Ospreys v Ulster

:00:35. > :00:44.Day, It's win or bust for Ulster. They arrive in Wales, knowing

:00:45. > :00:52.victory is required to keep their top four destiny in their own hands.

:00:53. > :01:02.It has been an inconsistent season for Ulster. The team is under

:01:03. > :01:07.pressure to deliver today. It is the penultimate day of the regular

:01:08. > :01:11.season and it is an important one, live from the Liberty Stadium in

:01:12. > :01:21.Swansea. Two wins required for Ulster to guarantee their place in

:01:22. > :01:26.the play-offs. Can Ulster deliver a performance this afternoon when it

:01:27. > :01:31.most matters, Ian? I think they can, through the last couple of seasons

:01:32. > :01:35.and this season in Europe when the big games come, Ulster perform well

:01:36. > :01:43.and they have done well at the Liberty. There will be big

:01:44. > :01:49.performances hopefully from Best and Henderson. Let's check the table

:01:50. > :01:56.after wins for Leinster over Glasgow.

:01:57. > :02:09.Looking at that table, Andy, a victory is the only thing Ulster can

:02:10. > :02:14.have this afternoon and with that in mind, what kind of tactics will they

:02:15. > :02:22.try and employ do you think? I think you know, you're right, they just

:02:23. > :02:28.need to win the match. There is so many permutation what, if Scarlets

:02:29. > :02:31.get beat? We have got ourselves into a position through maybe throwing

:02:32. > :02:37.away some earlier games in the season and it has cost us, you know

:02:38. > :02:41.they have got to win the game and how they go about their business,

:02:42. > :02:49.they have got to go after. Kicking and winning is not it, let's score

:02:50. > :02:55.some tries. The pitch is gorgeous, it is like playing on a carpet. That

:02:56. > :03:02.has its ups and downs, because it makes it a slippy surface. But it is

:03:03. > :03:08.fantastic to play on. So Ulster can go after this. And they have to

:03:09. > :03:11.deliver when it matters. Scoring lots of tries is something they did

:03:12. > :03:19.the last they were here and played well last year. Yes and what we saw

:03:20. > :03:27.last year Paddy Jackson kicked early in the game to slow down the other

:03:28. > :03:34.side. There will be some route one to get over the gain line. It would

:03:35. > :03:40.be niez to see them using Trimble first phase and open up the space.

:03:41. > :03:46.With the team they have selected with Diack, they're looking to play

:03:47. > :03:52.ball in hand. It is a big afternoon for Ulster rugby. They must win this

:03:53. > :03:59.afternoon to try and make those play off position. More from Andy and Ian

:04:00. > :04:08.at half time. But time to join our commentary team in Swansea.

:04:09. > :04:16.COMMENTATOR: Andrew Trimble leads the Ulster side out and it is a

:04:17. > :04:22.decent day in Swansea. There is a swirling breeze, but the pitch is in

:04:23. > :04:31.good nick and it is cool. Diack comes in at No 8. The front five

:04:32. > :04:35.stays the same, built around Best. McCloskey starts his first game in

:04:36. > :04:39.thee months and Craig Gilroy plays his second game of the season at

:04:40. > :04:46.full-back, normally operating on the wing. A huge game for both sides and

:04:47. > :04:51.despite the permutations and Martin and myself were trying to work it

:04:52. > :04:57.out, it could still go down to the last game of the season. But this is

:04:58. > :05:01.the last home game for this Ospreys side who at one stage everyone

:05:02. > :05:11.thought would have a good season. But the same could be said about

:05:12. > :05:18.Ulster. No Alun-Wyn Jones, one of a quartet of Lions players and another

:05:19. > :05:25.Lions player leads the Ospreys out this afternoon. Next week they have

:05:26. > :05:29.to travel to Swansea and there is the Bath-bound Sam Underhill. Only

:05:30. > :05:40.20 years of age. A handful of changes made by the Ospreys coach.

:05:41. > :05:59.King moves to No 8. Dan Biggar returns.

:06:00. > :06:23.A bit of a pause. As we wait for instructions. There is Stuart

:06:24. > :06:27.McCloskey, starting his fist game for about three months. He came off

:06:28. > :06:48.the bench last week and made a bit of a dent in the Munster defence.

