Ulster v Dragons Ulster Rugby Live

Star player Ruan Pienaar returns tonight as Ulster try and continue

that march toward the play-offs. Stuart McCloskey returns Ireland

international duty to take his place on the bench and there's a new face

in the team, as Jacob Stockdale makes his home debut. Home wins will

be crucial if they are to make the end of season top four. The Dragons

are the opposition tonight. They may be struggling at the bottom end of

the table, but they have beaten Munster and Leinster already this

season. It's Ulster Rugby Live from the Kingspan Stadium. And it's a

very soggy Ulster Rugby headquarters tonight will stop it may have

stopped raining now but it has been taking it down in Belfast all day.

It's pretty damp in places underfoot, as you can see. Good

evening, welcomed Ulster Rugby Live. It's a bitterly cold night as well,

if you are wondering right my guests are looking very, very cold. Our

studio window is right -- wide-open to the world. Stephen, how important

is this next run of matches for Ulster during the Six Nations

Championship if they are to challenge the silverware this

season? It's very important, especially with the big-name players

away, the likes of Rory Best and Jared Payne it's important the boys

get points. They are sitting in fifth at the minute. A big few weeks

ahead, a couple of home games so it's important to get points on the

board and get up the table. How confident are you Ulster can win

tonight to go top of the Pro12 table and put themselves in a really good

position? Really confident. The last time these tit teams met it was a

thrill-seeking match, so Ulster back at home again will put performances

together. Looking down the list, there's a lot of good players in

here starting to come back from form and injury, it takes two or three

games to get back in the groove again and most of those guys have

scored points and are looking good again. I'd expect them to do well to

night. It's a big night for Jacob Stockdale, making his home debut.

It's a massive night for him. They don't know much about the young kid

but he is wearing the number 11 jersey, big boots to fill, Andrew

Trimble has been there, Tommy Bowe, but he is coming in. By all accounts

coming out of the camp the day he was born his grandfather bought a

rugby ball, so... Rugby is in the family. Born to play rugby. I was

friends across the road. He is getting an opportunity tonight,

let's hope he grabs it with both hands. Is going to be a tricky

fixture for Ulster with the Dragons coach Lyn Jones has that his team

are playing good rugby this season, they have been running out of a bit

of luck. Yes, very much so. The coaches know best. It takes a little

bit of luck every once in awhile with the guys and hopefully tonight

their luck doesn't come good and Ulster can get the win but Ulster

need to work hard. We will chat more at half-time. We will get your

thoughts on the start of the Six Nations Championship. Time to join

our commentary team tonight. COMMENTATOR:

It's chilly, the picture is a bit soft, it's muddy outside the playing

surface. The Dragons have made six changes, four upfront, the two

second rows remain. In the back row, on Rome is the Australian Ben White

-- on loan. Behind the scrum the two changes, Angus O'Brien, who played

in this fixture last year, is paired with Charlie Davies, the former

England in 220 international but pays in the wings in the of Amos and

Stuart. Leading the Ulster side for the 12th time this season in the

absence of Rory Best is Rob Herring. Ulster haven't lost to the Dragons

here at the Kingspan Stadium for seven and a half years, September

2008, if I'm not mistaken. Not quite a full house although it has picked

up a little bit. The attraction of the watering -- watering holes

around the ground are a bit too much but everybody is here and it's a

decent crowd. Just the four changes in the Ulster side from the trip to

Treviso last week. The front row is the same. Peter Browne, the

27-year-old, Irish qualifier comes into partner O'Connor with Van der

Merwe rested and Diack returns to the back row, returning to the

pivotal position at number nine is Ruan Pienaar, inside Ian Humphreys

and Darren Cave, who maintain the centre partnership, and the

19-year-old Jake stunned Stockdale, a big night for the youngster, makes

his Kingspan debut. There is the man who refereed the Rugby World Cup

final last autumn, the world's number one referee, Nigel Owens, a

very warm welcome to Nigel Owens. Angus O'Brien, the 21-year-old, born

in Newport, has got is under way. Roger Wilson takes it in

straightaway. Diack gets it the 22. Baxter Ian Humphreys, the pass was

inside the 22 and Humphreys puts in a good kick, taken quickly by the

Dragons. Meyer makes decent work, Roger Wilson puts in the tackle.

Charlie Davies pops it up to Matthews Screech -- Matthew Screech.

Davies having a glance, preferred to Pretorius, who is on the bench.

Enterprising stuff from the visitors. They have got themselves

into the quarterfinals of the European Challenge Cup, a tough away

fixture to foster. Hasn't been a great season for them in the league

-- a tough away fixture in Gloucester.

Hallam Amos, released by the Welsh coaching team for this game. That's

nicely done, a little bit of that there and this is the dangerous

fellow, Ashton Hewitt. And again, it's all Dragons. Ulster have hardly

got their paws on the ball so far. Charlie Davies. Angus O'Brien

thought there was a gap there but it was closed down pretty quickly.

Davies again, taken on by Hallam Amos. A good off-load. This is the

skipper. The big South African, nicely away, the loosehead prop,

Price. The Dragons really taking it to Ulster, a Dragons try here could

be interesting. Five metres to the Ulster line, Rob Harris, the tight

head prop. A little bit laboured in the centre

of the park, but that's good work by Adam Warren, formerly of the

Scarlets. Ulster on the back foot, the slowest home start for a while

for Ulster. That's come loose. Nigel Owens saying Ulster knocked it

forward, he is playing advantage to the Dragons. Can they take

advantage? Most of the men on the left-hand side, and nice little chip

on and they come back to the knock-on and we get the first scrum.

All Dragons so far, Tony. Good evening to you. Good evening,

everybody, fantastic by the Dragons, textbook. Quick, fastball, good use

of runners off the side. Just gives them a bit of breathing space. Nigel

Owens, I've seen some referees say that would be a deliberate knock

forward. Of course, it wasn't. The first scrum and it's a Dragons

scrum, and they couldn't be closer to the Ulster line, five metres

away. They have the best part of half a stone and advantage up front.

Ricky Lutton on the ice -- Ulster tight head side, making his fifth

start of the season. Ben White, the 32-year-old from New South Wales.

The referee has penalised Ulster in the scrummage. Ricky Lutton dropped

to his knees on the ground, which you are not allowed to do.

REFEREE: Knees to the ground. It's pretty clear from Nigel Owens in

terms of what the problem was, the Ulster tight head just unable to

take the pressure coming through from Phillip Price, sinking the turf

and straight in front of Nigel Owens, any decent referee is going

to give that as a penalty. Angus O'Brien. Makes no mistake.

If Ulster get a wake-up call after the second half with chorizo, that's

surely it from the opening four minutes from the Dragons. It's been

faultless, beautiful to watch. -- the second half with Treviso. Well

covered by Screech, who takes it in well. The Dragons again going

forward and a lot of enterprise by the visitors. That's a nice little

pass. Stuart Olding slightly wrong-footed there. Charlie Davies,

misses O'Brien taken on by the skipper. Gets it away to his hooker,

Elliot Dee. The pressure coming from Ulster.

It's a chilly old night, gloves and woolly hats the order of the

evening. Lots of invention early doors from the Dragons, good use of

the feet, looking to attack the space, going to ground nice and

early, good placement of the ball. Lovely quick service from Charlie

Davies at nine as well. Craig Gilroy has moved infield, and I stake at

the back by Robbie Diack. Pienaar, Humphreys looking for Gilroy. Good

strong burst by the inside centre. Pienaar again, Darren Cave took a

good line, this is better stuff by Ulster. A good release. Lubbock, who

has signed on for another year after this one, Ulster is delighted to say

-- Ludik. Better stuff now from the men in white. This Wilson, Cave,

Olding. Gathered and into touch. By Carl Meyer, the 24-year-old from

Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. Good pressure by Ulster, much

better. Can-macro lovely start, beautifully caught by Meyer and he

made no mistake with the pick-up. Six and a half minutes gone. Ulster

within striking distance of the Dragons' line. Well taken in by

Peter Browne. Ulster started the try scoring off a week ago in Italy from

this very position. Can they do it again against the opposition from

Wales? Good defence by the Dragons. Pienaar, to Gilroy, well taken by

Phil Price. Pienaar again. Ulster getting ever closer. Peter

Browne, looking for his second league try. Humphreys did well. Well

picked up by Stuart Olding. But he has nudged it forward and the

advantage didn't come to the Dragons and they get put into the scrum.

Ulster are doing 95% of it right. Yes, 95%. Some good defensive

pressure there from the Dragons, the better option for Darren Cave was to

hold on but we see Ulster going through the phases. A long body for

Peter Browne and you see Cave initially at the second bite of the

cherry, possibly he should have held onto that rather than just sending

it outside to Olding, who couldn't pick up the low pass. He missed a

lot of rugby but my goodness he looks as if he is about to make up

for it. The second senior game since that second all knee injury way back

against Cardiff in March on this very ground. The second scrum of the

evening, the first resulted in a penalty. Phil Price has played for

Wales' under 18 and under 20 level. -- and under 20 level. Nigel Owens

explaining where he wants the front rows to have their heads and

shoulders. To make it all perfectly legal and safe, you have to say.

REFEREE: Had this side. Davies with the ball.

