Ulster vs Edinburgh Ulster Rugby Live

It has been a difficult start to his reign as the director of rugby at

Ulster. Beaten in Europe and then the Pro12 last week, losing on the

road. Ulster arrived tonight having slipped into the bottom half of the

Pro12 table. They are level on points with Enron. And in charge of

the Scots is Alan Solomons. He is back in Belfast. He signed an

extension to his Edinburgh contract today. It is Ulster Rugby live from

the Kingsbarns Stadium. It is a pretty wild and windy night. Gale

forced winds forecast for later with the weather warning as well, it is a

case of battening down the hatches. Joining me for Round 9, Stephen

Ferris and Andy Ward. Ulster are seventh in the table. How important

is a victory? It is vitally important. There are a lot of

expectations. We have been one of the best teams in Europe. We have

taken a bit of a debt and we cannot lose another home game. Against

Saracens it was embarrassing. We need a big victory, Edinburgh are

not going to lie down. It will be tough. Ulster have brought in the

changes, a last-minute change, Roger Wilson is out, Nick Williams is in,

how big a test of their resolve is it tonight? We need to make sure

that these guys know what they are at. They know what is at stake and

it is a big opportunity for some players. It is a shame for Roger

Wilson. There are a lot of players on the sheet who are not on form and

they need to get their form back. It is a test of their resolve to see if

they can pick themselves up and get themselves back on the rostrum where

they need to be because winning breeds success. How am rest have you

been with Alan Solomons? They will really fancy their chances. I met up

with an old colleague of mine and I bumped into Alan Solomons. He is all

about rugby. He has taken this team to sixth in the table. They have got

probably one of the best players in the world. They have a great front

row coming here against an inexperienced front row. It will be

a tough night. You know Alan Solomons well, you played under

him. He is a wily old fox and he will come here with a good game

plan. His expectation of his team and his players are that they

understand what is expected. Not only as a team but as an individual.

You need to know what you're trying to achieve and go about that, so the

team comes together. He knows the ins and outs of Ulster Rugby. How

will the weather affect the game? The rain has abated but it is windy.

It is really windy. There will be a lot of kicking, but it will be a bit

of an arm wrestle. Like last week against Leinster, it is about who

wants it more. That is what I want to see from Ulster, get stuck into

this Edinburgh side and lay down a marker. It will be a really hard

night. Thank you very much. Edinburgh have beaten Ulster twice

this season, once in a friendly and once in the Pro12, let us see how

things unfold tonight. I was -- I wish I had brought my

thermals along, it is very windy. The rain has managed to stay off but

Edinburgh will fancy their chances having won four in a row. They have

picked it up by game. This Edinburgh side is feeling -- Michael Fielding

the first choice front row. One change, and in browser comes in to

the second row. Three changes. -- Bresler.

It is a pretty formidable looking site, eight internationals in the

starting line-up and one reserve. Interesting to notice that nine of

the starting 15 are not Scottish born. That never bothered Alan

Solomons much. It is not bothered the RFU. He will stay with the club

until the end of the 20 17th season. Ulster having shown some signs of

improvement in the second half against Leinster last week and will

want to pick up from that. It will be difficult given that Les Kiss has

once again rung the changes. Rob Herring will lead the side. Van der

Merwe is back. Nick Williams has come in to start his ninth game of

the season for the injured Roger Wilson. Jackson continues at

half-backs. Marshall starts at inside centre wearing number 12.

Rory Scholes is at number 11 and Andrew Trimble is back in his

preferred position. The referee of the financial services adviser and

his 38th through 12 game, Ian Davies. Edinburgh have decided to

defend the war memorial parents, Edinburgh have won the toss. A good

aggressive start from Hadi Jackson with the kick-off. -- Paddy Jackson.

A great start to his season, for in a row and then they lost three

league games but two victories in Europe followed by a bonus point win

over the Dragons last week. Kennedy text, Jackson, have faced other

touch, -- obviously not. Ruan Pienaar, Jackson, into Darren Cave.

Ran into a couple of strong defenders. Well released by Darren

Cave, Jackson, Marshall. Look Marshall. His fourth start of the

season -- van der Merwe. Jackson moves it wide, Nelson. Away to Rory

Scholes on the wing. Jackson again. Taken on by Kyle McCall. He is the

preferred number one in the loosehead position. Andrew Trimble

tries to get inside 80 macro. Away by Ulster, a little bit scrappy --

Du Preez. A lively start, but look where Ulster found themselves.

Ulster having a very tough baptism in the first couple of minutes.

Welcome to the world of Alcan Solomons non-negotiable --

non-negotiable defence. -- Alan Solomons. If you run straight down,

these guys channels you will get tackled and tackled hard all night.

Ulster winning the ball well, Jackson 's pass was a bit flat and

down to each ride to move it on. Darren Cave is getting some

attention. There he is. Gareth Robinson and the doctor they are

looking at him. They're asking him to try and raise his arms above his

head which could indicate he has had a buying to the shoulder, but he

seems to be fine. Darren Cave is pivotal in defence and attack.

Perhaps it was a buying on the sternum. He will not go off easily.

Darren Cave featured in two of Ireland's five games in the World

Cup. Sean Kennedy, the 24-year-old, just

a pound a man heavier. All about technique in the Enron front row.

That is a good scrum by Ulster. They have done well, here comes Chris

Henry, tackled by Jack Cuthbert. Great set piece, lazy running their

by Nel. Jackson has a goal. Luke Marshall has occupied that, well

used to that. Good wide pass. Ulster up to the 10m line, Ian Henderson,

back at number six tonight. Ruan Pienaar, Chris Henry. Nick Williams

doing a bit of clearing out. Jackson. Nicely done. Marshall tries

to step inside Birley. The Scottish International is there to help as

well. -- scored the bonus point try last week in. Ruan Pienaar thought

about the cake and thought about it a game and does kick. What a kick

that is, the wind Will carry it. He hits it then, bouncing end over end,

you do not think it will get there but the wind assisted that.

Magnificent. He would have liked to run out to celebrate his 100 and

appearance for Ulster but he had to do it down in Dublin. This wind is

going to make line-out throwing and catching difficult. Well taken by Du

Preez who has been doing for Edinburgh what Josh Strauss has been

doing for Glasgow. Charged I'm by Ulster and Nick

Williams had a chance. That is good pressure, both the set piece... Good

intent. You see Rob Herring and Nick Williams coming over the top. Phil

Burley does well to pick that up and get back on his feet. Henderson is

very quick to close down Burley. He has gone down and seems to have a

bit of a bump. Henderson is backing his best position. He has much more

influence on the game. In terms of ball carrying and offensively. The

second row is hard to play in. He was almost caught between two

stools. As we saw at the RDS, he did not have any influence on the game,

not in the way he would like. This does not look good because Ulster

are warming up Clive Ross. He thought he was having a week off.

When Roger Wilson cried off, he was parachuted back in. Henderson is

down, that does not look good. Anxious faces there on the medical

staff. It looks like his right knee. Straightaway, Clive Ross is on and

Henderson will take no further part in this game and what a blow for

Ulster, four and a half minutes into the game. If Joe Schmidt is watching

this, he will not be happy. It looked innocuous. He was going for

the ball. Perhaps he landed badly, his right knee is heavily strapped.

He has come down on the kneecap and as soon as it hit the turf, it is

Burley soft... No, he is not getting up. It is going to be an Ulster

line-out. When a man goes off, another man comes on. Play will not

continue just yet. They are waiting until Henderson is off the field

completely. I am sure he will get a sympathetic round of applause. If

there is something to come out of this, it is they like-for-like

replacement. Ulster now have to turn their attention to putting it into

the line-out and get the call right and the throne right and see if they

can get the driving wall back in operation. He had a very good World

Cup for Ireland. A lot of people expecting him to assume the mantle

of the recently retired Stephen Ferris. Needless to say, one hopes

that is precautionary. As soon as his knee hit the ground, he winced.