:06:49. > :06:52.And the referee is John Lacy. Lee Paterson is the TMO. This game gets

:06:53. > :07:16.under way. Diack in his ninth season with

:07:17. > :07:28.Ulster. Is this going to be the penultimate game for Piennar?

:07:29. > :07:36.Sean Reidy has had a good season. Operates a lot at No 8. The ball

:07:37. > :07:41.nudged forward. Bright start for Ulster. Afternoon, James, a pleasure

:07:42. > :07:48.to be alongside you, a great start for Ulster. A fantastic kick off

:07:49. > :07:56.from Jackson. Piutau outjumped Giles. It is an area they will

:07:57. > :08:03.target, Giles is not one of the biggest wingers. I remember watching

:08:04. > :08:07.you doing at the start of season, the Scrum Five programme, you

:08:08. > :08:14.thought unster would win -- Ulster would win the thing. Did you have

:08:15. > :08:21.any money on them? I did! I looked through the squad and thought Piutau

:08:22. > :08:26.was the X Factor. But very similar to the Ospreys, they flattered to

:08:27. > :08:33.deceive this year and this is a huge game for both teams. Ulster anxious,

:08:34. > :08:37.got an early squeeze and they have the free kick against them. The

:08:38. > :08:45.errors are costing Ulster possession. I think Mr Biggar will

:08:46. > :09:28.go for touch and he has found his touch.

:09:29. > :09:36.Trimble spilled the ball. That is not what Ulster need to be doing.

:09:37. > :09:42.The Ospreys are better than most at counter attacking. This is big

:09:43. > :09:57.Ashley Beck. Seven times he has been capped by Wales.

:09:58. > :10:01.Into the line came Evans there. Ospreys profiting from that Ulster

:10:02. > :10:38.mistake. Fonotia was born in Christchurch.

:10:39. > :10:53.That looked like a high tackle. The lines judge kept his flag down.

:10:54. > :10:58.Here comes the Ospreys again. This is better ball. Fonotia tries to

:10:59. > :11:13.take it on. Good continuity by the Ospreys.

:11:14. > :11:17.Referee has called the ruck, Ulster have got to get themselves back

:11:18. > :11:24.onside and they didn't. I was going to say good patience from Ulster.

:11:25. > :11:29.They had to defend multiple phases. Henderson did a good job initially.

:11:30. > :11:33.Whether you agree or not, you have to listen to John Lacy. He was

:11:34. > :11:38.calling for hands off and leave the scrum-half and he has conceded a

:11:39. > :11:47.penalty. So good defence initially. Here he is being a nuisance. As an

:11:48. > :11:52.07, I think that is harshly done by. He did call ruck and the ball was on

:11:53. > :11:58.the ground, so maybe Henderson was at fault. Ospreys have kicked it

:11:59. > :12:07.into the corner. The first serious chance now. Well taken by Tipuric.

:12:08. > :12:15.What an excellent jumper he is. What a battle he will have with his old

:12:16. > :12:22.mucker Sam Warburton for a place in the Lions team. The Ospreys looking

:12:23. > :12:24.for the early try and it all came from that Ulster fumble. Referee's

:12:25. > :12:43.called for ball to be used. Good tackle by Reidy. He seemed to

:12:44. > :12:48.be taken out by Mujati. Smith may get over. Held up. How close was

:12:49. > :12:54.that? Very close. Interesting call from the Ospreys not to take the

:12:55. > :13:01.three points and go for the corner. Very nearly paid off. It is an area

:13:02. > :13:06.where the Ospreys have struggled without Alun-Wyn Jones. This was a

:13:07. > :13:10.great set up. Great take from Tipuric. Get the ball to back early

:13:11. > :13:15.and they were in control and seemed like they were going to go over.