Trying to get the stage on, well done by Pienaar, disrupted Davies

completely. The Dragons have recovered and made

a bit of ground, trying to give the men behind a bit of space in which

to clear the ball. Taken on by Ed Jackson, the number eight. Davies

loves to kick. Has he found his touch? He has. Gilroy gathers. Is a

very encouraging opening scrum from Ulster, making Dragons use their

young forwards. Jackson controls the back and Pienaar was onto it as

quick as a flash. Callum Black telling Rob Herring

where they want the ball thrown. Nigel Owens telling Ulster they have

to get themselves sorted out a bit more quickly. Well taken by Brian

Pienaar. Across the ten metre line of the Dragons. Pienaar again.

Nicely done. That's not a bad kick, oh... They have to come back for the

scrum. The option given to the Dragons by Nigel Owens or, the 22

drop out or the scrum from the point where the ball was kicked. Ludik, if

it had gone to the right, it would have been perfect. It needed more

spin on it but that the favoured option of Ulster, hit it midfield

and sweet back down the blindside using the full-back, hoping to tax

the opposition going to defend the openside. 12 games played, four

wins, eight losses, in 10th position. Ulster the same number of

games played, seven wins and five losses, but a pile of bonus points,

five from try bonuses and four from losing bonuses.

Problems on the far side of the scrum, the Ulster Lucent side, with

Callum Black up against Brok Harris. -- loosehead side. Nigel Williams is

not thought of man you want to start messing about with. You know exactly

where you stand, his reputation precedes him. It's not about thing,

it's terrific to see him in games like this and why wouldn't he? He's

probably doing it again on Sunday somewhere.

That's a mess. He's going to have to get this sorted out though. His

assistants, both Nigel Carl and Shane Kieran is and Kevin begs for

the RFU is the TMO. Nigel is calmness personified.

REFEREE: Get this scrum sorted, both sides. Somebody said, yes sir.

Now, if this one is not right it's going to be a penalty. It looks OK.

A bit of a squeeze by Ulster. Pienaar comes round, picked up by

Jackson but he got Pienaar at the same time. Good work once again by

Ulster's vastly experienced scrum-half. Hallam Amos is is coming

off the left wing to help. Davies has put just about the right amount

of weight on that. A wonderful trick by Gilroy. He rose to that.

That's the Jacobs -- Jason Stockdale to chase, and he does. Its comeback

in the Ulster side. Carl Meyer on the ground. Needed to put a bit more

on that, the referee has said the advantages are over and the Dragons

clear, gathered in by Robbie Diack, taken quickly. Herring is out wide,

as quick as three quarters. Oh, is in there. Pienaar covered a

lot of ground. -- O'Connor is in there. Across the halfway line.

A chance of an overlap here. This is Cave, a good strong run by Cave and

well taken by his opposite number, Adam Hughes. Off-loaded nicely to

Black. Good hands by the prop. Clever by Humphreys. Into Matthew

Screech. Ulster might have an advantage out wide. Ricky Lutton

sets it up. They miss out Wilson, good take by Olding and again and

Ulster kick, not a very clever kick, but it was knocked on in the

attempted gather by the Dragons. It's all a bit lacking, isn't it?

Ulster coming side to side, looking for holes. You need the outside

runners to be straightening the line-up and trying to fix the

defenders to create the space on the outside. It's all well and good

running across but if the drift defence goes with you you are

cutting out your room and your options.

Well, coming up to 15 minutes played, and Ulster behind by the

only penalty from O'Brien of the Dragons' outside-half.

Charlie Davies, the man who spilled the ball forward. Ulster's scrum

this time and that line is the ten metre line Sean Reidy on the

openside scored tries in the last two appearances for Ulster, looking

for another one tonight. Wilson with the pick-up.

Good run by Stockdale. Nice to see him stretch those big, long legs.

Couldn't quite get it away, advantage to the Dragons. Can they

take advantage? I think they might be able to. Quick stuff, away goes

Ashton Hewitt. He is seriously pacey. Too many Ulster players

missed him. He has been four or five players before somebody gets to him.

This is very good counterattacking by the Dragons. Nic Cudd gets it

away nicely. A chip kick through, somebody is going to have to be

quick. That might be a score. Nicely done by Adam Hughes. He has got into

the corner and Ulster have gone from the opposition 22, to their own 22,

in the blink of an eye they conceded a try. Fantastic piece of play,

Ashton Hewitt was man of the match last week against Leinster and he

shreds at the right-hand side. Look at the transfer, a dink of the right

foot, wasn't that Tredwell? Anticipated the low bounce on the

surface. Helping to put hands on the ball, Adam Hughes skips over the

corner -- skids over the corner. Are perfectly placed kick from full-back

Carl Meyer and he was dived about five or six metres away. Skated in

for the try will stop perfect execution. Sometimes you just have

to anticipate that and go forward. Sometimes you look silly, other

times you come up smelling of roses that occasion Adam Hughes covered

himself in glory. Angus O'Brien with the penalty

already and it looks like a conversion to go with it. What a

good kick. Well, who would have anticipated that? Everyone except

Lyn Jones. They have been good value. It's their speed of thought

and speed of foot movement. They are not taking all the static targets,

they are moving their feet, getting into space, creating quick ball

which is giving them tempo and causing Ulster problems out wide.

Ulster's kicking is very poor. Humphreys with the restart. Gathered

in by Meyer. He finds a pretty safe touch. You'd like to see Ian

Humphreys maybe get is forwards a bit more chance of receiving all

competing for the kick-off, up the Ulster left hand flank, makes it a

simple exit strategy for the Dragons. The fourth start of the

season for the 33-year-old, Ian Humphreys.

Well taken in by Diack. Good work by Stuart Olding. Dragons in the way.

Back to Roger Wilson. Runs into Ben White. The Dragons up very quickly,

right on that gain line. Then it's Pienaar, again Alan O'Connor makes

some ground. Quick ball now, Humphreys. Nicely away to Gilroy.

Here is Stockdale. A chip and gathered in some might have been

better having a go on his own. He is only 19 years of age, Jacob

Stockdale. This is a big occasion for him, 15 or 16,000 people here

this evening, 15 minutes with Treviso last week. He's a big guy,

isn't he? He has done well, because the line-out is going Ulster's way.

Certainly Herring and Diack are almost telepathic in the way they

hook up with each other. Diack has almost become Ulster's primary

line-out forward this year such has been the quality of the ball he has

produced. This time it is Peter Browne. Is it too far out to have an

assault on the line? Surely Elliot Dee is coming offside, the referee

has the hand-out. Light years offside. No advantage. Advantage

coming to Ulster. I'm pretty sure the last game put into the corner.

Which is an interesting one, you are 10-0 down, halfway through the first

half, the line-out has been going especially well. Ulster like the

option of the driven line-out. Pienaar looks as if he's going for

the corner. The referee is telling the Dragons and their skipper that

the line-out was still going, so the player came in offside of the

line-out. Pienaar has found the corner. Can Ulster find the target

and the opposition line? A good take yet again by Ulster.

This time it was O'Connor. Here come the Dragons, trying to squeeze into

the touchline. Pienaar gets himself in. Advanced stuff by Ulster. They

are over the line, I don't think they've got the ball down though.

Held up, there's going to be a five metres scrum. Good effort by Ulster,

great defending by the Dragons. Yes, great defending by the Dragons,

sacrificing everything. The momentum takes them towards the touchline and

the Dragons try to get the squeeze on and just as Ulster look as if

they will drive that over, just enough to withstand from the

Dragons. You see Sean Reidy at the back, the try scorer last week and

Treviso, some very, very good defending. Ed Jackson, the number

eight, sacrificing himself there. Brilliant defence. Pienaar has

missed the past couple of games with a rather nasty virus. Starting his

10th game of the season. A big scrum this, we're into the second quarter

of this game Ulster, trailing by 10-0 two are very impressive Dragons

side. Pienaar leaves it for Wilson to control it, Charlie Davis trying

to swoop. There goes Wilson. Needs a bit of help, he has got it now.

Dragons have slowed it down. Peter Browne, Ulster have lost a bit of

momentum. They are trying to regain it. Pienaar on the far side, Olding

bundled into touch. Good Dragons defending. There might have been

offside by the Dragons, Nigel Owens looks as if he has awarded the

penalty. Perhaps being slightly unfair to Ian

Humphreys, perhaps he should download it more with the ball, he

gave the path to Olding and didn't attack any of the defenders. You see

one, then two, I don't think there was much room out there to be fair.

It was the Dragons line-out, that it seems, and they have won the ball.

Sean Reidy with the tackle on Ben White. It might have been Jackson

who took it forward. That's a good touch. The Dragons

have got their defence pretty well sorted out, and that exit strategy

is working pretty well. Absolutely, I sat and watched a tape of them

against Leinster and they were very, very good, well structured, lots of

pace in the game, defensively very sound. Not a lot of Stallard names

in their side but they worked very hard for themselves. They have made

six changes from last week so the squad they are starting to put

together is starting to come to fruition as well. O'Connor wins it,

Humphreys Tom Cave. A little dummy. Pienaar switches. Taken on once

again by O'Connor. A hop and a skip. Nabbed by the

Dragons' skipper, Reynard Landman. Stockdale has done well to set it

up, well released. Callum Black, Ulster's loosehead prop, the Dragons

tackling is first class. Cave through the gap, nicely done. A bit

of momentum being built now by Ulster. Well taken by Humphreys. I'm

not sure who that was meant to be too.