Whether it is a tendon or cartilage or ligaments... The scanner will

certainly reveal out. Not the way Iain Henderson would have wanted to

go. He is responding to the crowd applauding. One of their present is

leaving the arena. -- starters. Ian Davis saying let us wait until he

leaves the field. He is off the field of play but he is moving down

the touchline. Where is Rob Herring going to throw this. Anything too

long will be affected by the wind. Nicely taken. Taken by Tuohy. Chris

Henry Hazlitt. He has been well held up. Ruan Pienaar has not quite got

it down. Still there for the men in white. The referee has blown the

whistle. He is clearly preventing a try being scored. Consultation about

whether or not there was obstruction which might have prevented the tries

from being scored. Can you check whether he has prevented a try being

scored? I will the Leicester try opportunity. The player offside, if

you can check. We will replay that the game. He was clearly offside. We

can clearly see the ember player entering and tackling Ruan Pienaar.

We see Chris Henry taking the ball and spinning end stop now we see

Ruan Pienaar and we watched the Edinburgh guys returning. The

question is will it be a penalty or a penalty try. Could not agree more.

It is a penalty try. I do not think it is a yellow card offence. It is a

penalty try. A penalty try is sufficient for me. You are offside,

preventing a try being scored. It is only a penalty try. They would have

preferred to have had the yellow card. It is a penalty try and

despite the loss of Iain Henderson, he has given away the penalty try.

You can see the two line men working as a team and that is what it is all

about. Quite clear instruction to the referee telling him there has

been an offence and the referee is happy to look at it and the linesman

has been proved correct. Allan Grogan from Ireland, another

Irishman. Paddy Jackson has added the extra point. Ulster find

themselves 7-0 up. On the Ulster side, it looks as though Ludik has

come on for Darren Cave. A great start from the Ulster side and

Edinburgh have it all to do, plane into the strong elements as well. A

mixed bike for Ulster, they are winning that they have had to

replace two international players. Andrew Trimble can do little other

than gather that I'm go into touch. He could not take the chance of

letting it go. There is Ludik. That was a shoulder injury that

Darren Cave got. He was brave enough to continue. Scotland's most capped

forward of all time. Well taken at the back by Alex. -- Alex Toolis.

The referee says that was not backwards. Rob Herring does the

tackling, 9/11. -- Burleigh. Kyle McCall could not quite make

back, Ulster trying to witness. Aggressive stuff in the breakdown by

Ulster. Illegal aggression. You went in a second time with your hands.

Edinburgh get the penalty. Nick Williams was slightly unlucky, you

see him going in and what the referee has done him for is going

back a second time. The first time he was entitled to play-the-ball but

instead of stepping back and realign in his defence, he had that second

bite of the cherry and the referee picked him up for that. There is

Nick Williams, he celebrated his 32nd birthday yesterday. He thought

he would have them might of, but Roger Wilson injured his back. This

is Jack Cuthbert, long-range goalkicker. That is not going to

carry, it has not. Into the arms of Ruan Pienaar, he scuffed it but it

was not a bad effort. This is Du Preez trying to get outside

Marshall, taken in by Cuthbert who got back into position quickly.

Enron still inside the Ulster half. -- enrol. Burleigh, little flat pass

-- Edinburgh. He was at full stretch, Chris Henry tried to hack

it through, wise enough to stay onside, taken on by Ford. Good work

by Kyle McCall. Kennedy. Lovely pass and he had to stretch. Kennedy gets

it away, Burleigh, I'd venture is staffed by enrol, this is Scott who

scored a great try to get the point against Dragons a week ago -- great

stuff by Edinburgh. There were not too many children

tackles on display. He lets play to develop Rabobank in

a web penalty. He has lost a bit of weight, none of

the explosiveness. Not a bad Ulster scrummage, Ruan

Pienaar, Paddy Jackson. Rory Scholes. A belter by Rory Scholes!

Glided in for a second lead try and that puts Ulster 12-0 up with the

That is the sidestep that Craig piece -- conversion still

That is the sidestep that Craig Gilroy would be proud of. Ball in

two hands. Look at Rory Scholes, look at that footwork, beautiful.

Leaves his opposite number on the ground. He was a great schoolboy

international. Because of men like Tommy Bowe and Craig Gilroy, his

opportunities have been limited but he has taken that one with great

aplomb. 12-0 up, what a start by and Ulster

side who really need to beat the team immediately above them in the

Pro12 table. Jackson, a bit of a smack and it is a good smack between

the posts and Ulster, two converted tries lead by 14-0. This is

Ulster's best opening this season. Berwick -- very efficient. Keeping

the ball in hand, good to see someone using their feet and looking

for space. Tuohy. We saw signs of the old Tuohy in Dublin. Ruan

Pienaar, away by temp one will stop -- Du Preez. Taken on by Kyle

McCall. Ruan Pienaar, Ludik who set up the try for Rory Scholes.

Jackson. Marshall is the kicking inside centre. This is Helu who is

very dangerous if he gets room. Marshall made the tackle. Kennedy.

Burleigh has to kick. Where is that going? Into the hands of Rory

Scholes. Tackled by John Hardy, the first time we have mentioned him.

Trimble. Taken on by Ulster. Jackson again.

Peter Nelson. Marshall. Fails to take on Chris Dean. Jackson. Well

away. Almost by McCall. Pooled in by Clive Ross. He wins the battle. Ruan

Pienaar. Where is that going to come in? Just inside and no more. Good

covering on Burleigh by Ulster. Still inside the opening 15 minutes.

Kennedy trying to get it away on the narrow side. Ulster's first does --

first-half defence has been great. Everybody making those tackles,

committing and putting the man on the ground. Kennedy. He finds

Jackson. A little dinky one into Burleigh. That has gone not just

vertical but backwards as well and the wind has swirled round and I

think it is neighbouring Ulster. They have to make this count in the

first half. Edinburgh are finding it difficult to do anything else such

is the pace of the Ulster defence. We see Burleigh having a sharp and

he has kicked it from the 22 and it has boomeranged back -- shot-macro.

-- shot. A big level of intensity from previous games. Treatment for

the Edinburgh skipper. He has done well with his adopted

tape. -- team. This is Hardy who takes out Paddy Jackson. Look how

quickly Rob Herring was up. Edinburgh being squeezed inside the

22. Well done by enrol, the referee is playing advantage to Ulster, can

they take advantage -- Edinburgh. He presented that nicely, Ruan Pienaar

and Jackson did well to stretch Marshall. A little band playing.

Jackson, Ludik... He had that lovely glide, Ulster did well but they gave

away the penalty. Hanging onto the tackle and little bit too long.

Ludik is a versatile player. What is different for Ulster this week, last

week there were too many forwards and that slowed the pace down.

Tonight, every time the ball has come for the rock it has hit Paddy

Jackson at allowing Ulster to play with pace. It is not easy to pass

the ball when the wind is gusting and the accuracy has been very high.

Burleigh from Christchurch in New Zealand.

Edinburgh, still inside their own half.

I'm sure Ross Ford is missing his old foe, Rory Best. Rob Herring

coming through, legally. Again, good work in the middle of

all that by Franco van der Merwe. Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and

Willem Nel played in three of Scotland's five World Cup games.

They have not managed to bring Dougie Fife into it too much.

That has gone forward. Referee playing advantage.

Good kick by Peter Nelson. He has had a very good season. It is his

seventh start of his season. This is his third start at number 15. He is

becoming more and more accomplished. Having with a left foot just opens

up the field for you. A perfectly weighted kick, almost a kick that

you would see into the wind as opposed to having the wind behind

you. Jack Cuthbert decided to go nowhere near it. Edinburgh have

shortened their line-out. Ross Ford with the throw.

There is a bit of room if they can move this. 56 getting nothing out of

Luke Marshall. Good drive forward by Alex Toolis.

Good support play. This is better stuff by Edinburgh.

This is better stuff from the visitors.