:13:16. > :13:21.Rhys Webb should have released the back line. Chose to go himself. It

:13:22. > :13:25.Wurz great defend from Reidy. The Ulster boys will have been working

:13:26. > :13:33.on this all week. Watch Webb around the fringes. A lively start from

:13:34. > :13:37.both teams. Webb is very dangerous and Smith nearly got over for his

:13:38. > :13:43.second try of the season against Ulster. Key area the scrum, in the

:13:44. > :13:58.scrum the Ospreys have struggled. John Lacy telling Rhys Webb to use

:13:59. > :14:06.it. And he does use it. Oh that's got away there. Touched down and a

:14:07. > :14:11.try's been given. The refer Yves was playing -- referee was playing

:14:12. > :14:18.advantage and Habberfield squeaked over and you have to ask questions

:14:19. > :14:24.about the defence. That bouncing ball causes the defence to hold.

:14:25. > :14:32.Solid scrum. They go against the wheel. Piennar gets a hand in there.

:14:33. > :14:37.But Beck with a great off-load. He is such a strong man. Trimble steps

:14:38. > :14:43.in and a tidy finish from Habberfield. You miss one tackle and

:14:44. > :14:47.it costs you dear. The bounce was awkward. Jackson held on to his man,

:14:48. > :14:53.but not long enough to stop the pass. That is the perfect start for

:14:54. > :14:58.the Ospreys. It was all Ulster and then mistake cost them. The scrum,

:14:59. > :15:04.the penalty. But due rewards for the Ospreys, they chose to go for the

:15:05. > :15:10.try, instead of the three points. A mismatch allowed them to get fwree

:15:11. > :15:18.and that is a -- free and that is a fantastic converse. You said that

:15:19. > :15:23.before the ball went over! He is such a talisman for this team. It is

:15:24. > :15:33.difficult that bouncing ball. Just checks the defence. Trimble stepped

:15:34. > :15:39.in. Jackson tried to repeat his match kick off.

:15:40. > :15:46.Piutau has got himself hurt. He has banged his elbow. This would not be

:15:47. > :15:50.good for Ulster if one of their star signings is hurt. It may be a

:15:51. > :16:00.stinger, but he is holding that arm around the side. Here is Gilroy, not

:16:01. > :16:08.sure where he is going. Piutau seems to be a bit better. He is going into

:16:09. > :16:17.the ruck any way. Taken on by Reidy, who has been very busy as ush. -- as

:16:18. > :16:25.always. Referee's happy Trimble did not do any obstructing.

:16:26. > :16:44.Herbst runs into another South African, Mujati.

:16:45. > :16:53.The Ospreys' defence is pretty well organised.

:16:54. > :17:02.Here goes Gilroy. Nice the side step. He needs help and gets it from

:17:03. > :17:07.Best. A thunderous drive from the Irish international captain. It has

:17:08. > :17:11.been pinched by the Ospreys! What a great bit of defending by the home

:17:12. > :17:18.side. Not a great clearance from Biggar. But he will be happy.

:17:19. > :17:24.Fantastic offload in McCloskey. He has seen Beck do the same. I thought

:17:25. > :17:30.Gilroy was away, but finger tips, Biggar held on to him. Look at the

:17:31. > :17:36.number of black jerseys compared to white ones. A great steal. But much

:17:37. > :17:44.better from Ulster. Just keeping the ball and it was just the lack of

:17:45. > :17:50.numbers in the break down. He is fantastic. This guy could play

:17:51. > :17:56.inside centre, outside centre, full-back, he has all the skills. He

:17:57. > :18:03.is like you. He is like me, but bigger, faster and stronger! And

:18:04. > :18:09.they're paying him more! Yes, but a wonderful player. Without Alun-Wyn,

:18:10. > :18:17.he is the talisman for the Ospreys. But better from Ulster. Reidy with a

:18:18. > :18:24.few nice touches. Going to make a second Lions tour, Tipuric, Alun-Wyn

:18:25. > :18:29.Jones will be making his third. Thises why Tipuric is -- this is why

:18:30. > :18:37.Tipuric is invaluable for any team he plays for.

:18:38. > :18:46.I have a feeling it may not be Ulster's night, giving the

:18:47. > :18:54.fundamental errors that have plagued them all season are creeping in.