Ulster still in possession but it is slow now. Back to Gilroy. Humphreys

again. The Dragons defending one on one. Well read by the men in black

and red. Ulster being patient, that is good work by Peter Browne.

Good work by Reid. Can you believe it? Three tries in three successive

games for Reid. That was classic Andy Ward as well, a former number

seven. A man who has really come on with his game, he is showing his

spurs. Sheer determination and pace and a lot of strength and

conditioning, kept the hips down, riding the first tackle and getting

away from the defender. Superb work by Reid. That is the game Ulster

have to play, the high tempo game, looking for holes the fence of. They

do not want to throw the ball from side to side, the Dragons are

defending with one man would sometimes just one defender. They

also need a good pick and go to get more defenders in, there is space,

it is a wide-open game. A fantastic kick by Ian Humphreys. The wrong

side of the field for a left footed kicker. Another look at Reidy's try,

look at the strength. He gets the ball on the right hand as well. He

gets side on. Stockdale off-loads to Roger Wilson.

That is a good kick by Ludick. The Dragons hoping to respond

immediately. Angus O'Brien back inside. Looking

to slow them down. Ben White on a short-term loan from

Exeter. The kick goes straight into touch. Better from Ulster

defensively. More intent. Just forcing Angus O'Brien to overcook

that. First-time Peter Browne has been in

tandem. Band of getting a well earned rest after playing almost

every single game. Great throwing and catching. Olding looks like he

was in a bit of trouble. Nice dummy by the big fellow. Ulster have

managed to lose that. The interception by Humphreys. The

referee said there was no advantage to the Dragons and that won't count.

Jackson is watching but it will be back to reality in a matter of

seconds. He did say advantage. Nigel has not moved an inch either,

standing there. Another man looking for three tries in a row, Humphreys.

He still has the pace? He has, very pacey over the 15, 20 metre mark.

Almost half an hour played, looking a bit better for Ulster but they are

on the wrong end of the scoreline. Good control by the Dragons. O'Brien

looking for some width. This is the try scorer, and shoes, away to

Ashton Hewitt who is very speedy. Carl Mason has come up to add his

weight. Taken on nicely by Jackson, the number eight. Ulster hanging on

by their fingertips. Good movement. Adam Warren, the Welsh international

who got his solitary Welsh cap when he was playing for Scarlets. Ulster

having to defend once again, they won't want to concede anything more

before the interval. The defence a little bit stretched on the far

side. They have made the tackle. Good steel by Stockdale. Pienaar

gets it away. What a kick by Pienaar, Angus O'Brien has no option

but to go for touch. And he has found touch, he has not. It goes the

19-year-old, Stockdale, still going, here goes Reidy again. The crowd

really starting to enjoy this. A little cut past. What about the

kick? It was Paul played by Craig Gilroy, Ulster need a few more

jerseys there. The tackle by Brok Harris. In goes Ludick to help.

A little check by the loosehead prop. Good continuity by Ulster.

Have Ulster managed to have that one turned over. They have given away

the penalty. There was a great chance, I think it was Ricky Luton

who gave away the penalty. The game opening up for both sides, two good

touches from Jacob Stockdale. Some good clearing work at the ruck as

well. His low centre of gravity, he has that in abundance. He is almost

wrong enough and good enough to go in and clean the ruck on his own and

buy some time for Pienaar to come along and clear. Concern about the

Dragons number eight, Jackson. He has had spells with Bath, Wasps,

London Welsh and Doncaster. His first season with the Dragons and it

looks like he will leave the field. He is certainly not overawed by the

occasion in his first full appearance. The ad headquarters,

Stockdale's run setting up the charge by Reidy. Good hands and good

communication, he knew where the man was and here he is showing his

strength, ripping the ball away. Similar proportions to Stuart

McCluskey intends of that ability to get his hands through the channel.

And he is enjoying this. I was talking to Sam Arnold before the

game. He tells me that he is a couple of days younger than Jacob

Stockdale, they played at a couple of Junior World Cups. This is what

Ulster need to produce, we talked about this last week, having the

academy system that gets the good young schoolboys and keeps hold of

them for two or three years and get them beefed up in terms of physical

stature but in their appreciation of the game and then having games like

this to get them in. James Benjamin has come on to replace Ed Jackson.

It looks like it might be a dead leg or a hamstring. Plenty of ice on the

back of that so it looks like the hamstring has been tweaked. Six and

a half minutes to the interval and Ulster trailing by three points.

Getting pressure on the Dragons line-out, winning it at the second

attempt. Roger Wilson penalised. I think Roger put his ears and the

head down, he did not even looked at him, the new he was in the wrong.

Good kick by my. A good platform, a little bit on the anxious side, he

has watched his side perform not well in the opening 40 minutes only

to come back and they will have to do that again tonight. Sometimes, it

takes that thing at half-time to make a tactical switch and work on

their spacing in the second half. Landman could not control the ball.

This is Adam Warren and the tackle by Humphreys, he got clattered in

the back off the ball. Fair enough says the referee. Ben White picks it

up. Dragons looking for something else before the interval. Phil Price

makes a bit of ground. Dragons pressing into the final five

minutes of the opening 40. Davies pops it up to Benjamin, the

replacement. Good support by Matthew Screech, here come the Dragons

again. O'Brien had no way through. Davies again. The brass band

striking their beat. A nice pass. How did he manage to get that away?

Weigh on says the referee, nothing wrong with that. A little knock

forward and Ulster will be relieved. Great stuff by the Dragons. It is

Hughes in midfield with Landman, you see the ball coming up, looking at

the step here, he goes inside, he does well, going through the gate

and just an unfortunate knock-on by Angus O'Brien but the Dragons have

been full of invention and good to watch. Nigel Owens has let the game

go, a fantastic flow and tempo to it and enjoyable for the large crowd

here. Ulster still inside their 22, Diack

make some ground. Good Dragons defending. Enterprising stuff for

Ulster and they get the penalty. Pienaar anxious to get on with it

with only two and a half minutes remaining.

That is a pretty decent touch. Nigel Evans expending his decision again.

-- Nigel Owens. What a great take by Diack. A little

bit telegraphed. Diack well away to Humphreys. Picked up by Ludick.

That is all over the place. Ulster managing to retrieve it.

Now there is a chance. Three men outside Ludick. Still therefore

Ulster. O'Connor leaves it. Dear oh dear. Stockdale goes all the

way back. I do not think he will be given any problems but away by the

teenager. There is a lack of precision, too many passes going

down instead of something simple and straightforward. Ulster are asking

questions in terms of probing for inside shoulders but if the pass

accuracy is not there, you will struggle to break down a defensive

line. The referee has called last play of this half.

Asking one of the Dragons players if he is in or out of the line-out.

Well taken by the Dragons skipper. Elliot Dee 's is tucked in at the

back. Trying to squeeze a penalty out of the referee. Here they come

again. Adam Warren puts the head down. That is nicely done by Charlie

Davies, saw a gap and just about got through it, still therefore the

Dragons. Out to Brok Harris, as long as they

have the ball they will stay patient. There is time to do

something with it. Angus O'Brien, right footed, not going to make it.

Gathered in by Jacob Stockdale. And it is the new boy who ends the first

half. Not an altogether satisfactory first half for Ulster, 10-0 down and

in a bit of trouble but it Sean Reidy got his first try and his

third in successive games. A lot to do, would you anticipate changes?

Certainly all of the flair and invention has come from the Dragons

in the first half. Ulster have all the work to do in the second half.

Off they go, they will get a nice 15 minute rest and a cup of something

warm and Ulster will have to buck themselves up again, there will be

some hard talking done in the Ulster dressing room at half-time, as there

has been in recent weeks. In recent weeks it has paid off and they have

produced good second-half performances. They will need to

produce a good second-half performance to win this game and go

top of the Pro12 table. STUDIO: Both teams providing plenty

of Friday night entertainment, we will have your thoughts on the first

40 minutes. Very good, the Dragons have come here and thrown the ball

around. The standard of rugby has been very high but I think Nigel

Owens has let the game flow which is good to see. Compare to what we saw

last week. This game it will be tough for Ulster to win, 10-7 at

half-time, but a good standard of rugby so far. It has been very good,

if I was one of the forwards me Ulster team, I would be frustrated,

the Baxter worked hard going through several phases and then some airy

passes and they don't need to do that, they need to be more clinical

at times. We need to be a bit more clinical and the final passes are

not going to hand and we cannot be too fancy about things. Get the job

done and keep going forward and winning the ball and earning respect

from each other. We talked about it last week, I said about keeping it

tight and working the forwards and the tries will come. The ball has

been thrown side to side, I know it is brilliant to watch but sometimes

it is about taking it up the gut and tire the other team out. A bit more

mauling and the tries will come. Everybody knows Ulster should be

beating the Dragons but they need to wear them down first. As we saw with

the Dragons score, they have an opportunity, Ulster will be

disappointed with the defending but it was an absolutely fabulous score.

It could be try of the season, fantastic play. Ulster in possession

of the ball, your own worst enemy here. 50-50 coming back, trying to

go the short line. They should be holding that ball. This was Super

Rugby. You should not be getting past that many. Even you would not

have got past that many. Ulster at sixes and sevens. Dragons have come

here to play rugby, working hard of the ball and they are going well and

this is fantastic execution and the best part I liked about the whole

thing was Nigel Owens awarding the tribe, not going upstairs, the knows

what he needed to see. Good pace to finish off as well. The guy gets in

in the corner. A great team try but it was the turnover that cost us.