Ian Davies is enjoying himself. He said, you even passed that into the

wind and it still went forward! Both teams look happy with the ball in

hand, looking for soft shoulders to run out. What has been nice for

Ulster is the low penalty count, only one after 20 minutes. So far

this season it has been won after a couple of minutes. The defence has

been watertight. They have been listening to the referee. They have

been good around the ruck and maul. It has been a problem for them this

season, and last. Franco van der Merwe getting a little bit of

treatment. Nick Williams was slowed down, too. Just one single for the

Springboks back in 2010 on as a replacement against New Zealand. His

35th appearance for his adopted province, his fifth start this

season alongside Dan Tuohy. A couple of internationals in the second row.

A good season so far for Ulster this season, they are top of the fair

play league. Last year they were right at the bottom. It was a

miserable season. And a couple of red cards. Let's not talk about

them! Iain Henderson's problem seems to be

a hamstring. Darren Cave seems to have a shoulder injury.

Ulster demolished the Dragons a couple of weeks ago in the scrum,

they are not doing that tonight. If Ulster could get a third try it

would just hit the spot. Ruan Pienaar doesn't even have to

look at where the ball is, he is looking at the man he is passing

too. Good work by Dan Tuohy. Now Jackson. Andrew Trimble is lurking

out wide. Here goes Andrew Trimble. Steps inside. All the pressure is

from the home side. That just went forward. Maybe not the time to try

the clever off-load. Edinburgh around an awful lot of pressure.

Ulster have maybe lost their chance for the third try, but Edinburgh

have not cleared their lines. The referee has gone all the way

back for the first knock forward. What good play by Ulster.

Magnificent width on it. Great level of awareness of where the spaces. We

have seen Nick Williams do this before and when it comes off it

comes offered is magnificent and when it through your hands in the

air and say, why did you do that? Given the manner the years, the

presence and his ability, you cannot say too much. In the ideal coaching

analysis you would say hold onto it, but if the pass comes and off it

is great play. Ulster are very pragmatic in their approach, a real

intensity about their game. Luke Marshall is giving a nice balance in

there. Edinburgh are losing their skipper,

Mike Coman is going off. He has taken a bit of a battering. It will

be the head injury assessment for him. They will take him off while

they have a look at him. And 19-year-old is coming on for him,

Jamie Ritchie. No, they have changed their mind. It is Hamish Watson, who

scored the try which won the game for Edinburgh when they met earlier

in the season, back in October. On some Hamish Watson, 24 years of age.

-- on comes. I don't think Mike Coman is too bad, I hope not,

anyway. 23 minutes gone in the first-half. Ulster leading 14-0. If

it all ended now there would be very happy. The first put into the scrum

for Edinburgh. Let's see with this new Ulster front group, who have

never started a game together, we'll do. Edinburgh have dug in well. It

is a very good Edinburgh front row, remember. That is good work by

Ulster. It has gone Lewis. Cornell Du Preez does well to get the ground

and resented. Alan Clark, the Ulster forward kuchen scrummage specialist,

will be delighted with that. The referee is having a good look. It

will be an Ulster line-out. There was a chance therefore an Ulster try

but they didn't quite make it. Cornell Du Preez almost got himself

in trouble, he went against the rotation of the scrum, but they got

away with it. Isn't Rob Herring just that has to play against?! So quick

off the mark. For a foreword, very quick. I think everybody here at

Kingspan Stadium is delighted that Rob Herring has signed on for

another couple of years. What a man to have, not just as a hooker, but

as a captain. Louis Ludik does well. An inside

step. Edinburgh are trying to play some

decent, constructive rugby. Alasdair Dickinson dumped onto the seat of

his pants. Ruan Pienaar, sniffing out any

weakness. This time the one-handed off-load

works for Nick Williams. Good work again by John Hardie. They are going

to come all the way back for the scrum.

Peter Nelson is down injured. It is not a great night for Ulster in

terms of injuries. Stuart McCloskey is on the bench. Peter Nelson looks

to be in a lot of pain. Ulster looked like they could be losing a

third man within 30 minutes. Worrying for Ulster, jettisoning

three off your bench in the first 30 minutes. The referee wants to get on

with the game. This is where he got tackled. I didn't see any twist at

that point. Maybe it was later on when he was involved again. Hard to

say what it was. It looks like the stretcher is on its way again. Les

Kiss has decided to divest himself of the baseball cap which he seems

to wear most of the time. That does not look that wonderful. So, Stuart

McCloskey is coming on. That is a nice gesture, he has gone over the

Peter Nelson straightaway. Louis Ludik will go to full-back. Ulster

do have resources, meaning that they can fill in the gaps. Having those

kind of people on the bench makes a lot of difference. Peter Nelson

takes the ball, he has just caught that left ankle underneath him.

Dougie Fife put in the tackle. Nothing malicious. That looks very

sore. We have had the best part of ten minutes of stoppages because of

injuries, mostly the Ulster players. Alan Solomons had some very

successful season is here. He took no prisoners. Her few people find

the top edge of his tongue. He was a very good and knowledgeable coach,

appreciated around the world. His knowledge of the game is second to

none. A barrister by trade and has a very acerbic mind and a very acerbic

tongue at times, as well, if you are on the wrong end of it. How

thoroughly nice and caring gentleman, as well. And still living

in Northern Ireland. Still lives in Helen Spey. Him and Mary just love

this place, she adores it. He brings a great psychological element to

things. He is very good at working with people individually, getting

you wind up in the way right. Player management nowadays is all about the

individual rather than the team and he has a good way of getting under

your skin and in-your-face to get you right on the money. Ian Davies,

not for the first time tonight, seems to be enjoying himself.

Alasdair Dickinson with 62 Scottish caps, Ross Ford with 94, Willem Nel

with the eight. He became naturalised after the three years of

living in Edinburgh, the South African. Ricky Lutton on the Ulster

tight head side, his first start of the season. Mike Coman is back on

the field for Edinburgh, playing on the far side of the scrum.

Edinburgh inside the Ulster have for the first time in what seems like an

age. That has gone forward, referee playing advantage to Ulster. Lovely

pass by Stuart McCloskey. Ulster are looking much more promising with

ball in hand than they have done at all stages of this season to date.

They made a real mess of that. Too many men in the middle. Dougie Fife

is going to run. Dougie Fife has a lot of case. This

is good stuff by the visitors. -- pace.

Was that a high tackle? No, I think he was just worried about the ship

that Phil Burleigh was in in that tackle. I think it looks worse than

it was. I think the referee blows just a mixture he can get his body

straightened out. I said high tackle because Dan Tuohy's harm was on the

high side, but it was more to do with the way that Phil Burleigh

fell. So, Ulster leading 14-0. Ulster have had to replace no fewer

than three players. Iain Henderson has gone, Darren Cave has gone and

Peter Nelson has gone, none of them looking very well.

Ulster need to resist any Edinburgh drive here. Down it goes. Ian Davies

decides it was a loss of the position. He will ask them to do it

again. Ricky Lutton needs to be careful here, he needs to get his

feet up under his knees. He was in a very long position there. We saw

that the Wiehahn Herbst last week. The energy from Ulster around the

pitch has been outstanding. Ricky Lutton had a couple of summer tours

with emerging Ireland last season. With injury and fallen out of favour

he has seen very little rug. This is a better scrum by Attenborough.

Edinburgh are keeping a pretty tight for the time being.

The crowd asked trying to sing a bit, but it is not coming through

with any great volume. Stuart McCloskey needs to get out of

it. Still therefore Attenborough. They

have men eyed wide if they can shift it, but they are still trying to go

Route one, which is interesting. Ulster have pinched it! Initially

great work by Kyle McCall and the support players have got it away.