:18:55. > :18:56.Ulster had so many problems with the Cardiff centres a couple of weeks

:18:57. > :19:18.ago. Mujati, born in Zimbabwe. If you're

:19:19. > :19:22.Ulster, you can't afford basic sloppy line-outs, giveaways like

:19:23. > :19:26.they did there. Lets all the pressure off the Ospreys. That time

:19:27. > :19:31.the ball was out and well read by Reidy. Giving the ball, sloppy

:19:32. > :19:38.line-out. Whether it was the call or the throw. Just basic errors. But in

:19:39. > :19:46.games of this magnitude, you need to nail those big moments. Reidy capped

:19:47. > :19:52.once for Ireland. His grandfather is from Kerry. So he is Irish

:19:53. > :20:00.qualified. Played in the second Test against South Africa. Robbie Diack

:20:01. > :20:11.began his top level rugby in Cape Town before coming to Ulster.

:20:12. > :20:17.Beck with the chip. Nasty, awkward bounce. Well taken by Gilroy, who is

:20:18. > :20:47.caught by Giles. Treadwell is establishing himself as

:20:48. > :20:57.one of the starting line up for Ulster. Piennar, the first time he

:20:58. > :20:59.has kicked. Cleverly done by Piutau, he allowed Webb to catch the ball

:21:00. > :21:11.before he made the hit. That pass looked forward. I thought

:21:12. > :21:17.the refer Yves was going to -- referee was going to let it go. He

:21:18. > :21:24.lost the ball. Good build up, good carry, Davies has had some good

:21:25. > :21:29.carries for the Ospreys. And Piennar's first kick, very reluctant

:21:30. > :21:35.to kick. Piutau could have gone for thistle ball, but he wait -- for

:21:36. > :21:40.this ball, but he waited for Webb. He has some engine Tipuric. He is

:21:41. > :21:46.one of the fittest guys you will see and he will be every where today. It

:21:47. > :21:53.is an interesting contrast in the back row, Underhill is mainly a 7.

:21:54. > :22:10.Against a bigger moshgs physical Ulster back row.

:22:11. > :22:22.Again that that is on the careless side by Ulster. One of those things

:22:23. > :22:26.if it works it looks brilliant, if it doesn't it is smacked wrist time.

:22:27. > :22:38.Looked like they created the joef lap. They needed -- overlap. They

:22:39. > :22:46.needed to keep the ball. Again it is letting the Ospreys off the hook.

:22:47. > :22:50.Ulster digging in. Webb with his first kick. That is hanging

:22:51. > :22:56.perfectly. Somebody needs to get in there. It is well taken by Trimble

:22:57. > :23:02.and he loses the ball. He has got his left hand bandaged. He had

:23:03. > :23:05.surgery to repair a fracture. Maybe that is half an hourer -- hampering

:23:06. > :23:30.him. Evans hasn't found touch, he has

:23:31. > :23:38.found Piutau. Socks down around the ankles.

:23:39. > :23:45.O'Connor starting for the fifth game in a row. Jackson again for

:23:46. > :23:53.territory. Touch now by Evans. Plenty of time. That is a very good

:23:54. > :24:03.kick by Evans. But Piutau takes it quickly.

:24:04. > :24:15.Gilroy just hauled to ground. Diack runs into King.

:24:16. > :24:24.Ulster being patient again. The Ospreys defence is well organised.

:24:25. > :24:31.Tipuric is all over him like a cheap suit. The referee has the hand up

:24:32. > :24:36.for the penalty for coming in at the side. Again Jackson's passing is way

:24:37. > :24:42.ward. But they can come back for the penalty. He has penalised Tipuric

:24:43. > :24:46.for coming in at the side. But Ulster with plenty of possession,

:24:47. > :24:51.but they're not making any inroad into the Ospreys defence. Very well

:24:52. > :24:55.organised the Ospreys defence. They're finding it difficult to go

:24:56. > :25:01.through them or around them. We were doing some sums before the game in

:25:02. > :25:06.the press room and it is hard to work out what could or couldn't

:25:07. > :25:11.happen. Yeah, I think ultimately for Ulster, they have got to win this

:25:12. > :25:16.game. If the Ospreys win and the Scarlets win tonight, they're in a

:25:17. > :25:21.precarious position with Leinster coming to Belfast next week. So for

:25:22. > :25:28.the Ospreys a win for them and they are more or less home and hosed.

