshall. Clever play by

Ulster. Great kick. Andrew Trimble wanted to spill that loose. And

another kick immediately has pinned Connacht back within the 22. Ulster

back with the full condiment of 15 players. Shane Delahunt wipes the

ball and wipes his brow. Little Connacht con club. -- conflab. Some

confusion about the line-out call. Very nearly picked off by Ulster but

well taken in by Andrew Browne at the second attempt. Spotted an

Ulster knock-on. Kieran Marmion injured Marshall, he has taken a

thump to his eye. Rodney Ah You. The former New Zealand Junior World Cup

player. Not a great pass. AJ MacGinty, nice step, very nearly got

away, away to Kieran Marmion. Clever play, realising that was doubled on

his outside. Rodney Ah You, outside half and the inside centre. Good

work by Ulster at the break time. Connacht still inside their own

half. AJ MacGinty, good kick. Connacht still inside their own

wonder what side would be happier if Connacht still inside their own

would think so but Connacht feed if they have one more shot they can win

the game because the crowd sends that there is more scoring in

Connacht but again, Ulster defended pretty well. Ulster have brought on

the replacement forward, Steven Mulholland. For just his second

senior cap, he started against the Dragons at number eight. Alan

O'Connor has gone off. Robbie Diack might go into the second row, where

he has played a number of times before. And all those O'Connor. --

of those. -- off goes. Injury to Paul Marshall, he might have got a

finger into his eye, accidentally I might add. Marshall came at the

worst in that one. It could not be more finely balanced. The doctor,

Michael Webb. Marshall seems to be fine. 159 appearances for Ulster.

Joe Schmidt looking on. Into space. Bundee Aki goes back. Luke Marshall

has, the referee telling Marshall to release back in the Connacht side.

AJ MacGinty tries to put some width on it. Well taken on by Connacht.

Ulster have affected the turnover, advantage with the knock-on.

Jackson, Stuart McCloskey, here comes Marshall. Great Connacht

tackling. Paul Marshall. Jackson. Roger Wilson. Bit ambitious. Rory

Scholes. Strong one by Rory Scholes, the referee is having a good look at

Ulster at the breakdown. Marshall on the narrow side, Jackson. Franco van

der Merwe gets into the Connacht half. Marshall. Williams. Good work

by Williams. Less than eight minutes left. Jackson has a go himself.

Marshall. Robbie Diack. Connacht restricting Ulster. Callum

Black, the Ulster replacement loose head prop. Narrow side stuff by

Ulster, Franco van der Merwe once again. Marshall. And Williams.

Connacht reading whatever Ulster are doing pretty well. Marshall, Jackson

does nicely. Back inside, Rory Scholes is well tackled, he has to

release and he does. Dayak. Ferocious, defending. -- ferocious

Connacht defending. Into the hands of Tiernan O'Halloran. Body bad ploy

by Marshall, he gives it to AJ MacGinty. And he finds decent touch

but it is an Ulster bull. Is this heading for a draw? Is looking that

way. -- it is. In a lot of overland back, east-west rugby, from Ulster.

Continuity is good but not conducive to winning yardage. You have the

feeling that at some stage, they need the line break to win this.

Herring. Franco van der Merwe. Marshall. Trimble. Marshall gets

into way. That was Mulholland. Louis Ludik, out to Rory Scholes. Chip and

chase from Ulster. That was good covering from Connacht but Ulster

get the Leonard. That is a good setup in terms of getting deep into

Connacht territory. Very direct handling from Ulster and a very nice

chap and chase. We get the feeling that for Ulster, if they does go

here, Connacht will come roaring back and get a shot. Crucial times

for Ulster. They have had another huddle, they're testing the patience

of the referee. Great piece of covering by the Connacht left-wing,

Matt Healy, who right across. He prevented Rory Scholes from doing

anything more than just chasing. Well taken by Ulster at the back.

The referee blows his whistle straightaway.

Ulster get the scrummage, John Muldoon getting into the way of

everything. He had to think they were setting up the wall, there, but

it went to ground and turned into a ruck. Robbie Diack's work in the

last few games has been pretty exemplary. And at a crucial moment,

you have to think of that one, if it went astray, it would have lifted

Connacht. The final five minutes of this tight, tight game. There has

not been much between them in this scrummage. The last time, his legs

went from under him and Ulster were penalised. He needs to keep this one

up. On the far side, Connacht going down on one knee.

Completely new Connacht from true. Ulster have replaced both props

early in the second half. The clerk asked up. Under four minutes, still

going on. Peter Fitzgibbon called that directly, this is a big scrum,

I don't want anybody to be penalised.

Marshall has to get it in and he does. That is a good Ulster scrum.