And the slipped tackles. We are now behind on the scoreboard. Great

response by Ulster and a fabulous score by a player turning in good

performances recently. Sean Reidy has been outstanding, they have been

having some good seasons, the workrate has been coming here, going

through it, through the phases, this is what we talked about. Keeping the

ball and being more accurate. He has done exceptionally well, good to see

strength in the tackle, accelerating through it, the good handoff to

finish off and a good reward from very good play. He finishes well and

is so strong on his feet. You saw the left arm fending off the

defender. But again, Ulster are a little bit predictable. One, too, at

the back door, then wide into the wider channels and then coming back

again. If I was the Dragons, I would be coming up and seeing where the

ball is going, it is very predictable and they will be talking

about that at half-time. What about the disallowed try for Humphreys?

Yes. The referee knew exactly what he was doing. He gave the advantage,

he did not move off his mark the whole time, good to see in stretches

legs but to no avail. Great celebrations but the referee had

called it. He timed it well which is what he does well. It would have

been funny if the number eight had caught him, I would have sent him a

few texts in the week. The look on his face says it all. Let us turn

our attention to the Six Nations championship which kicks off this

weekend. Let us look at the opening round of fixtures. First up, France

and Italy followed by Scotland and England and on Sunday, Ireland

against Wales with live commentary on BBC radio Ulster and online. The

island Head Coach named his squad earlier today. It is a complete

overhaul from the team who lost to Argentina in the World Cup, just

three survivors in the starting 15, hard to believe. What stands out for

you in that team selection? For me it is still a strong team. He always

puts out a strong team, people are asking if he should but on a few

camps and it might be an experimental year, it does not work

like that in international rugby, it is about getting results. Ireland

will want to beat Wales. They have picked a team good enough to do it,

for me, but if they are off by five or 10%, it could be a long day at

the office. There are six regulars, Healy, Ross, O'Brien, all missing

which has presented an opportunity for stander to make his debut. You

made your debut in the Six Nations championship as well in the same

position, it is a big task. Yes but he has been playing every week at a

high-level, as opposed to me, I came from division three All-Ireland

rugby, it was a bit of a jump but it is an opportunity, a good solid

player and he will be excited. Probably a good shout he goes in at

the deep end and see where he goes but a lot of players are missing.

But it is a strong enough side, as good as we could put out given the

circumstances of provincial teams playing the way they are at the

moment. More 6-nation stuff in a moment but let us go pitch side.

Open and entertaining for the fans, maybe too much for a defensive

coach? We are lacking a little bit of intensity of the line defensively

and letting them play a little bit with the ball. We are comfortable to

soak them up rather than inducing change which is part of what we do.

On both sides of the ball, I think in the second half we need to lift

our intensity. Any changes coming? There are a few changes coming, a

few boys have done some meters out there and we need some fresh legs,

it is quite heavy, the message is to induce change. We cannot let them

survive in this game and that is what we are doing at the moment. We

will look ahead to the second half in a moment but back to the Six

Nations championship, looking at Island's opposition, Wales on

Sunday. That is a pretty impressive starting 15. Where they were in the

World Cup, they were still able to perform really well. And they get a

few boys back again, their squad gets stronger and stronger. They do

not have a bad record at the Aviva Stadium. They will fancy their

chances this weekend. Very much so, what makes them a strong side, you

can govern the way Welsh rugby will go at the moment given their

provincial club sides, Scarlets, Ospreys and Cardiff are all playing

exceptionally well and doing well in Europe and the domestic competition.

No better men, Jones is on fire, Alun Wyn Jones, inspirational in

everything he does. Addicting big things for the Lions but he is the

main man for me, when he is on fire, the whole team is singing. That will

be a challenge for the new Ireland captain, Rory Best, we have a

special online feature with him and we'll hear about Willie Anderson and

Willie John McBride and also, online, Ulster Rugby extra, check it

out on the BBC sport website. Ian Humphreys joined us in the studio

earlier this week. It has been a big night for a teenager, Jacob

Stockdale, what have you made of his performance? Very solid, he has done

the basics well and I look forward to watching him in the second half.

There are touches of class, it looks like he has some pace. I am looking

forward to what he can offer in the second half. He has done well, a

big, strong guy, the first on I have seen him play first hand. He has

done everything right and he is competing and getting into the rough

stuff and it is fantastic to see a 19-year-old getting in there and

mixing it up. He has a bit of something about him, that is for

sure. Job paragraph suggesting there would be changes, would you like to

see a change in the tactics? I would, there will be tired legs, it

was a heavy pitch last week. Some of the front row were struggling at the

end of the game and it is pretty heavy here tonight and there will be

changes made. They need to be more direct, before the game, they

properly wanted to throw it around but for me it is about getting

points on the board, sitting fit in the table, I do not care if it is

four points, we need to get further up the table. Where are those

Dragons team, wear them down, that is all we need to do. Everyone would

have loved to see Stuart McCluskey get a game for Ireland, no doubt

that will come, he is on the bench, we might see him introduced?

Hopefully. It is important he keeps playing so that he does not get too

rusty watching rugby, guys might that need to keep playing and he has

had a good season, he has been developing in the past year and he

has got better and better. I have no doubt he will get his Irish call at

some point and hopefully on to bigger things but it would be

fantastic to see him tonight. The game could using, a bit directness

and a punch forward, getting over the gain line and away we go.

Are you confident Ulster can win? Yes, I'm expecting a big half and

Stuart McCloskey will be on pretty quickly and hopefully a couple of

tries and maybe that bonus point. I know I said four points, but I'd

like to see them go for it. I didn't think it would come last week after

a fairly drab first half. It's been entertaining this evening. The teams

are on their way back out. That's the full stomach or can close this

game out in the second half in front of a packed Kingspan Stadium. Can

Les Kiss's men get the win tonight? Let's go back to the commentators.

They have been standing and sitting for the Ulstermen this evening, I

can see Stuart McCloskey down there, I can see Paddy Jackson down there,

so Ulster have brought on two of the big hitters in the back division.

Paddy Jackson wearing 22 to get the second half under way, Stuart

McCloskey wearing 23, released, as with Paddy Jackson, by the Irish

management. Rory Scholes was struggling to make this game at all.

A bit of a change between Paddy Jackson and the referee, Nigel

Owens, and Stuart McCloskey, people have tipped him to make his Six

Nations debut this weekend but I'm pretty sure it's not too far away.

Paddy Jackson, that's a good kick to start with. Well taken by Reynard

Landman, this Nanetti Dragons skipper, the big strong South

African -- Rynard Landman. Told to release. Roger Wilson takes it well.

Gets Ashton Hewitt at the same time. Ulster's number eight, has he made

it available? He has. Alan O'Connor, Ulster back inside that own half.

Given that a fair old son. Well taken by Calumet Moss -- Hallam

Amos. McCloskey straight into action, in

defensive mode. Back in the Dragons side, I'll scruffily. Angus O'Brien

is in there. The ball scoots back and is picked

up by O'Brien. That's going to be collected by Stuart Olding. He has

Stockdale outside him, and he goes straight. A good sidestepped by

Olding, to Darren Cave. A good run by Cave, couldn't quite get the pass

away. Still therefore Ulster. It has gone loose. It's going to be a 22

drop out, because Ulster kicked it over the line. That was a bit more

like it. Olding has slipped back with McCloskey occupying his initial

position at 12. Look at this for a set of feet, a swivel of a Hibs,

once or twice off the left foot inside to Darren Cave. Providing the

highlights in terms of line breaks from Ulster in the centre, it looks

as though it will continue with the full-back in the second half. Ian

Humphreys and Louis Ludik have departed the scene.

They have scored a couple of tries if I'm not mistaken not that long

ago against the Dragons playing 15, so he's back in that familiar

position. Happy at ten as well. The referee playing advantage for the

Ulster knock-on. The Dragons have moved up so advantageous is over.

The Dragons have managed to escape there. Reidy has to do a bit of

tackling. The Dragons have kept this alive nicely. Here goes Charlie

Davies. The Dragons hoping to do to Ulster what they did at the start of

the first half, that's scorer try. He juggles. They were half trapped

by Paddy Jackson. Got himself out of trouble. Ulster have a man down

their injured. It looks like it might be Roger Wilson. Taken on by

Alan O'Connor. A bit of anxiety I think amongst the Ulster medical

staff. Back to Olding, inside the 22. Not his greatest clearing kick

in the world but safe enough. Is it Robbie Diack who is down injured?

Yes, I think it's Diack. It's a positive start from Paddy Jackson as

well. It will be interesting to see how both him and Stuart McCloskey

bounceback after the undoubted disappointment of being left out of

Joe Schmidt's squad. I am sure that Joe Schmidt has one eye on this much

looking to see how they respond. What has gone in the Irish squad is

high quality, good performances week in, week out, and they have 40

minutes to reinforce what has got them there in the first place.

Robbie Diack put in a good tackle, rolled over on the back of his neck

and the Dragons pair rolled on top of him. The members of the Ulster

medical staff just lying prone, holding Robbie Diack's had as the

senior medical officer, Doctor Michael Webb. They are looking on

anxiously. I think you might have banged the back of his head. I kind

of... It's not the sort of thing you take risks with anymore. It's good

to see his arms move, initially didn't. He passes on his thoughts to

Diack, Williams missing in Treviso last week and he will add some grunt

and punishment to the Ulster pack in the second half. Such a formidable,

scary big fellow, he's actually quite a gentle soul. That's the best

news of the evening, never mind the scoreline. Robbie Diack is setting

up. He came down awkwardly on the back of his head and somebody came

down on top of him. He will have to go off, he may need to be assessed.