:25:29. > :25:33.Ulster have decided they want Paddy Jackson to go for posts. There was

:25:34. > :25:39.that run by Gilroy, beat several players, but the run was more or

:25:40. > :25:44.less lateral and he didn't end up any further ahead than where he was

:25:45. > :25:48.when he received the ball. Jackson who scored all of Ulster's nine

:25:49. > :26:00.points at the start of the season when they beat the Ospreys 9-7.

:26:01. > :26:10.It is a fair old way out. He has the advantage of a bit of a breeze

:26:11. > :26:15.behind him. That might just come in. That is a terrific kick by Paddy

:26:16. > :26:23.Jackson. It veered off to the left and then changed its mind and went

:26:24. > :26:28.between the posts. 19 minutes gone, 7-3. They needed that, Ulster.

:26:29. > :26:34.Plenty of possession and nothing to show for it. That will settle them

:26:35. > :26:36.down. They have gone through the phases, but basic errors have

:26:37. > :27:17.scuppered them. Ospreys up very quickly. Gilroy

:27:18. > :27:22.nearly got through, Mujati made the tackle. Slow progress by Ulster, but

:27:23. > :27:29.they're moving in the right direction.

:27:30. > :27:37.Evans well positioned. Ospreys back inside their own half. But they have

:27:38. > :27:45.got the ball. That is the important thing.

:27:46. > :27:51.Referee's happy the ball was thrown backward. Mujati again, he has been

:27:52. > :28:02.very prominent the big South African.

:28:03. > :28:11.Good work by Smith who, nearly scored in the opening minutes.

:28:12. > :28:15.Mujati for the third time in about 30 seconds with ball in hand and

:28:16. > :28:20.Ulster give away the penalty. Taken quickly. Piennar may have made

:28:21. > :28:27.contact before the ten metre line was observed, but play on, says the

:28:28. > :28:30.referee. Ulster drifting offside too much for the referee's liking. Diack

:28:31. > :28:39.again the culprit. Again an Ulster mistake has cost

:28:40. > :29:19.them possession and territory. John Lacy has said there is going to

:29:20. > :29:27.be a TMO check. It is coming up on the big screen. Didn't see anything

:29:28. > :29:32.too obvious, Jim. Is it the neck roll? Oh, dear that is not good. You

:29:33. > :29:36.can't do that any more. That will be a penalty. I don't think it should

:29:37. > :29:44.be a yellow card, but you never know. Definite penalty. Neil

:29:45. > :29:49.Paterson has given up the refereeing for TMOing, which is a pity, because

:29:50. > :29:52.I thought he was a good referee. Penalty against Scott Baldwin that

:29:53. > :29:58.will take a bit of the impetus out of Ospreys. Into the second quarter

:29:59. > :30:05.and 7-3 and given what is at stake, it is entitled to be a tense game.

:30:06. > :30:09.It is edgy, but in fairness to both teams, the first option is to move

:30:10. > :30:14.the ball and not kick. Ulster are looking to move the ball and the

:30:15. > :30:19.Ospreys with an opportunity to go for the corner and they have take an

:30:20. > :30:29.quick tap penalty. That is a blow for Ulster.

:30:30. > :30:33.I do not know what is wrong with Pienaar. He is holding his left hand

:30:34. > :30:45.side. That is the second poor line-out

:30:46. > :30:57.that Ulster have been guilty of losing.

:30:58. > :31:03.Bhutan is so strong and aggressive, and has given a half decent

:31:04. > :31:20.platform. The referee was happy, there was no

:31:21. > :31:32.infringement, despite the protestations of the Ospreys

:31:33. > :31:39.faithful. I think Evans is down injured on the far side. Rhys Webb

:31:40. > :31:46.as ever, looking for an opportunity. Bradley changes his mind. Luke

:31:47. > :31:49.Marshall is the last man up. Compounding an error from the last

:31:50. > :32:13.line-out. A fantastic kick from Dan Evans.

:32:14. > :32:25.Piutau did well. They would be better off with Gilroy on the wing

:32:26. > :32:34.and Piutau at 15. Answers on a postcard, please. Splendid kick from

:32:35. > :32:47.Biggar. That has restored the 7-point differential. Almost 25

:32:48. > :32:52.minutes gone. They should be putting the Ospreys under pressure. Get

:32:53. > :33:01.those basics wrong in a game of this magnitude... James King played

:33:02. > :33:12.number six a couple of weeks ago when the Ospreys were ambushed by

:33:13. > :33:15.the Cardiff Blues. The man beside me find it difficult to keep the smile

:33:16. > :33:27.off his face. It was a long time coming, seven years.