The referee has blown the whistle because the touch judge on the far

side has the flag up. There is another player down injured, another

Ulster player! I think it is Rory Scholes. Just as the tackle comes

in,. I don't think there is anything malicious. As Sean Kennedy comes in

from the front he is almost tackling him as he goes to the ground. Sean

Kennedy has been very influential for Edinburgh, working the ball well

from the base of the ruck and maul. Edinburgh are playing a very

pragmatic game, battering hard into the wind and trying to set short

targets and eat up some of the clock. There is Stuart Olding, who

we think should be back playing at the start of next year, after having

a second major operation. Rory Scholes looks more winded. I think

you Scholes looks more winded. I think

Scholes, scored a fantastic second try for Ulster tonight, he seems

fine. His head ran into the upper thigh of Phil Burleigh. He seems to

be fine. A week ago the Dragons at Murrayfield had no further than for

men in the bin. He will go off for a head injury assessment but I am sure

we will see him back again at the start of the second half. In the

meantime, Paul Marshall has come on. He comes on for his 157th Ulster

appearance. Ulster are conceding ground at a

rate of knots. That is alarming. They don't want to concede anything

by the interval. Good work again by Chris Henry, he

is a pest at the breakdown. He needs a bit of help. Wonderful

support by Kyle McCall. Chants for Ulster.

Just and we were thinking that Ulster would do well not to concede

anything, they may well pick up something themselves. Neither Crider

getting animated. -- now the crowd are getting animated. Ruan Pienaar

has a goal himself! That is how close Ulster are. A little nudge

forward. Edinburgh get the scrum. Try number three was there for the

taking. Very much so. Fantastic defence stopping Stuart McCloskey

getting the food away. Kyle McCall bursting on to it like an openside.

Great content from Ulster, great inventiveness from Ulster, as well.

They would like to see a few more points on the board. Ford team is

probably right on the verge of not quite seeing enough due to the wind.

Ross Ford is in the waters. He started off his playing career with

the border readers and then moved to Glasgow, then Attenborough. Speaking

of the Borders, BBC Scotland colleague, Bill Johnson, the nephew

of the great Bill McLaren, was telling me that Bill's widow, the

wonderful that it am on the 22nd of November will be celebrating her

90th birthday and there is going to be a family party. Happy 90th

birthday, misses McLaren. Three minutes remaining. This is

going to be a big scrum. Very good work on the loosehead side

by Kyle McCall against Willem Nel. Willem Nel was so destructive

against the Dragons last week that two of the props were sin-binned

against him. Willem Nel's shorter getting lifted up into the air. Kyle

McCall must be very hard to scrummage against, his centre of

gravity is so low, it almost looks out of proportion because his laying

-- his backers so long. He is a scruffy looking guy, but who cares

if you can scrummage like that! Ulster trying to dig can they get

the squeeze? Ford managed to get it away, that scrum went down, Ulster

should have had a penalty. Picked up by Du Preez and he has done well. A

minute and a half to go. Edinburgh are under pressure. Ulster might

turn it over. Emma Burton -- Edinburgh finding it impossible to

get away cleanly. Now Kennedy does. He has not found his touch, taken by

Ludik, still going, runs into Nel. Ruan Pienaar, Ulster keeping it

tight. Again it has been stripped away and this time it is the

Edinburgh skipper. Now Kennedy, one minute to go. Burleigh, a monstrous

left boot and that will bounce and Trimble can do nothing about it.

That is good play by Edinburgh, a slack kick by Kennedy and Ulster

turning over and you cannot underestimate that clearance kick.

40 metres into the wind band and across it from Burleigh. Andrew

Trimble was unable to put it back in. A pacey little cameo from Paul

Marshall and he gives weight to Rory Scholes who is back on just before

the interval. Ruan Pienaar gets it away, Jackson has to stretch and

McCloskey will have a go. Well set up by McCloskey. Not as quick as

Ruan Pienaar would have liked, down two E helped by his second row

partner, van der Merwe. -- 68. -- two E helped by his second row

Tuohy. Covered by Jack Cuthbert. He has got away. That is a good tackle

by Paddy Jackson, good defending by the Number 10 for Ulster. Edinburgh

are pressing for something. This is Dean, back inside, good covering

defence from Ulster. Kennedy. Hardy on the far side. Edinburgh up to the

Ulster 22. Ford, taken by Nick Williams. Kennedy. Ulster came

through their legally, Dean, that is nicely floated, he has got comfort

outside him. The referee says the referee says play on. No one at

scrum-half for Edinburgh. That has gone into touch. Chris Dean decided

he was not going to try and do anything too clever because they

were on the back foot and although we have not had anything in terms of

the scoreboard being bothered for half an hour it was a great start by

Ulster and given the injuries they have done remarkably well. A great

start, they have half and puffed a little bit and Enright have held

them out but do not underestimate the wind and Ulster will have a lot

to do -- Edinburgh. The coach will be happy, the changes he has made,

they have made a difference. The conditions have had a big bearing on

how the game has been played and Ulster is certainly mastered those

conditions. The bad news is that Darren Cave and Ian Henderson and

Peter Nelson have all gone off the field. Ulster are happy with that

scoreline. That is more like it from Ulster, Stephen Ferris and Andy Ward

both said they wanted to see Ulster stand up and be counted. Are you

happy? Yes. Nick Williams was aggressive

and physical. They will be disappointed though because they

butchered a lot of opportunities in that first half. I hope will not

come back to haunt us. A 15 point when, I was hoping for that, but

great physicality, passion, as I alluded to before, brilliant to

see. There seemed to be more urgency and energy from Ulster. Very much

so. They perhaps had a bit of a rocket and looked at video nasties

and it is pleasing to see they have taken it to see they have taken it

too hard and. Credit to enrol, scrambling in defence saved their

bacon on some occasions. -- Edinburgh. It is pleasing to see.

The highlights made much better viewing, let us look at the opening

try. Should this have been a yellow card? Definitely. He came from an

offside position and stopped the try from being scored. His name should

be awarded but that try. It should have been a yellow card, the referee

made the right card -- call to discuss it with the line man. It is

interesting to see the interpretation from the referee. Did

he stop the penalty try? He stopped it. If that is cynical, award the

penetrable Which? Penalty try. It is strange. I think they got the right

decision. A really good setup, Chris Henry knew it was not going anywhere

and the boys weighed in behind. It a good try. Ulster got off to the best

possible start and then the second score, absolute cracker from Rory

Scholes. Tremendous. It came from a solid platform, the scrum held up

and the boys started to play. Tremendous. You cannot ask for more

than that. Lovely little step. It is there if they want it. These guys

have enough talent and skill to crack it open but Edinburgh are at

sixes and sevens. Ludik made one as well. If Rory Scholes stays like

that, I am sure Rory Best will pick him up and say it is not good

enough. It is a great try, a great platform, we talked about the

Edinburgh front row being very good, Nel is one of their best men,

but what about Kyle McCall? He is awesome. One thing about Ludik is he

always looks for an off-load. He always thinks of the outcome. He is

always looking for the past. Later on we see him as the creator yet

again. He thinks of the outcome before it happens. On the downside,

on the injury front, two of Ireland's World Cup performers have

left the field. This is an for Ian Henderson. See his left knee or the

back of the hamstring. It might be his hamstring. That has been

confirmed at the moment. Hopefully he is not out for too long. Darren

Cave is a shoulder problem. There is a good medical staff on site and

good players. It does not look great for Peter Nelson. You talked about

the intensity before the game and we have seen that a lot more from

Ulster in the first half. Looking at the highlights, from the scrummage

this week, the platform has been really good. Great pick-up for Ian

Henderson. Look at the boys clearing the guys out. We have not seen that

urgency. Smoke anything that is moving and that is what we want to

see. Urgency. Nick Williams is back to his best. He has created things,

you do not see big men like this. Getting off the line, the boys have

been turning defence into attack, making Edinburgh make silly

mistakes. Nice little bit of skill from Tuohy. They are putting the

pressure back on Edinburgh and doing well. This is from the set piece.

This is a pretty bad defence from Edinburgh. Ludik gets on the

outside. Off-load, pick it up. Chris Henry... In fairness he retains

possession and that is what they needed to do. Probably will be

disappointed they did not score. 100%. They create opportunities but

they are not quite finishing them off. Constant hassle, making it

awkward for Edinburgh to do anything and they need to maintain that in

the second half. Any time we have beaten Edinburgh, we have been

causing havoc. The coach will be the happier of the coaches -- the Ulster

coach. Ulster rugby is big business, what happens on the pitch is of

vital importance and what happens off it is pretty key as well. We

caught up with some of the Ulster squad who were in the spotlight.