He is talking and his eyes look reasonably clear, from what we can

see from this angle. Nick Williams is on, Roger Wilson will go to

number six. Nigel Owens and the Ulster skipper

Rob Herring discussing the finer points of law. There's been a bit of

ambiguity in terms of how the Dragons have stacked the numbers

with the line-out. They put forward into the scrum-half position, I

think Rob Herring is asking for clarification, is he in the line-out

or a number down and standing in the scrum-half position? So Robbie Diack

leaves the field. Nick Williams goes on. In the meantime the Dragons have

the line-out, they pop it down to Ben White who will try to drive for

the Ulster line, with 22 metres to go. Williams is adding his

considerable bulk. A penalty against Ulster, that's been played, O'Brien

with the cross kick. Olding knocked it forward, they will come back with

a penalty to the Dragons. REFEREE: Don't break it and come

through. It was coming around the side of the maul and the line-out

there are Dragons were quite smart, rather than give them a chance to

get back onside they drove them straight back into it and made them

look even more obvious than what it was. Well, a mistake by Peter

Browne, that looks fine there, then he broke... While we are watching

the replay, amazingly, the Dragons have actually kicked the ball dead.

It's criminal, really. Classic great opportunity for a line-out close to

the Ulster line, that's a real kick in the teeth for the forwards. That

was really bad, it didn't matter how close to the line it was, it should

have gone straight into touch and Ulster have been offered the option

of the scrimmage, from the point where the kick was taken the 22 drop

out, and they've gone for the 22 drop out and Paddy Jackson will give

this a wallop, I'm sure, and he done. Davies takes. Into Roger

Wilson. The Dragons straightaway on the front foot. This is a very

mobile loosehead prop, Phil Price. Angus O'Brien, a nice little shimmy.

He's got away. He will not be happy with that defence by Ulster. The

Dragons on the front foot. Here comes Nic Cudd. Can he get outside?

The answer is no, but he has set it up. The Dragons and a great

position. The loosehead prop Price takes it forward. Just a few feet

from the Ulster line, there's that drive again. Well taken on, good

Ulster defending by Sean Reidy. Well, the Dragons throwing

everything. Remember, they had Leinster in awful conditions last

week at home. The captain, and I is little look round to the hooker,

once again Elliot Dee. Good defending by Roger Wilson, still

there for the Dragons. Meyer's is right through, what a good try.

Ulster in all sorts of trouble here at Ravenhill. That is absolutely

beautiful once again. He scored a cracker in the first half and that

is every bit as good. Carl Meyer has been outstanding this evening.

Trying to get off the line with speed defensively, just see it going

through the phases. The Dragons player coming in front of Meyer from

land and's pass but Nigel Owens was in a good position and was happy to

give the score and Ulster have to get back and get on with it --

Landman's pass. Chance of TMO, TMO, but I don't think, we will look at

this. Davies dug it out well, Landman flipped it away. There was

nothing wrong with that. It might have been an Ulster player, it was

Ruan Pienaar. Angus O'Brien, he hasn't made it. But the Dragons

ahead, by eight points, and we have played seven and a half minutes of

this second half. Ulster have it all to do. The second half has been all

Dragons. Ulster struggling for first-half possession, whenever they

do get it they are spilling ball, giving it away too easily and the

Dragons looked comfortable with ball in hand. There is the try scorer. He

has put in touch. You have to say this has been as

good and away performance at the Kingspan and in particular Hallam

Amos, the back five, in the back division, have been superb. Speed of

thought, good movement, they look very decisive with ball in hand. The

front row have been excellent with ball in hand and they make such a

difference. Good tempo all through the game, made Ulster look very

ordinary. O'Connor has it with the second bite, so to speak. Callum

Black with Nick Williams outside him. Dragons on the ground. Jackson

has given that a nice little clip. Angus O'Brien covers back. Lovely

feet by O'Brien. Gets away once again from a couple of would-be

defenders or attackers, attackers. No real outside-half, Matthew

Screech. This fellow can shift a little bit. A good tackle by

Stockdale. Matthew Screech takes it on again, a big mobile second row

forward. Accidental offside, according to Nigel Owens. Baggins

player with the ball running into one of his own men and gaining

advantage on it -- Dragons player. It's the vagaries of this game, it's

a rule, you look at it and think a bit of common sense by the letter of

the law yes it was obstruction but probably not. You see the ball

coming across, once again the Dragons looking comfortable. He

looks French defensively. You can see Landman being backed into, it

didn't give a massive advantage to the Dragons. Cala McCall has come

on, having missed the last couple of weeks. Off goes Callum Black. Unless

he gets injured. On comes McCall, for his 14th Ulster cap. He has been

one of the finds of the season, he was bubbling under for a while but

what a season he has had. Like Jacob Stockdale, a product of the Wallace

high school in Lisbon. Pienaar. Pienaar again. Why did

Craig Gilroy, foot on the gas. Ulster have thrown it away -- wide,

to Craig Gilroy. REFEREE: Scrum down, wide ball. They

might have felt Ulster should have been penalised there. But Nigel

Owens has explained that very concisely, as you'd expect. The

Dragons are happy just to sit and drift and use the touchline, show

them the outside, pushed them across, they find themselves in an

that an -- unenviable position of being unable to beat his man. He has

to fire back inside to nobody and the Dragons a bit unfortunate once

again. Pienaar, with another sad looking

Ulster scrimmage. Wilson at number eight. Pienaar to the openside.

Ulster need to add beef to this. Landman looked suspiciously offside.

Jackson, good pass. Stockdale read it nicely. It's a penalty. Ben White

the culprit. It was pretty obvious. Good footwork

by Jacob Stockdale yet again. It's been a highlight from both teams

this evening in terms of giving a good ball in hand conditions,

stepping off slow the ball alive and on this occasion Ben White does it,

nothing he could do about it and he knew he was in the wrong. Paddy

Jackson has put Ulster within six or seven metres of the Dragons line.

Can McCall pass it on the line-out call?

Roger Wilson obliges. Herring comes round. Ulster have it dropped into

the back. It looks like Sean Reidy. Going for a second try. This is good

stuff by Ulster. It's a penalty try. Reidy doesn't get a second one of

the night, but Ulster will get their second try, great forward control.

Is this going to be a tight turn? Potentially a tide turn, yes. He has

really fine tuned it. The ball goes to the back on this occasion, Roger

Wilson brings it down and it is Reidy in control, McCloskey joining

him from the back. Ulster sheared it off and as soon as the Dragons went

down Nigel Owens is on to the Post straightaway. Paddy Jackson has the

conversion and now we are down to a 1-point game. It was the Dragons'

second row Matthew Screech who was judged to have pulled down the maul

illegally. Nigel Owens had no hesitation to go underneath the

Dragons' post. A good piece of play by Ulster. Look at the work in front

of the maul, everybody in position driving legs, making it simple for

Reidy just to stay connected, make sure he doesn't leave the maul and

keeping control. Ross coming on for Reidy. There is Clive Ross. He

started a week ago, with Sean Reidy in the back row. Happy to play

number seven as well. Has he found his touch underneath? James

Benjamin, here goes Meyer. Gets into the Ulster half. Dragons still

playing with a lot of zip. That's knocked on by Ulster. The

referee playing advantage to the Dragons. They are told to get their

hands out of it, they don't want to concede anything more. They need to

consolidate. One more score will put them in the lead. It would give them

the points. They need to tackle a bit better than that though. Knocked

forward by the Dragons. Ulster will get the scrum. Tackling isn't the

highest quality. They are finding themselves numbers down and once

your number is down you can't fire. You have to offer that soft drift on

the outside and to try and control the space by using the touchline and

using what numbers you have. If you shut up too quickly you are stuffed.

But there are occasions in Ulster's midfield, a beautiful step in

midfield and the off-load, which was knocked on. The Dragons are finding

a chink or two of light in the Ulster defence this evening. That's

a dislocated finger and the only thing to do is grit your teeth and

have it pulled back. Rob Herring is more embarrassed than anything else.

He took his punishment like a brave little soldier, didn't it?

Absolutely, once he saw himself on the big screen, he had to be brave!

There are going to sort that out, lash it together. He's had a

terrific season, Rob Herring. Initially on the Irish Six Nations

panel but for people like Sean Cronin and Ricard Strauss ahead of

him it was always going to be tough, but his day will come. He's only 25

years of age. It's consistency of performance, week in, week out,

that's what the National Trust -- selectors were looking for. --

national selectors were looking for. He is adding to his reputation and

it will stand him in great stead. A decent amount of applause for

Ulster's skipper to come back into this scrum. It is being played at a

fair old pace and the crowd are enjoying it but not enjoying the

fact Ulster are trailing and we are fast approaching the end of the

third quarter of this game. All the Dragons need to do with sneak

another point here or there will stop the Jones boys. A great

position for Ulster, the ten metre line, centrefield scrum, Craig

Gilroy straight behind the scrum getting himself an option to go

either left or right. Perhaps the over like -- overlap would suggest

right. The Dragons taking that down. That's

the best that piece of evening. It's brought the penalty. They are going

for Paddy Jackson to pop it into the Dragons' territory. Terrific

fretwork by the Ulster front row. Ricky Lutton gave away the first

penalty, he did particularly well against Phil Price. It's a statement

of intent, Ulster starting hopefully from their point of view to turn up

the fire of it. Great scrum, great control by Nick Williams at the

back. He is happy to keep it in there as a unit, and there is joy.