:33:28. > :33:36.Jackson did well to recover that pass, it wasn't great. Did Gilroy

:33:37. > :33:46.knock it forward? The referee played advantage for that. Perhaps we

:33:47. > :33:52.should not be too harsh on Craig Gilroy, it has worked out. Taken on

:33:53. > :33:57.by Baldwin. The hooker is involved in all the Welsh games in the most

:33:58. > :34:07.recent Six Nations. Rhys Webb at the helm.

:34:08. > :34:17.Good tackle by Nicky Smith, the Ospreys loosehead.

:34:18. > :34:23.Not a lot of room out there. Treadwell tried to put something

:34:24. > :34:38.into it. The idea was the but it did not work

:34:39. > :34:58.out. It went to the Ospreys. Biggar was perfectly positioned. Dan

:34:59. > :35:07.Evans had recovered from a little knock.

:35:08. > :35:19.A good kick by Jackson. Ulster have given away possession. Ulster are

:35:20. > :35:25.lacking a bit of creativity. The Ospreys seeming control. That was

:35:26. > :35:30.sloppy from Biggar. A very loose pass. Put them under pressure, but

:35:31. > :35:34.they got out of it. Ulster has plenty of possession this first

:35:35. > :35:44.half, but not causing the Ospreys too many problems. Dan Biggar, one

:35:45. > :35:49.of the most aggressive and competitive players in more ways

:35:50. > :35:57.than one. On the table at the moment is that Leinster wrote in front, and

:35:58. > :35:59.Ulster have one game to play. If it stays like this the Ospreys will

:36:00. > :36:07.move into third place, with the Scarlets behind. They have to play

:36:08. > :36:17.Galway in their last game. You would not read against the Scarlets

:36:18. > :36:24.winning that. Both of these teams at the start of the season, I do not

:36:25. > :36:29.think there has been an away semifinal win in the Pro12. You

:36:30. > :36:35.would expect these two teams to be closer to the top two than they are.

:36:36. > :36:37.Inconsistency from both teams throughout the season. Whoever

:36:38. > :36:44.finishes in fourth place will have to go to Dublin to play Leinster. B

:36:45. > :36:51.was happy with that, but it was by no means straight. He didn't give a

:36:52. > :36:52.Rhys Webb much time. He did not mean it to go quite so straight up in the

:36:53. > :37:08.air. What a player can Piutau is. McCluskey did well. He got to have

:37:09. > :37:35.we aren't nearly got the past away. Good work again by Treadwell. Little

:37:36. > :37:40.bit better by Ulster, more purpose, I felt. Yes, McCluskey got his

:37:41. > :37:50.hands-free. He is so big and strong, he has to get his hands everything.

:37:51. > :37:56.-- McCloskey. Jails has not touched the ball that had not touched the

:37:57. > :38:06.ball so far. If he gets a bit of space he could kill you. Reedy's

:38:07. > :38:15.tackle was not high. Ulster still trying to battle and Nick turnover.

:38:16. > :38:19.Good footwork by Beck, who is six foot three.

:38:20. > :38:40.Penalty for Nicky Smith. We're going back to the high shot. I think

:38:41. > :38:48.you're right. Andrew Trimble is being brought in. Is there a

:38:49. > :38:53.sanction? You are right, I high tackle by Sean Reidy. Nothing more

:38:54. > :38:59.than a penalty. But a warning, and he has had a word with Andy Trimble,

:39:00. > :39:04.saying there is much too much of this happening. One of those awkward

:39:05. > :39:11.ones for Sean Reidy. Going in at a low angle, swinging arm goes right

:39:12. > :39:19.down, catching him across the shoulder. With the sanctions as they

:39:20. > :39:32.are these days, it is a penalty. Wait -- less than ten metres to go.