I see it as part of the job, it is out of our comfort zone, we felt

pretty stupid getting our photographs taken. They are bound to

get one that looks half decent if they taken off. It can be tough, at

that different to chasing and a on the grass. Darren Cave. Wonderful by

Darren Cave! That is one of the great tries of the season by an

individual. In some ways it is nice to do

something a bit outside of your comfort zone, I do not think any of

us would do this in the morning, it is strange. For me, it is a bit

awkward. You're not used to it, it feels strange. If you wear something

that is not appropriate, someone will give you a bit of stick. All in

all, it is not too bad. It is all in good fun. Ruan Pienaar is going all

the way. We get to spend our day off here getting make-up and hair done.

Definitely out of the comfort zone. We get broken noses and bumps and

bruises and we are not asked to do too much modelling. Every year,

there are some requirements of dressing up in a suit and putting on

our best model faces. It is all part of it. Henry for the corner, Chris

Henry for the first try. Great piece of play by this Ulster side. If all

else fails, I have a career on the catwalk. Definitely not, it is

rugby, I will stick to the rugby pitch. Better rugby players than

models. Just before half-time, Ulster had another great opportunity

to score. They did, good build-up play. They seem to keep putting the

ball where it needed to be. They run it back when they needed to and

kicking it when they needed to. Look at this pace from Paul Marshall.

Ruan Pienaar has been amazing, Kyle McCall in support. They keep holding

onto the ball and that is what you have to do. Everyone is getting

their hands on the ball. Unfortunately, just a game, just

coming up short. Edinburgh are only coming out for the second half 14-0

down, they are very much in this game. Make no mistake, they will be

in the changing room with that same mentality. This is 14 points, we are

right in this game, the wind is at our backs, sometimes, people come

out and think the wind will do the job. You still have to turn up and

play and take it to the opposition. Ulster need to retaliate and fight

fire with fire. Hopefully that will get the job done for Ulster. Ulster

cannot afford to relax. They have used up a few of their

substitutions. There are a few replacements here. Edinburgh will be

looking to prove a point. Michael Allen coming on, perhaps a tight

head, they will come on and make an impact, hopefully they will not make

too much of an impact. Ruan Pienaar has been in cruise control. He

glides across the pitch. If you had play are watched -- player watch on

him, he must go from side to side in the course of the match 20 or 30

times. The forwards and fronted a good job. Ulster have looked a lot

more comfortable with the ball in hand. A few mistakes towards the end

of the first half stop I think what Ulster needed was another set of

points on the board. They looked like they were not getting it and

they started to come back into themselves and I hope that is not

the trend for the next half. They need to play. Thank you very much.

The teams are on their way. Sit back and enjoy some more Ulster rugby

life, Ulster leading by 14 points to zero. We will rejoin our

commentators. The number 20 there is Hamish Watson who was on briefly in

the first half when the skipper was off getting a head injury

assessment. Ulster coming back on leading by 14-0. Both conversions

were by Paddy Jackson. Hamish Watson has come on instead of the skipper

stop the wind here, it is difficult. I walked around by the war memorial

before kick-off and it was blowing very strongly there. As to who it is

they bring, it will probably favour Edinburgh at the moment. The flag in

the centre is blowing very firmly in the faces of Ulster. Burleigh, from

Christchurch in New Zealand, he will get the second half under way.

Ulster two converted tries to the good. Ruan Pienaar into a stiff

breeze has not found his touch. Here is a Du Preez. Nick Williams is

having a good season. This is Alistair Dixon. He has played in

three successive World Cups for Scotland. McCloskey. Edinburgh have

got it away. It is Nel to Burleigh. Dean made a bit of ground. Took the

pass from Kennedy. Ulster's speed is impressive. Hardy got it away. This

is Hamish Watson and he has got away from a couple of tackles. He did

this against Ulster last time and scored the only try in the victory

at Murrayfield. Bit of crossing. Edinburgh looking for an early score

to settle them down. Watson, a little chip by Hardy, Paddy Jackson

had to go back and covered well. Stolen by Edinburgh, not so great

work by Ulster. Burleigh again. Dancing his way through. Tackles by

Rob Herring. Still therefore Edinburgh. Nel, Dickenson helping.

Bit loose. Still therefore Edinburgh. Kennedy looking for a

runner. Chris Petri trying to do the choke tackle. That is good work by

Henry -- Chris Henry. A scrum for Ulster. Good work by the home side.

Edinburgh seem to have found an extra gear. Chris Henry again, is

there anyone better out there at a choke tackle. Two hands on the ball,

he is helped by 68. -- Tuohy. A change for Ulster. I thought Ricky

Lutton would have lasted longer. His first start of the season and you

could not complain about what he has done. Alan Clark will be delighted.

Ricky Lutton has got the head down and trained hard and when he has had

an opportunity for gametime, he has made it count. He will be happy with

his opening 40 minutes. They will not be happy about this but Rob

Herring seems to be nursing a leg injury. The 25 euros got his only

Ireland cap as a replacement against Argentina -- 25-year-old.

He has established himself as a vital member of this Ulster setup

and during the week, it was announced that he would stay for

another couple of seasons. They have got his boot off at the moment, I

wonder if that is coffee or soup. I suspect they would have something in

it. It is cold up here. It is important that Ulster do not relax.

Think the wind and the 14 points is enough to win, there are things

coming, Edinburgh play a very pragmatic game and you will see a

lot of kicking from them if they have the ball in their own half.

When they get down to the opposition red zone, they generally come away

with points. Rob Herring is limping a little bit. Back into it and he

has got his body, Coman with him. He is on his right hand side -- Micro

Herbst. Ulster scrum, first of the second half. In it goes. Nel is

getting no change. Jackson, Marshall. -- Luke Marshall.

Van der Merwe. Jackson, a bit of width, Trimble, here is Rory

Scholes. Although Ulster did not make ground, they have possession.

That is high risk for two yards. Two times across the pitch, wide passes.

Running the risk of some crossing mid field. To only get two yards, if

they continue to play like that, it will be a long 40 minutes. Davies.

He broke his back in a couple of places a few years ago in a club

game. Great take by van der Merwe. Nick Williams managed to do a bit of

juggling. He has got it away nicely to Henry. Ruan Pienaar, Jackson,

Stuart McCloskey. That is a good strong one by McCloskey and he is

still going. Ruan Pienaar, better stuff by Ulster. Tyler McCall. --

Tyler McCall. He has done well. Jackson to Ludik -- McCall. That is

the halfway line. This is Ruan Pienaar. Herbst. McCall who has

played for Ireland at Junior World Cup level. Ruan Pienaar, Jackson. A

little bit of obstruction and I think it was an accidental offside.

Rory Scholes ran into Nick Williams. It is hard to run around Nick

Williams. A little bit congested there. Nick Williams put up his

hands and said he was not doing anything wrong and he was not, but

he did something right, a good take by the big lad. He is so hard to

stop. To pick it up, it gets back on his feet, and off-load to Henry.

That is the one thing that Ulster have, those gain line runners. We

have seen McCall on numerous occasions happy to have the ball and

he wants to carry and try and get across. That is something Ulster

have not had this year. He may not be the biggest man in the world, but

he has a huge heart. He has changed his body shape considerably, he has

got a very strong and muscular, McCall, and his scrummage

technique, is getting better all the time. His father Simon is very proud

of both of his boys. The game was delayed by about 15

minutes because of injury but Ulster will not mind will stop bad as the

halfway line. John Kennedy pops it in stop that is the first scrum

penalty and Ricky Lutton survived the first half. It is difficult.