Nick Williams tried to control, dinette goes, Luke Marshall, driving

to the line, he hasn't quite cut there. He needs to release. They are

over, I think! And the referee has given the try and might just be Nick

Williams. That was a great strike in Luke Marshall, right under the

posts, great last-ditch tackle by Connacht but Nick Williams arrives

and get that all-important touchstone. The last set piece,

perhaps, of this game has produced an Ulster try at long last. Strong

run by Luke Marshall and it was left and Williams went in and the big

fellow, off to Cardiff, powered over and will that we the conclusive

school? Marshall had to make round, he did make round, he more than

compensated for his sin billing. Over here goes. And Paddy Jackson

has added the points and Ulster are seven points to the good but there

is still time for Connacht to come back. You feel that Connacht will

come roaring back. But Ulster are controlling possession here and with

the long kick, they put up a white wall. Defence has been good. You

have to back this right up to the last two minutes. Ian Porter is

coming on for Connacht. And Rory Parata as well. Marshall, goes

inside his own 22. He has not find his touch. O'Halloran has made good

ground. Connacht have to get the converted try to share the spoils,

they have not got more. Rory Parata, he leaves that for Bundee Aki. This

is good from Luke Marshall, Ian Porter, formerly of all is and

Queens University. That has gone forward. Ulster have stolen it on

the ground. Paul Marshall get Jackson has a glance. He has struck

that pretty nicely. All the way back goes Matt Healy. Into AJ MacGinty.

O'Halloran with him and the American runs and is tackled. The referee

says, get the hands out of it. Ulster are where they want to be,

right on the Connacht 22, it is a long way from here to the Ulster

line and that is what we have to do. Rory Parata get it away. O'Halloran,

out to the ever willing John Muldoon. Ian Porter has a go against

some of his former colleagues. Ulster trying to hold him off the

ground. Connacht must shift this. Once again, Ulster tackling

ferociously, good work by Callum Black. AJ MacGinty away to Bundee

Aki, chipped away by Healy. We goes Paul Marshall, there might be a

penalty. The referee has got his flag out. 15 seconds to go and

Ulster have given away a penalty and this could be another yellow card.

It was a foolish penalty, they had possession back, and this was

accidental but he has got the flag. They will have to look at this all

the TMO but you get the feeling it was a foolish enough penalty, given

the circumstances. Well, the touch judge is happy that this is just a

penalty. 14 seconds remaining. The referee is

telling them that there was time for the line-out if they go right now.

Connacht have a long way to go, they will still be in their own half as

AJ MacGinty finds touch. Andrew Trimble went in and he pulled away

at the last minute. I think they were fortunate to get that one,

there was no malice in it. Anyway... That being said, Ulster still have

to back themselves for the last play of the game. Ulster told to leave a

bigger gap. They have to challenge this one if it possible can. Well

taken by Muldoon. Connacht must run this quickly. Into Rodney Ah You,

stolen by Paddy Jackson, can you believe it? And outside half taking

the ball from the prop forward. Paul Marshall, into touch. And Ulster

have come to Galway and they have won this game. My word, they kept us

on tender hooks and they left it very late. We thought this would be

a one score game, Ulster kept their composure and at a crucial time in

the second happy change strategy and became one correct and were much

more successful and that led to the try that won the game. It wasn't the

exuberant display from Ulster we have seen in Europe but to come

against Connacht, unbeaten at home this season, that is not a bad

result. No, we said was always gone to be hard to get a result, Connacht

have had good form at the moment so Ulster will take that very much so.