He will be playing his club ruff -- club rugby in Cardiff next year.

Good support at the back by Clive Ross. Landman looking suspiciously

offside. Ulster still moving forward. Stockdale on the narrow

side. A little chip for Gilroy to chase. This could work out nicely!

Gilroy couldn't quite gather. Knocked forward. It's going to be a

22 to the Dragons, that was so close. Nicely constructed, great

work by O'Brien. Watch his positioning. We see Pienaar spin to

Jackson, who puts the ball in the corner. Look out for O'Brien here.

Just puts himself between himself and the and Craig Villeroy to make

it difficult for Gilroy and that saves the 5-point. It's a wonder

anybody touched that because I thought it might have been knocked

over the line by O'Brien. Stockdale leaves it for McCloskey. Gets across

the halfway line. Ulster now on the front foot. A bit rusty there by the

replacement prop, Darren Cave. The crowd appeal. The referee says

play on. Browne has been hurt in that. I don't think that crowd like

that, I don't think they like Ben White. Know, a bit of a swinging

arm. He went down quickly, head contact. I wouldn't say he lost

consciousness but he took quite a stir from the blue he received.

REFEREE: He was out. Nigel Owens is saying that he will have to leave

the field for ten minutes, but he wants to have a look at that.

Initially he didn't think there was anything wrong with it, I'm not so

sure. Ruan Pienaar takes the ball, left-arm spin pass,... I don't think

there's an awful lot in it. The arm came round and swung him round. It

took him high, he courted by the neck and threw him to the ground by

the neck. I don't know. I don't know. I think Nigel is going to have

to do something. It's going to be a card, you know. It's going to be

card, unfortunately Ulster will lose Browne and they don't have

replacement second row forward. REFEREE: The issue is she went in

high, we don't go in like that. Count yourself lucky that isn't a

yellow card. Off you go. So off he goes and full marks to Nigel Owens

for having a look at that. He's initial reaction was nothing wrong,

Browne is going to have to go for ten minutes. Ulster will have to

bring on a replacement hooker, John Andrew, to play the back row. I

think Nigel Owens says it's more reckless than intent. I'm still not

sure. He catches him in with both his hands ending up on the back of

the shirt and drags him down but for me there's no real contact with the

head. Yes, it's high, yes mothers intend to play the man, the tackle

should have been lower. But a yellow card as Nigel Owens has pointed out,

the earlier one which Ben White gave away towards his own try line of the

second one in close succession, perhaps it is the accumulation of

both that has got in the yellow. Ulster have lost Robbie Diack, the

main source of line-out ball, now they have lost Peter Browne, albeit

for ten minutes. He will be assessed and may be back on. And Ulster will

have to strike when the Dragons are down to 14 men. Yes, something else

they are good at this reason, whenever the opposition have a man

sanctioned to the bin, they have usually been able to turn the heat

up and put points on the board. Line-out option may be the main

worry here, Clive Ross coming to jump at the front. Well taken by

O'Connor, Dragon is not contesting. So Ulster did all the catching, but

the ball was transferred before the forward movement took place. That

means it's going to be a Dragons scrum and the Dragons have brought

on the formidable presence of the 35-year-old New Zealander Boris

Stankovich, who had seven pretty successful seasons playing for the

Leicester Tigers. The Dragons are still very much alive, still very

much thinking about what their process is here. The first occasion

they've used that tactic this evening. Ulster really caught, not

going through the proper procedure and options, well played, the

Dragons. Still inside the third quarter, but only just. A point

between them. 10-7 to the Dragons at the interval, then it was 15-7,

thanks to Carl Meyer's try, adding to the first half tries from Adam

Hughes, and Ulster came back with a penalty try.

The Dragons have brought in Ashton Hewitt to play on the flank of this

scrum. It is that putting, mind you. Stankovich has stabilised it, well

away to Meyer. That has found, not found touch. Here comes Stuart

Olding, what is he going to do? That is higher again. That's awful!

Stankovich on the field, he may be off the field. There is a cut. The

referee playing advantage to Ulster. There's not a lot of room on this

side. Stockdale comes in field, still advantage to Ulster. Taken on

by Andrew. The penalty is going to be given now. This might be within

kicking range. REFEREE: Time-out. Could this be a

second yellow card? Stankovich the culprit, holding his hands as if to

say, I'm sorry. Well, of course ears.

REFEREE: I know it was an accident, you were slipping and you got him

high. Careful, please, I'm not going to continue this. That was an

accident. Just a penalty, just a penalty. Here comes Olding. A little

sidestep. Well, he slid up the back of the head. He is beaten by his

feet, a great step from Olding and Stankovich bent the legs and got low

enough there, slip under his arm. Paddy Jackson has gone for the

corner. If he had fingernails they would be

pretty well chewed by now. Robbie Diack and Peter Browne not in the

line-out, so it's really just Alan O'Connor, the Dragons will be

marking him. Cleverly done at the front. John Andrew the replacement

has tucked in the back, Ulster going for another drive. The Dragons down

to seven forwards. The Dragons of sight yet again, Ulster trying to

keep their shape and keep the ball in hand. There's Pienaar, Darren

Cave has a go from close range. Quick ball to Pienaar, taken on by

McCall. Here goes Williams. Thundering forward. Oh dear.

Brilliant by Nick Todd, just doing enough over the top of Nick Williams

to stay on his feet. Nigel Owens was in the right place at the right time

again and right on the money. He is thoroughly the smallest forward on

the field, Nick Cuthbert, he punches above his weight, the dragon is not

in a great rush to get this away, just 20 minutes remaining and Ulster

trailing by a point, what a difference that could make? It could

mean staying fit in the table or moving up to first in a game that

Ulster cannot afford to lose. Certainly not, the Dragons slowing

everything down. Nigel Owens again asking them to speed things up. They

both through the process, the space is there and the Dragons are tiring,

you would expect Jackson and McCloskey to find an opening of some

sort in the Dragons defence. Davies with the kick. Well taken by Craig

Gilroy, needs to evade the defender and he has. Head down. Jackson.

A strong hand off, away to Stockdale but it is forward, the referee

waiting for an advantage. The Dragons asked if they want the

advantage and they say absolutely not. Jacob Stockdale looking for the

aliyah inside. McCloskey just throwing it away. I think Cave

overran head slightly as well. The idea was right. The idea was perfect

and Stockdale had no other option because the defender was taking him

into touch so he looked for the past but not able to execute

unfortunately. -- the I have stopped the clock until you

tell me you are ready. We are not wasting time. I think he has

cottoned on to the fact they are wasting time, trying to slow the

game down. Ulster can get a huge squeeze in

this scrum. Quickly away by the Dragons, O'Brien will kick, it came

off Paddy Jackson. Meyer goes all the way back, he has done well, the

Dragons full-back, challenged by John Andrew who is told to release

it. And the two Ulster here, good work by Nick Williams, comes

swarming through, by Ulster. A lot of men out if they can move it, well

away by Jackson, surely Ulster must get in, Cave, Gilroy. Up and over.

Two meters away. Pienaar with ball-in-hand, here goes McCloskey.

Needs to get the body round and he has. Kyle McCall, great Dragons

defence. Ian ard changes his mind and goes left, Darren Cave again.

Three men outside Olding. Still therefore Ulster. Pienaar looking

left then right. Ricky Lutton. Nick Williams. Three or four Dragons

digging their claws into him. The Dragons defending mightily. The ball

back on the Ulster side, Paddy Jackson. Craig Gilroy, coming from

nowhere, Pienaar, surely this time, McCloskey has a go himself. Still

there. Just one good big stretch might do it. Alan O'Connor. Good

pick-up by Benjamin. Still Pienaar, Darren Cave, here goes Gilroy and

again the Dragons putting up a magnificent rearguard action.

Jackson, surely, Roger Wilson, he has gone over. He does not get too

many, Roger Wilson but that is a significant one. 64 minutes played,

Ulster go into the lead for the first time. They will be delighted

with that, they were baying for the long cutout pass and it is not

always the right option, happy to recycle and take their time. Go

through the phases and the pass will open. They held the left wing for

two minutes but he got his due reward. Lovely transfer by Paddy

Jackson. Nigel Owens is not letting Paddy Jackson take the conversion

because he wants to check something. I do not think that was a forward

pass and Roger was not in touch. I have had a call from the TM over

who wants to check something. DTM oh once do check something, and

infringement or a forward pass before the try was scored. -- TMO.

I am not sure this goes against Ulster. This is within the protocol.