Ulster eggs are in such pressure that Edinburgh are not able to hook

the ball back. It is notable that there is a clear strike and a clear

channel. Perhaps the team that are putting the pressure on and actually

not letting Edinburgh get it, it is a slip by Ulster. Maybe the referee

should be placing more emphasis in terms of the team that have the ball

to ensure they get it to the back of the scrum or away a little bit

quickly. I have a feeling Edinburgh are preparing to bring on a

replacement will stop --. A crucial throw. Taken by Clive

Ross. A late addition to the roles -- Ulster squad because of the

injury to Roger Wilson. Ruan Pienaar directing operations. Ruan Pienaar

may have to kick this one. Put it backwards. A rare fumble. There is a

biting wind and up. Second attempt by Iran PNR. Gets it away well, it

does not make a lot of ground -- Ruan Pienaar. If Edinburgh cannot

dig advantage, they are not the side we thought they were. Here come the

cavalry from Edinburgh, three changes. Ulster's exit strategy will

be tested. Ulster is struggling to deal with the ball. They are finding

it difficult trying to go three phases and kick. The ball is going

nowhere given the gale-force wind in their face. All comes Neil Cochrane,

Rory Sutherland and John Andress. The Edinburgh front row have had a

tough night here at them against the Dragons. This is Cochrane. Born in

Edinburgh, one of the few players in the squad who can say that. Not that

this matters these days. Sutherland. A young loosehead. Kennedy looking

for a runner. Ulster having to put the tackle then. Hamish Watson. He

is very strong, but not as quick. Kennedy back inside, this is

dangerous. John Andress would love to score against Ulster, good team

for whom he never played. This is going to be a try. Rattery, no

hesitation, up to the hands of Edinburgh. Edinburgh get their first

points of the evening. And it is that man Du Preez. Look how well

Kennedy is dictating play. He assesses the situation. Rory Scholes

hits in leaving the two men wide open. Du Preez gets the bounce. We

see Rory Scholes biting end, he is well out of position and Nick

Williams does not have the pace to cover. It is a big big wind and the

conversion will be difficult. This has been all Edinburgh in the Ulster

half. Jack Cuthbert. He has said that

nicely. What a very good kick, well judged by Jack Cuthbert. That could

be very significant. Ulster find themselves 14-7 ahead at the start

of the second Ave. Jack Cuthbert does not look the most elegant, but

don't underestimate how good a kick that was.

Nick Williams needs to be click. -- quick.

There is no question about that. I'm sure he was loving the pass from

Nick Williams! John Andrew is warming up. It has been a very

attritional night for Ulster in terms of injury.

Good take by Dan Tuohy. The referee has a hand-out for a penalty to the

home side. He is still playing advantage.

The referee has said the advantages over. Ulster will get the

line-outs. Those are the plans that Ulster will employ in the second

half. What a great pass that was the

Andrew Trimble. Jack Cuthbert getting a bit of treatment. It is

great to see Luke Marshall back playing again. He was having

concussion problems and at one stage we thought we were going to have to

say farewell to him too early in his career. He has broken a thumb this

year as well. It has been hard for him but it is great to see him

back, playing with confidence. He adds a bit of zip to the Ulster

midfield. Ulster are keeping this very tight.

Have they got the resources to keep it tight for another 30 minutes?

Good stuff by Stuart McCloskey. This is better stuff from the men in

white. Good player but the Ulster skipper.

Ulster are still motoring forward. Well presented by Dan Tuohy.

Stuart McCloskey goes himself. Has he got over? It is very close. Ian

Davies might want to go upstairs and have a look. Was the pass on, did he

do the right thing? Has his court Ulster's third right? That is

fantastic play by Ulster. If they score this try, it will be the best

sky they have is -- the best try they have scored this season in

terms of battering. We see Will Helu trying to bring down Stuart

McCloskey. It almost takes about five metres to get him grounded. All

you can see is that his head is over. This might give us a better

angle. Will Helu did reasonably well in the tackle. Andrew Trimble

thundering up in support. That might be the angle. Is the ball on the

whitewash? I thought I caught a glimpse. It is the momentum. If we

went to the angle before that... Lets have a look here. Something has

gone across the line that has white on it. If it is the ball, it is a

drive. Well, Stuart McCloskey, has he got a third try for Ulster this

evening? Decisions decisions. I have a decision. The evidence is

inconclusive. No try. No try, but that I've metres scrum for Ulster.

Can they put pressure on the Edinburgh eight who have just

changed their entire front row. It is a great tackle the Kbytes Stuart

McCloskey from that range, especially when you show him the

outside. Edinburgh are making a replacement.

The young full-back is coming on, Blair Kinghorn, who started the game

a week ago against the Dragons. Jack Cuthbert has gone off, Blair

Kinghorn has come on. This is going to be such an important scrummage,

particularly for Ulster. Kyle McCall has had an excellent

game for Ulster. 15 minutes have been played in the

second half. Good Ulster scrum. Ruan Pienaar just takes his time. I

think Clive Ross has just got his first try. The referee says no and

gives a 5 metre scrum. To be fair, Ian Davies was right there. Great

positioning by a referee. As stray arm from an Edinburgh defender.

Clive Ross as 20 on his back. The Edinburgh defender just get his ball

under him -- his arm under the ball. What a fantastic position by the

referee. More than happy to make the decision himself.

Edinburgh have made another replacement. There are scrum-half

has gone off, Sean Kennedy, and on comes the 22-year-old, born in

Rochdale, Nathan Fowles. That is a big call by Alan Solomons. Sean

Kennedy has controlled the Edinburgh pack well all evening. He was really

starting to put a bit of direction, looking very proficient and a very

tidy player. They lost Greg Laidlaw a season ago, the Scottish skipper.

15 minutes gone, seven points between them. Ulster are in a very

good attacking position. Can Wiehahn Herbst get a good shot on? --

shove? Ulster need to make sure they don't

lose possession. Ruan Pienaar stepped it up nicely. Good driving

again by Ulster. Will it a third time lucky? Great defending by

Edinburgh. Well done by Luke Marshall. Took a

difficult pass very well. Good tackling by Attenborough. Edinburgh

are looking to strip it, but they haven't.

Paddy Jackson has a goal himself! He could not get the pass away! Lovely

little bit of acceleration from a standing start by Paddy Jackson. The

rain is coming down. Great content, great play. Kyle McCall is at the

heartbeat of things once again. Maybe needed one of the outside

runners to straighten, rather than hanging out. Smart thinking by Paddy

Jackson. I think you realise the first man in defence was a prop

forward. Ulster have given away the penalty.

Phil Burleigh clears it away, the pressure is off Edinburgh. Franco

van der Merwe leaves the field and for his very first game of the

season on comes the 23-year-old Alan O'Connor he had such a good finish

to the season last year. Yes, nice to see him back. Very much on the

verge of things. He has shown some good form for the Ulster ravens.

They will come back for the penalty. This will give Phil Burleigh had

chance to get into Ulster territory. Silly little penalties like that.

Yes, a couple of soft ones by Ulster there. They had Edinburgh in a tight

headlock, squeezing them and squeezing them. You would have

thought the score was just a matter of time away. Phil Burleigh. He has

done that pretty well. Edinburgh, still inside their own half. Nearly

60 minutes played. Ulster are hanging on.

Cardiff have pulled off a remarkable win, entered, the's wonderful run.

Good work by the men in white to hold him up. He has given Ulster the

put-in at the scrummage. Good defence. Hamish Watson has played

really well since he came on, been a real thorn in the side. Stuart

McCloskey there, so strong. We see Chris Henry, him and Rory Best doing

that week after week. It doesn't get any better for Ulster. Dan Tuohy is

injured. Ulster have already replaced Franco van der Merwe with

Alan O'Connor. If Dan Tuohy goes off they are really going to struggle. I

am not sure if it is his knee on his ankle. I am not sure what happened.

He came down very nastily on his leg. Dan Tuohy is departing. Dear oh

dear. They are going to have to change things around a little bit.

Rob Herring might lay in the back row, find some of the larger chaps.

Yes, John Andrew, the replacement hooker, is coming on. Who will go

into the second row with Alan O'Connor? It might have to be Clive

Ross. This will be tough for Ulster, 20 minutes left ago. This is where

you really have to know your systems well. You need to know your role.