It was dominated by defence but they were all was going to get one shot

and they too could well in the end. It is fitting that look Williams got

to score and win the game. Eddie will be with us in Belfast next week

for the game against Munster. Half-time it was 3-0, and at the

end, big Nick Williams converted and Ulster hung on, the final score at

the Sportsground, 3-10. Thank you. Connacht beaten for the first time

at home this season. Andy and Paddy, it was all about composure,

resilience and patients? Very much so, we said at the break that the

team that kept their composure and stay true to what they were trying

to get but come away with the win and thankfully it wasn't Ulster

performance so the last 15 minutes looked like we had probably more of

a solidified way of playing with the kicking from the back, we kept

Connacht under pressure and we made them pay. Two very strong

performances from both teams but I think that Ulster created probably

the best try scoring opportunities. We let one of them slip through our

grasp in the second half and we were good enough to take that second

opportunity. Nick Williams going over from one metre, that will be

hard to stop and Ulster on that statistic deserved to win. The

introduction of Paul Marshall made a difference and help set up a great

score at the Paul gets few opportunities but

whenever he does, but not in the team, but they load up the centres,

they have two centres running hard and it is up to Paul to pick the

right player and he ran a great line, he got across a gain line and

Nick Williams... Stuart McCloskey had been running the ball up all

day. You can see from the back play, it was really well done but Rory

Scholes really set that up. Down the left-hand territory. Brilliant. It

just shows that when you get some big European Games like that, just

what impact that has, when you come into the tight situation like this

one. Absolutely, the last few weeks have been tough, and the style in

which Ulster handle themselves in that tough environment has led them

to where they are today. You have to give playing for that last couple of

minutes and games can be won and lost and this is a classic example

on how games can be won at the death. Ulster kept a lot of ball in

hand on the first-half but they switched their tactics to great

effect in the second? The kicking game? It was very effective. Paddy

Jackson, and he puts this onto this expense, that creates not only

territory but it takes Connacht very far from their own line, they are

unable to score tries from there. Great kick from Marshall, great

challenge from Andrew and then again, apologies is that the winger

has come up to feel that last kick and there is space behind. Again, 70

metres turnaround from two very accurate kicks. Paul has been on the

money, his first kick allowed Andrew Trimble to make that contest, the

one that back. Assen is that happened, you knew there was a

sequence of play, those guys got tied up so he technically kicked the

ball perfectly. It was always going to be about taking the

opportunities. To be fair, Ulster probably created the better chances

in the second half? They did, the first coming from a lovely scrum

move here. Pienaar dragging the player across. He drops Rory Scholes

underneath, very powerful player. He does right thing, holding onto the

ball, recycling that well and the execution it is time at the most

important time. It is a long pass in tough conditions, Andrew should have

slowed up and he could have accelerated onto it and instead he

tries to pick this off his bootlaces. Conditions very tough,

regardless of his size. We treated more opportunities than Connacht and

again, straight into it, Rory Scholes doing it again, creating

something. It is just pressure, Connacht struggling to get out but

their 22, he is working very small environment, there. And I've gone to

hand, who knows? But the pressure is there, Connacht struggling. It is

great to see Rory Scholes, who was not get lots of game time, in this

position whenever Craig has gone down. He has been able to step up

and show some very good performances. We can hear from the

Ulster cries scorer, Nick Williams, with Gavin Andrews. Congratulations,

how satisfying was a typical that when? You know, this is a tough

place to win out. As much as Chris was saying, mentally we kept it

together. But new we were going to turn up, a recessed how much Hamas

Trekkie had over Christmas. How tough did Connacht make this? They

are always tough, we knew it was going to be dog versus dog and

hopefully we held up, full credit to the boys. We were 3-0 for about 65

minutes and two, we any last five minutes, to show that mentality that

we have had over the past five weeks, I am chuffed. What about the

try? The ball was there, so... It was a team try, I just really

enjoyed my time with the boys. Before, the manager was talking

about composure. Have things been turned around? Of course, with best

not here, some of the boys had to stand up. The whole squad, everyone

has decided to keep calm and play the kind of game you want to. And he

has brought that kind of controlled chaos. Interesting week for you, you

will be leaving at the end of the week. High with the efforts to

prepare for this? The last six months, in Belfast, I love the

place, my girls love the place. I am not gone yet. I have come here to

win something. I want to give a great crack of it until I live.

Cardiff is at the end of the season. And the big games keep coming. We

have to be the big ones. We will celebrate tonight, enjoy it and go

back to our families. Have some turkey and reassess next week.

STUDIO: Big performance from the big New Zealander, healer like he was on

fire! Last five weeks, perhaps more than a month, he really has been an

instigator in this excellent performance, when Williams is going

forward, the rest of the team is going forward. -- he looked like he

was on fire. It is nice to hear him say that he would like to leave with

a bang. A neighbour of mine for three years, he has made this place

his home, a couple of daughters, he will be disappointed to be moving on

but I have no doubt, he will be working just as hard to try to come

away with some silverware, his time in Ulster, so many memories. It has

been a fantastic time. What were the key moments, I think it was when

they weathered the storm, when they were down to 14, and the sin-bin,

fair enough. To be brutally honest, he was lucky to not get a red card,

I have seen things like this ten very nasty. He knew what he was

about, no doubt, giving away some silly penalties at this stage,

horrible passage of play, to be honest, little bit of scrambling. If

only we made the calls, sitting on the sofa here, as most people do in

their front room. Sloppy play from the line-out, tried to create some

lament from the backs... Of history goes awry, as come across... That is

an instinctive mistake, it has cost the team dearly. Cynical, certainly

deserved a yellow. Looking at the table, give us your assessment, your

end of year assessment of where they are at the moment?

Ulster are exactly where they need to be, up among the top four or five

teams. They need to maintain it and keep it going. They took a little

dip but since the introduction of Les Kiss, they have not just

steadied the ship, they have moved on, really. We were struggling a

bit, without momentum. Les Kiss has injected a new momentum into the

side. We were ravaged by injuries, sport

is based upon the Menton, we have created that going into the New

Year, we have some huge games coming up, the derby against Munster. Big

games, week on week, we need to maintain the momentum and hopefully

get a feel of the front is back in. Having said that, those that have

filled in have done an excellent job. Next up, first game, 2016, it

would be nice to keep the Menton going, with another big-time

performance. Very much so, and I think that we are laying down a

platform at the minute. It is good to see, a lot of young guys coming

in, as Paddy has said, they do not look out of place, there is

continuity within the squad, strength within the squad. Exciting

time faults to rugby, the next couple of years, if these young guys

keep growing and growing as individuals and as a collective

group and as a team, moving forward. Sitting nicely at the top of the

Pro12, still some work to do if they are going to get out of the European

group with some big games ahead. It is going to be very difficult, we

are in a tough group, but we have a chance, and three weeks ago, that

seemed like a