I am seeing nothing here. Still a bit confusing here. It has not got

up on the screen. Someone is trying to look at what has happened. I am

as much in the dark as you are. The TMR is looking at it now, I am not

sure what he is looking at. We should be able to see it on the

screen. This is McCloskey, going forward,

that was spilled forward. That went forward, knocked on. That means the

try is not going to stand. No try, knock-on. That knock-on by Stuart

McCloskey means Ulster do not have their third try. The TMO were spot

on. That is what he is therefore, well picked out. What he referred

to, the two protocol, if it is you within two rocks, because it was

inside, he is happy to go back and give the advantage back to the

Dragons which means the scrum going to the Dragons. I think the Dragons

have made another change in the front row, I think Brok Harris has

gone off and Sean Knight has come on, wearing number 18. It is still

the Dragons leading, Ulster thought they had taken the lead for the

first time. Just over 15 minutes remaining, nip and tuck. The last

passage of play, that is the way Ulster will break down the Dragons.

It is with tempo and patients as well. Getting the squeeze on,

getting the scrum round. Nigel Owens saying the scrum has come up. The

clock is ticking away and the Dragons will be quite happy to adopt

this tactic. They still have a man in the bin as well, Ulster trying to

look on the squeeze but the Dragons sacrificing Adam Hughes this time on

the blindside on the flank. Also all of the forwards need to work

together and try and get a turnover at scrum time. I do not see any sign

of Peter Browne coming back so Ulster will have to make do with a

makeshift back. Charlie Davies has played well and pops it in. Driven

off the back by Benjamin, he got far too far. Davies kicks. Olding

gathers it. He has put just about the right amount of weight on that.

It is not forward and he is hurt, he is hurt. This is an awful night for

Ulster rugby. My goodness, he got absolutely clobbered. After a great

take, I would like to see that tackle. He was out in a flash. A

huge look of anxiety on the face of the Ulster director of rugby, Stuart

Olding absolutely flattened. Is there no end to this young man's

awful run of luck? The clock has stopped with 14 minutes to go. A

little chip himself and he jumped and he caught it and he ran into

Maher, was he attempting the tackle there? There was no intent in the

tackle. He has played it with no hands, more of a shoulder charge

than anything. He stops and does nothing wrong, I have told you what

has happened and that is the end of the conversation. The Ulster player

said, Rob Herring said that, a new was responsible for that but Nigel

Owens disagreed. Olding 's is sitting up and he is looking around,

this is encouraging but anxious looks an worried Ulster faces. The

smelling salts have seen some action this evening. Still no sign of Peter

Browne coming back on. Stuart Olding may well have to go off. Paul

Marshall is going to have to come on and play on the wing with Craig

Gilroy. Or will he go into the centre? Craig Gilroy will go to

full-back and Marshall on the wing. Olding looks fine but Craig Gilroy

going to full-back. This is an extraordinary game of rugby. Plenty

of stoppages this evening, almost like last week.

The clock stops again, just under 14 minutes remaining. James Benjamin

play number eight for the Dragons. A good squeeze by the opposition

forwards and they get the penalty. And this will give the Dragons, the

first time in 20 minutes to get in. 'S half. Defensively, they want the

ball and clear the lines, a safety to touch to try and launch their

first real meaningful attack in a substantial period of time. Carl

Meyer finds a very good touch. That is the saddest looking league I have

ever seen. I am not sure it will make it to the Aviva Stadium for

Sunday's International. Taken by the Dragons skipper,

Landman. They will be content with a 1-point lead, if they can squeeze

something out of this, they will be even happier. I'll start battling

away but here come the Dragons, looking for a gap in the Ulster

defence. Picked up by Davies. That was forward. Taken on by Cory

Hill, the Dragons replacement. Ulster need to get a foothold back

in this game, quite clearly forward on this occasion. Cory Hill in a

physician where he should not have been given the ball by Charlie

Davies. Ross about to take the field for Ulster. We have not seen

predictive headgear for a while. 11 and a half minutes remaining.

Ulster not where they want to be. Picked up by Williams. Good sidestep

by Ulster. That is not very good by Ulster,

they have lost 25 metres but still have possession. Jackson, good call

by him. First move by Little Paul Marshall. The Dragons tackling like

men possessed. Williams picks it up. Pienaar goes in and Ulster give away

a penalty. You get the feeling this is not their evening? It is just

inaccuracy, the ball is there, Nick Williams decided to pick it up and

go. The Dragons defensively have been superb all evening, given very

little away. Whenever they have competed, it has been above the

letter of the law and they have listened to the referee correctly.

And Ulster are now getting tired and starting to look for the ball rather

than winning the first phase quickly. Ricky Lutton has left the

field and Bronson Ross is his replacement. Into the final ten

minutes of this game and the Dragons still tantalisingly, as they have

been from the fourth minute, with their noses in front.

Taken on by Landman. The Dragons keeping it nice and tight it has

gone loose but well picked up by the Dragons again, inside the Ulster 22.

One more score could mean the difference between Ulster staying

mid-table of going top and at the moment you would bet on the former.

The referee playing the advantage. That is a bit dangerous underneath

your own posts with men outside you. Good call by Darren Cave, good

tackling again by the Dragons. Pienaar may well have to kick it and

he does, the referee playing advantage. A good kick by Pienaar

but well taken in by the Dragons. Maher has been excellent. John

Andrew, the replacement hooker playing in the back row. A bad night

for Ulster in terms of injuries. Peter Browne and Stuart Olding off

the field. Eight and a half minutes. Penalty for Ulster, is this worth a

long-range effort by Jackson or Pienaar? Absolutely, you have a

limited length of time on the clock and you are behind and struggling to

break down and organised defensive system. Paddy Jackson is going to

have a shot at three. Plenty of time, actually there is not plenty

of time but there is enough time. Paddy Jackson did something similar

in much worse conditions than this and had no hesitation in stepping

up. He will be looking at his footing, making sure his left foot

is placed well and firmly and tightly beside the ball. Straight in

front of the Dragons posts, this dig of Ulster lead. Jackson, to carry.

Oh, off the bar and taken by Nick card, is that going to be the saga

of this evening at the Kingston Stadium as far as Ulster is

concerned? They are battling for the ball at the breakdown. The referee

having a good look, telling the Dragons to use it. That has not

found touch. Well covered by Nick Williams, Jackson. Had a little

glance at what is available to him. Town he goes. Pienaar at the base.

Cave. McCloskey. Makes decent ground. Ulster still in possession.

Look a bit forward, Herring again, taken on by Alan O'Connor who was

tackled by Nic Cudd. Pienaar. Gilroy. Well tackled again by the

Dragons. What were Ulster doing at the breakdown? The Dragons have

knocked it on. So proficient by the Dragons in how they are marshalling

the defensive line, pressing at the right time and knowing when to head

in but their inability in the contact situation, coming through

the gate, he gets his hands on the ball. Show and go, Adam Warren makes

the tackle but more importantly, back on his feet and he is entitled

to go for that, he has read that beautifully. Unfortunate with the

knock-on but technically, so good why Adam Warren. This is Paddy

Jackson's effort and it was a very good effort. You could try that 100

times and not hit the crossbar. He would have liked a bit more

intensity in the follow-up, it was in the air a long time before

hitting the crossbar. Marshall has come across to the near

side of the field, the Ulster left, allowing Craig Gilroy to stay on the

left wing. Ulster do not have a full-back as such. Six minutes

remaining and the clock is stopped. The Dragons have not won here since

September 2000 eight. -- 2008. He has been warned about illegal

scrummaging, Ulster would like and penalised but not just yet.

Clock starts, five and a half minutes remaining. The crowd getting

a little bit impatient with the Dragons front row. Nigel Owens has

spoken to him again. He has been around so many corners, 119 senior

games he played for the Leicester Tigers in a seven year period at

Welford Road. A good, solid Ulster scrum. Here is

McCloskey and Jackson, nicely done. Paul Marshall's pass was not bad.

Here come the Dragons, still going. Advantage is over, good drive-by

Adam Warren. Good tackling by McCloskey in the middle of that.

Under five minutes remaining. He has got away, poor tackling by Ulster

and clever stuff by Amos, Ulster could be in more trouble and he does

gather. Ulster have had their chances but the Dragons have been

that little bit quicker. Ulster get the put-in with only four minutes

remaining. It has been symptomatic of how the Dragons have approached

this this evening. The easy option once you beat the opposite number

was to move it as far done the pitch as he could, what does he do, little

chip in behind, the ball sat up nicely for him, he rolled the dice

and it fell for him. Dragons, yes, they are winning but they are good

value for the win, they have been superb and the real threat.

Defensively, with their tactics, they have got it spot on. That was a

poor pass, McCloskey. The direct route, now, the hint of an overlap,

wide to Stockdale, here he goes. Back inside, good defending by

Ashton Hewitt. Taken on by Clive Ross.

Three minutes to go, Paul Marshall. No way through, gets completely

swamped, hands in the middle, penalty to Ulster.

Nigel Owens did warn them, hands out and they did not take their hands

out. You cannot argue with that, one thing Nigel Owens is synonymous with

is communication. What he has done this book, the ruck is quite clearly

formed, Cory Hill on this occasion. Nigel Owens warned him once, the

second time he blew the whistle and gave Ulster the penalty. There would

be a lot of Ulster fans here who cannot bear to look at this. It is a

harder penalty than the last one and there is a bit of an angle on it,

Paddy Jackson, he hit that nicely, needs to come in. What a kick by

Jackson, he has done it again. And with two minutes remaining, Ulster

go into the lead for the very first time in this same will stop and the

chance of moving to the top of the Pro12 is still in their hands. I do

not think he could have struck it any better, went over by the skin of

its teeth but that is something he has added to his game, the composure

to get those over, showing his development as a player. What a

great kick by Ulster, not happy that the player was not interfered with.