You need to know where to stand defensively. Communication needs to

come into it. Ulster need to show a bit of bloody mindedness.

Back to back games against Toulouse coming up, four-time European

champions. The referee has got himself her, much to the amusement

of the crowd. Huge pressure on this Ulster scrum, remember. Ian

Henderson has gone off, remember. Dan Tuohy has gone. I think the

referee will need some steel! -- steel toe caps.

Kyle McCall has had a terrific game. Big squeeze by Attenborough.

Ulster have just about got away with that. The wind is almost a gale

force proportions. -- at gale force proportions. That looked like a

forward pass. The referee is going to bring them back. Just as well,

perhaps, for Ulster. Blair Kinghorn is pretty quick and he had nearly

got away. Andrew Warwick is going to come on and Kyle McCall's work is

going to be done for the evening. Just. Ulster will take that every

day of the week. Difficult for Andrew Trimble there. He comes in

with the chase, can he get there in time to take man and ball? He is

fractionally late, and that led Blair Kinghorn slide open. A

thoroughly well-deserved round of applause for Kyle McCall. He has had

a terrific game here at the Kingspan Stadium. Rob Herring is still there,

struggling a wee bit. No Franco van der Merwe, no Iain Henderson, no Dan

Tuohy. The scrum was fine until all of the

changes. John Andress, a former pupil of Campbell College here in

Belfast, had spells in Exeter, Cardiff, London and Worcestershire.

Stuart McCloskey just brushes off the Edinburgh tacklers. He was held,

says the referee. The crowd did not appreciate that. I think somebody

was tackled off the ball to stop him tackling Chris Henry. Clive Ross, I

don't think you did that deliberately, but it is certainly

brought a penalty. Just one silly mistake by Ulster and

they are 50 yards down. Can the team in white Hang on?

Edinburgh making another replacement.

If Edinburgh managed to draw here, that will keep them ahead of Ulster

in the table. Good work and thereby Stuart

McCloskey. Edinburgh have managed to wrestle at back. Phil Burleigh gives

it a fair old kick. Good sidestep by Luke Marshall. Back

with a want to be, inside the Edinburgh 22.

Well, a strong wind, cold hands, knocked into touch. The Edinburgh

side will be given the option of a line-out or a scrum. The ball is

viciously moving in the wind, almost as if somebody is controlling it on

a piece of string. You need to pass the ball with a little bit of

sympathy and Paddy Jackson maybe a little bit quick on the pass. Rory

Scholes just overran it a bit. The difficulty arises in terms of

making quick ball. Michael Allen comes on, having played nearly 50

times for his native Ulster. Had a few injury problems at the start of

the season, came on against the Dragons last week for his first

appearance of the year. It will be familiar turf for Michael Allen.

Edinburgh had the option of the scrum or the line-outs. They have

gone for the scrummage. John Andress has tended to be

controversial in his scrummaging in his career. He likes to go to ground

early. Good find by Andrew Warwick. --

bind. A solid looking Ulster scrum. That is not going anywhere,

Edinburgh will have to use it. A little bit more it might have gone

into touch. Ulster do not want to do anything too fancy. A dangerous

policy by Rory Scholes, letting that bounce. It looked like it might have

gone dead, but with the second bounce it sat up on that looked like

he might have had to play at. -- it. Paddy Jackson head back quite

nicely. -- hit that quite nicely. There is a hint of an overlap here.

Wonderful tackling by Ulster. Still therefore Attenborough.

Knocked forward! Play on says the referee. Alan O'Connor takes it

away. Good to see him back in a white jersey. That'll go into touch.

Ruan Pienaar's little query there about whether or not he was in...

Sorry, he did not think that the ball went nearly as far as the touch

judge did and he has managed to win Ulster about 20 metres. Here is Nick

Williams. The Edinburgh player almost sees Nick Williams common and

decide to let go of the ball! Bring Cummins -- Bryn Cunningham on the

phone there. Good job he has done Ulster this season. What a good job

Rob Herring has done deputising for one of the greats of Ulster and

Irish, Rory Best. Rob Herring, remember, only 25.

Oh, get set at a second bite, good help from John Andrew wearing number

16. Here comes Nick Williams. You have to use it. Here is Ruan

Pienaar. Back to McCloskey. He has got away. What a splendid run by the

big fellow. Ruan Pienaar. Under a bit of pressure, good handoff by

Andrew Warwick. Here is Alan O'Connor. Ulster replacements doing

well. Ruan Pienaar. Chris Henry. Blasted Cochrane out of the way.

Ruan Pienaar, Jackson, McCloskey, it gets it to Rory Scholes. All the

pressure coming from Ulster now. Alan O'Connor.

Marshall, Williams, well taken off at the ankles. Ruan Pienaar needs to

get up and he is going to get the drive. The gap suddenly appeared,

Ruan Pienaar timed the past. Marshall to get at the right angle

and took a chance and took the try. I am pretty sure he has taken Ulster

to victory. That is nothing more than Ulster deserved. Real

determination, I gain multi-phased play. Nick Williams making the

initial burst. Marshall takes it, it sees the whole-macro. Marshall has

the pace to go through. Nothing more than he has deserved, his

contribution has been first-rate. They are going to have a look to see

whether or not Chris Henry was doing a little bit of holding back. This

is the quick ball that Ulster needed. Just before that. This is it

now, Nick Williams went forward, there is Henry taking out a couple

of players. Was he holding back legally? Would he have stopped to

look Marshall, I do not think so. Alan Rogan and the referee may think

otherwise -- Luke Marshall. It would be harsh on Ulster if that is

disallowed. Allan Grogan is going to give the referee another look. Can

we get the wide angle? It is a question of whether or not Chris

Henry did something illegal which prevented the tackle getting to the

man who would have scored the try. Chris Henry comes in, it is

Burleigh. I'm going to go for our penalty. It is a penalty against

Chris Henry, there will be no try. The crowd are not at all happy. I

suppose Ulster got the penalty try in the first half from a bit of a

legality on the part of Edinburgh. The referee is technically correct.

The argument is that you would see that in every minute of every game.

It happens all the time. A good clearance kick by Blair Kinghorn. He

is only 18 years of age. Edinburgh have given themselves a pretty

decent chance, they are back inside the Ulster half. Chris Henry, will

not be happy about that. Not happy that he was caught! Great home

support. Cochrane. Referee said it was knocked on by Chris Henry,

advantage to Edinburgh and here they come, taken on by Sutherland.

Jackson told to get away, Burleigh, good tackle by Andrew Warwick.

Edinburgh are not finished, seven minutes remaining. Into Sutherland

yet again. Good work by Alan O'Connor at the breakdown. Ulster

have a flat defence. Michael Allen, up against some of his former

team-mates. Burleigh, to Fife. Little bit of a juggle with John

Hardy. Fowles sets it up for Toolis. 22-macro again, Burleigh had to

check Michael Allen. -- 22-macro. -- Fowles. Well tackled by Ruan

Pienaar. Du Preez puts Rory Scholes on his backside. Nothing wrong with

his technique, you was up against a bigger man who got the angle right.

Just over five minutes remaining. Ulster thought they had it in the

bike. The referee following a consultation... The rain is coming

down. Andrew Warwick up against John

Andress. A solid scrum by Andrew Warwick. Ruan Pienaar, McCloskey, he

has a delicate step as well as a lot of power. Ruan Pienaar. Clive Ross

did well to kick that one. Ruan Pienaar glances to his left. Good

work, here is Rob Herring. Good strong run by Rob Herring. He has

kept in self in, cleverly done. That must be a penalty. -- himself. I

would not be surprised if it was John Andress who give it away. It

could have been Rory Sutherland. Critic celebration. This was the

tackle by Sutherland. -- great acceleration. You're not allowed to

play-the-ball when you are lying on the ground unless you are supporting

all your weight. Fantastic by Rob Herring. He is carrying an injury.