What Ulster must not do is give the ball away cheaply or give away any

silly penalties. Into the Dragons are, they will counter from head,

Maher will take it on. The ball has come loose. Ulster in possession,

Marshall at scrum-half. Jackson. Wide to Jacob Stockdale.

Into the last minute, Williams makes decent ground. Gilroy puts the foot

on the gas. Clive Ross makes a bit of ground.

Ulster finishing on the front foot. William is very much on the front

foot. Off to his opposite skipper. Not much room. He has a go himself,

15 seconds remaining. 17-15 Ulster, right at the death. Clive Ross does

the sensible thing, going to ground. Pienaar, Williams. Still there, we

have played 80 minutes, Pienaar puts it into the corner and having played

not terribly well but a late Paddy Jackson penalty has given Ulster the

victory in a game where they looked like they would not achieve it and

they move almost impossibly to the top of the Pro12 league. They have

had to work hard for that, right to the 80th minute. Just about deserved

it in terms of the opposition, interesting on the restart, I

fancied Stuart McCloskey to put it above his head like a second row

forward but those of the small bits that Ulster have to get right to

continue this push into the top four. And more importantly, a home

semifinal. Not Ulster's stronger side, many not available but they

have a lot to do, another batch of games, only one away from home and

they have to pick up the points while they can and for such a long

time it looked as though they would not get the win. The four points

takes them to the top of the table. Roger Wilson thought he had the

conclusive try but it was denied by a knock forward. Glad to see Stuart

holding up and about, it was a bit worried when he was knocked out.

Ulster, battered and bruised but ultimately happy because somehow

they have managed to win this one. Can you believe the score?

STUDIO: Stephen Ferris and Andy Ward have enjoyed a thriller here. How

are the fingernails after that? A bit short in the last 20 minutes but

how important is that kick from Paddy Jackson towards the end of the

season. That is a massive win. Part of me feels sad and for the Dragons

because they played so well. But at the same time, we take those

horrible wins when you get them and they got over the line tonight. We

will hear from the man of the match, Paddy Jackson. A reluctant man of

the match, you say you did not deserve it, how was it? Reidy

normally when you come off the bench, it seemed quite slow, we had

opportunities to get their head with penalties early in the second half

and we thought it was going well. Yes, a strange second half. What

about the feeling of the kicks, the one that hit the crossbar? A second

look at the one that hit the crossbar, I thought I hit it sweet.

A bit different cooking with this type of ball. I had my accuracy in

so it was a matter of going through the routine. Coming back with

Ulster, are you just happy to be on the pitch? IIs got a couple of calls

muddle up in training but I have had a good run of games so I am glad to

come back and help this week. A feud new combinations and guys stepping

in we happy with the win but bit of a strange game. It was massive, hard

coming into the game to not put much focus on the win because you want to

focus on the game and the process of it. At the end of the day, we need

to get wins and we screwed up a bit in Europe so we need to make sure we

do all right in the now. Why is Paddy Jackson man of the match to

night, his impact in the second half? He gave it a bit of structure,

it could have gone to anybody on either side. When the pressure is

on, the young man stepped up to the plate. When it came to the kicks and

the penalties, I watched him and he came from ten metres on both

occasions and he said he hit both of them sweet but did not quite make

the first one, it shows his state of mind at the moment. He did well. He

showed class and real composure, he got man of the match because he won

Ulster the game, simple as that. He came on in the second half and

pulled the strings, Ulster were unlucky not to get a few more scores

and when the kick hit the crossbar, I thought it would not be their

night. But he had one more opportunity and he took it, that is

a world-class player. He summed it up saying it was a frustrating night

for, they had to deep. Wood credit has to go to the Dragons, they

played the majority of the rugby to night and one of those situations

where the defence almost won them the game. They kept Ulster out down

to 13 men at one stage, hats off to the Dragons for doing that and

putting Ulster in a difficult situation. It is a tough place for

anyone to come and win here, to pull it off says a lot about the Dragons.

Ulster thought they had scored a try, the referee awarded it but was

encouraged to have a look and get the video referee a look, was the

decision correct? I am not sure, we can look at it here. No doubt it is

a knock-on by Stuart McCloskey, but how money phases are played until

Roger Wilson scores the drive. Nigel Owens asked if it was more than two

phases, he kept asking the question. For you and me, it was three phases.

And there is one ruck for a start. Does that count as number two? I

don't know. There is two. In fairness it was a knock-on.

Absolutely. Let's get the thoughts of the Ulster director of rugby, Les

Kiss. How stress levels? It was not nice, really. We probably did not

handle bad period of play very well at the beginning and rushed

somethings. Missed a definite seven points. It is a tough win for us.

Dragons on a bit of a high after defeating Leinster last week. We

knew they would come at us physically. Paddy backed himself and

he got the money. Big show for him to come back for Ireland. How

impressive was that for the way he performed? It was very good. You

know that a guy of his calibre has the professionalism. His mindset was

good. He put his hand up for those kicks. I am glad he did. The play to

the Dragons. They were physical. They came out of the blocks flying

and put us on the back foot. We did not recover on the front foot for

long periods. A couple of injuries, knockouts on the way and it reduced

numbers and we had John Andrew on the flank and Clive Ross in the

second row. Still a lot of character to do what they did. Do you look

back on this at the end of the season, these titles? We will look

back at what we could have done better when they had 14 and 13. Even

the first when we had 15 on 15. We did not hold the ball for long

tracks time. We knew if we did we have a bit this to our work them. A

momentum builder for you? It is two from two. The six nations is on and

we had nine out of a possible ten points. It puts us on top and it is

a good place to be. Enjoy the six nations this year. A little less

stress. I am looking forward to the guys and I think they will play

well. -- looking forward to the guys playing. It will make good reading.

Ulster top of the Pro12 at this stage of the season. Exactly where

they want to be. Les Kiss said it. They will go away and analyse what

they did wrong. Especially in periods when the Dragons were down

to 13 men. One big positive they will take from this game is the

result they showed to get the result. At the end of the day that

is most important. Without a doubt. It is about resolve and digging

deep. You need to do. In the last couple of weeks they have had to dig

deep. We have got a lot of front-line players missing. These

guys are stepping up. Coming into the breach and learning so much.

When you are under the pump you learn stuff and they had been under

the pump several times. The top and second-half. The experience, they

are getting better and it is all about momentum and getting a bit of

momentum, they are, slowly but surely. Ulster have the advantage

with men on the field. Did you feel at times some of the decision-making

was not correct when they were awarded penalties and they could

have made it easier on cells? They could have done. Paddy Jackson had a

couple of opportunities to kick at goal. The maul had been working

well. It is easy sitting here now and saying, if they had three points

they might have given themselves a bit of a lead. That is smart play

from the Dragons. A bit accidental here and they go back down the

pitch. A cracking kick into the corner. And again. This is where the

knock-on come from, Stuart McCloskey. Just a couple of hours.

Should they had taken the points? Possibly. Ruan Pienaar making a

knock, maybe. We had seen Ulster come away with points every time

they had got the 22. Fantastic strike of the ball and it was inch

perfect. Inch perfect is good enough for me and the other was right on

the money, hitting the crossbar. Another half an inch and it Rob Lee

would have gone over. It is a fine line. Look at the players after the

match. They were not running around with a high five. It was slightly

down. I think there is also a bitter disappointment in the performance.

Expected to go out and steam-roll this team and it did not happen. Les

Kiss alluded to it, they will ask questions next week as to why.

Should they have gone to the video referee for the Dragons try in the

second half? You could go up there. They have been a lot of hymns with

forward passes. This was a classic. The referee had his back to it. You

wonder what the touch judges do. Are they looking over their backs as

well? They worked well. Nothing wrong with that situation. A little

earlier they could have gone back. With the penalty, the try that was

not given, the nature in which the Dragons came and charged down Nigel

Owens and he was not happy with how they conducted themselves. They were

almost in his face saying you need to go back. I had never really seen

that and I am surprised he did not do more, Nigel, at that point. As a

former players it is nice when you have not played well to come away

with a win. Definitely! They will sit in the changing room and talk

about it. They mate -- might have acquired there. They have got the

four points and are top of the league. The ones you draw a line

under and say, we got out of jail and you move on. We are sitting

pretty. But you can play badly and wake up, I liken it to the best deal

in the world, Sunday morning, you are beaten but you have the four

points. You can ask for more than that, you can get five! It is that

Sunday morning feeling. You have to work hard to achieve it. It does not

happen. Les Kiss alluded to it, they are showing resolve. It helps them

build momentum going forward. One thing people do not understand, you

cannot play brilliantly and week out. You just cannot do it. Your

performance will dip at some stage. It's dipped, we were at home and we

had a great crowd to help us across the line. I am so looking forward to

the next couple of games for Ulster. Briefly, islands, all Wales on

Sunday? Ireland. -- islands, all Wales? Ireland. Next game, home

game, Friday evening, against Glasgow Warriors. Live commentary on

radio Ulster. And online. Ulster Rugby is back the following week. It

is a Sunday game at the stadium. The breeder 21st. Join us at 25 past two

o'clock. -- Sunday the 21st. That is it from the Kingspan Stadium. Ulster

have used they get out of jail free card to defeat the Dragons. Ulster

are top of the table, thanks to Andy Ward and Stephen Ferris and for now,

from all of us, it is goodbye.