It is his awareness, he goes to ground,... The top to make sure he

does not go into touch. Very clever play by Rob Herring. Rob Herring to

throw. It is all over the place. The referee said it went dead straight

and he was happy with that. Here is Chris Henry. Under four minutes

remaining, Ulster are leading 14-7. Andrew Warwick takes it up. Nick

Williams. Ruan Pienaar. Rob Herring, what a game he has had. Good

driving, well held up by Burleigh. Rob Herring has done splendidly.

Alan O'Connor. A little dummy. Here is Clive Ross.

John Andrew pressed into service as a replacement flanker.

Coming back. Coming back into the Ulster side but slowly, referee told

Edinburgh to get their hands away from it. Great driving by Ulster,

here goes Warwick, a dummy from the replacement prop. Ruan Pienaar, well

taken by Jackson. McCloskey. Ludik and Trimble were outside him. Clive

Ross whose weekend in Dublin might have been spoilt but it will be all

the sweeter if he comes through as a victorious player for Ulster. Ruan

Pienaar. Alan O'Connor. Great finish by Ulster, Ruan Pienaar again. The

wind carried that away from Andrew Trimble. Ludik does well. Somehow,

Ulster have kept their shin. Andrew Warwick ghost to the other side --

possession. He stands strong in the tackle. Alan O'Connor. Gets across

the gain line. Ruan Pienaar. Here is Williams. Paddy Jackson has to go

back. He needs to release it. Jackson does well. Chris Henry,

under two minutes to go. Ruan Pienaar ran a good line. That was

set up for Ulster. Ruan Pienaar has had a great game. Ruan Pienaar, Ross

has relished his performance this evening. Ruan Pienaar, Ulster

burying it nicely, Jackson. Tackled by the enormous Anton Bresler. Just

a minute remaining -- Anton Bresler?. Here goes Luke Marshall,

wriggling. Ruan Pienaar will take the narrow side. Jackson. Runs into

his old buddy from school, Michael Allen. Edinburgh have turned out one

over. Not the greatest kick in the world. You probably recognise what

he was trying to do but he did not executed well. You will think Ruan

Pienaar would have been better, looking for another forward, Ulster

controlled that beautifully for nearly Andress minutes. The only

time you really got themselves into trouble when the wind got hold of

the ball. Short runners coming and, getting across the gain line,

getting someone to tag onto them to make the ball presentable for Ruan

Pienaar. One would say this game almost looks out of the reach of

Edinburgh. We have played about 15 minutes more than the normal 40. Rob

Herring is down and up again. He has got a bit of an injury, a dead leg,

he is made of stern stuff, I think he has been taking Rory Bass pills.

He will be in the ice Bath, -- Rory Best. They have been under pressure.

No one left on the bench and he has been happy to roll the sleeves up

and lead from the front. Ulster's splendid home record in the league

has extended now to 15 games. Anton Bresler has come through, somewhat

illegally. Ruan Pienaar has been spotted. He pops it into touch and

despite all the injuries to key players and all the tribulations and

stops and starts, and a try tonight, Ulster have come through and won

this one. It has been a topsy-turvy season but on balance you have to

say that the home side were the better side. Very much so and given

the quality of the opposition, the difficulty with the conditions, the

difficulty in terms of losing a number of players early, I would

almost say this as being Ulster's best performance this year. The

first half was fantastic, this second half they have hung on well.

That last ten or 15 minutes, they grinned and their lead and got the

job done. Hugs all around is, Andrew Trimble give Michael Allen a hug.

Ruan Pienaar back to his very best. Nick Williams had a great game. A

late replacement for Roger Wilson, an outstanding game. They left and

right to the very last minute, but Ulster have done what they simply

had to do in terms of the season, has significant that will be, we

will have to wait and see. There was a long and drawn-out

affair, it took almost Alan Solomons hours to complete this Pro12 match,

it has ended in a victory for Ulster. Ulster deserved winners? I

think so, they played the better rugby. ' far too many mistakes,

Ulster looked more dangerous, they made more line breaks, the scoreline

probably flattered Edinburgh a little bit. Plenty of improvements

for last week. Lots of positivity, all we are looking for is a bit of

commitment, pull the socks up, get stuck in, they did that for the best

part of the season. Nice that they finished the same way they started

the match. Good to see. Let us hear from the man of the match. There was

tough, very physical. Great game. Good to come away with the win. On

paper, they had a great front row. The scrum was solid, very happy with

how I got on. It was good. Chris Henry, how well has he done? He has

been brilliant. I think in general, all the younger lads, we were lucky,

a lot of big injuries. I thought a lot of are younger lads, they stood

up that was a tough game. We knew we owe the Ulster crowd something. We

had to dig it out. How was tonight compare to other tough nights? I

think we have pled it worse. A few more tries, we needed a win. It did

not have to be pretty, we needed a win. We will see with the injuries

are like. A massive couple of weeks ahead.

Playing along the likes of these guys, it must be a bit of a

whirlwind. Yes, it has been great to play alongside these guys. Speaking

of world wins, the hair is looking well! Thanks very much.

The table makes a little better reading for Ulster.

Kyle McCall, this evening, why man of the match? He looks like Chris

Henry's younger brother were the better looking nose! I think his

work great... He was up against Willem Nel, I 9 tight head prop, he

did so well. It is just reward. In the last couple of weeks he has come

into the fray and he has been exceptional. We did a player watch

in the first-half and his ball -- tackle count was immense. His

ability to get up and offer himself was really, really impressive. Take

the injuries into account the night, the weather, it was not pretty at

times in the second half, but Ulster did enough to hang on and win the

game, which was very important. Some of the guys did to take a bit of

credit, Chris Henry, Rob Herring. They are missing a lot of

leadership. Rory Best had a week off so they needed these people to step

up. That Edinburgh team on paper is a good side. I think it was a good

all-round performance by Ulster. As you rightly said, key players stood

up and did the job. Our scrum was under the pump for quite a bit. Nick

Williams took control of that as a number eight should do. He got us

out of jail on a couple of occasions. A couple of key players

just did things at the right time. Crucially, Ulster were able to hang

on one Edinburgh got themselves back into the game with their try. They

did. They easily could have made another couple of mistakes, like

they did against Saracens. And they played against Saracens at the made

one mistake, they made another and another. Good Ulster defence the

whole way through that second half. Apart from the try, Edinburgh did

not really get another sniff. That is testament to the boys. It is all

about workrate, getting up off the deck and getting back into the line.

I think that is all that Edinburgh deserved tonight, that tried. We did

get guilty of a bit of ball watching. They will look at the

video here and say, don't travel across, keep your spacing. It was a

lovely kick from the number ten, in fairness. They did well. Let's hear

from the Ulster direct of rugby, Les Kiss. How significant was that when

the night? It was pretty special when you take into account what

happened. Nick Williams had to go and the number eight, we lost Roger

today with a back spasm and then the injuries through the game, guys

playing out of position. They toughed it out. It is significant,

we knew it was. Hopefully we have given the fans were thereafter. It

was a special effort. It does not get any easier, three big games

coming up. We need to assess our injuries. I think we might have a

couple of long-term injuries. What you saw tonight, the boys will

rebound is and we have enough in terms of resources that we are

trying to build. We will try not to be too down about it. You mentioned

the strength of the squad, young Kyle McCall was man of the match

tonight. He was superb. I thought Rob Herring was tremendous, as was

Clive Ross. We need to build those options, so really happy. Thank you.

Thank you. Les Kiss says the strength of this squad will be

tested. What he wanted to see the note was character. Great character

shown by the team and that is what they were made in the next few

weeks. Big game on Friday night against Toulouse. That'll be a

special night for a lot of reasons. Personally, for me, I know what is

coming up. Toulouse are a fantastic brand in the rugby world. The guys

will need to up their game yet again. After Saracens, they will

want a better performance. Stephen and Andy, thank you both very much

indeed. You can hear live commentary, Ulster against Toulouse,

in the European Champions Cup from 7:30pm on BBC Radio Ulster. Tonight,

it took awhile to get there, but in the end of very worthwhile

conclusion. From all of us, goodbye.