:39:33. > :39:53.A great kicked by Tipuric. Biggar gets it away quickly. Well

:39:54. > :40:00.met by Luke Marshall. Ulster still looking to effect a half decent

:40:01. > :40:08.turnover. A bit of zip on the far side. The referee has decided on a

:40:09. > :40:11.line-out. Yes, both teams defensively looked more dangerous

:40:12. > :40:22.when they haven't got the ball. Again the Ospreys, great defence

:40:23. > :40:27.from Beck. Trying to go round the outside of Ulster, but good defence

:40:28. > :40:44.from Trimble on the outside. The putting a bit of pressure on. I do

:40:45. > :40:47.not think there is any doubt about Rory Best is serving his place in

:40:48. > :40:57.the Lions to! But that is not going to help. In the previous two Lane

:40:58. > :41:00.notes, the Ospreys put all sorts of pressure on Rory Best, the hooker.

:41:01. > :41:06.He may not have full confidence in the call coming in, which leads to

:41:07. > :41:19.not straight. You get the feeling the Ospreys can nail another score.

:41:20. > :41:26.Into the crucial period that people talk

:41:27. > :41:31.about. Little space before and after the interval. Tom Marshall stays

:41:32. > :41:40.back on the outside. Well tackled by McCloskey. Good work by the man from

:41:41. > :41:48.Christchurch. Back inside to James King. The Ospreys are building very

:41:49. > :41:57.nicely. Justin Tipuric, stopped and checked and kept going. Tackled by

:41:58. > :42:09.Treadwell. Robbie Diack just about got to him. Ingles Webb -- in goes

:42:10. > :42:17.Webb. He knows he's not been held so he is entitled to move forward.

:42:18. > :42:28.Great work. Gosh. That was very tight from John Lacey. He said the

:42:29. > :42:34.initial fumble did not go forward, but... Let us have a look. Just

:42:35. > :42:47.reaching for James King. That was very tight. That might just have

:42:48. > :42:51.gone forward. They think the Ospreys have got the tribunal are looking

:42:52. > :42:58.for. Give him the benefit, he is a lot closer than we are. This is a

:42:59. > :43:03.crucial part of the game. If the Ospreys can get any sort of score to

:43:04. > :43:06.go in front just before half time, that would give them huge

:43:07. > :43:15.confidence. Iain Henderson in the middle of the picture. The first

:43:16. > :43:21.pupil from Belfast Royal Academy to be chosen for the Lions tour since

:43:22. > :43:37.the one and only later and much lamented Jack Kyle. Is a familiar

:43:38. > :43:45.figure never to far-away. The water boy. But what will not be his

:43:46. > :43:53.regular double! Six minutes to go until half time. Ulster are seven

:43:54. > :43:59.points adrift. There goes Webb. He's going to get there! Intercepted by

:44:00. > :44:05.Paul Marshall, who else! He sneaked in by the skin of the teeth and only

:44:06. > :44:11.goes Andrew Trimble. Have Ulster did not concede a score there is hard to

:44:12. > :44:16.fathom. But Marshall resented it. Andrew Warwick trying to create a

:44:17. > :44:28.bit of space to execute the old exit strategy. I do not think that has

:44:29. > :44:31.found touch. Well taken by Evans. Ospreys have completed some 40

:44:32. > :44:34.metres but they still have possession. Still five minutes of

:44:35. > :44:43.the first half remaining. Webb again. Biggar next to Bradley

:44:44. > :44:54.Davies, the biggest centre in the world. Good work by O'Connor.

:44:55. > :45:12.Good work by Henderson on the Springboks prop.

:45:13. > :45:20.He got away! He had to just give the ball. That might have been in for

:45:21. > :45:26.the second. But it is still there are. Rhys Webb. Biggar. And

:45:27. > :45:37.Marshall. Giles tries to get away and does. Jackson on the outside

:45:38. > :45:43.centre. Ospreys still pressing for the crucial pre-half-time drive.

:45:44. > :45:54.James King got away from the first tackle. Here they come again. This

:45:55. > :46:02.is going to be interesting. A good tackle by McCloskey. But back on the

:46:03. > :46:07.Ospreys said. Webb on the money. That looked to be knocked forward.

:46:08. > :46:15.How the Ospreys have not scored, I have no idea! A fascinating passage

:46:16. > :46:22.of play. Goes back to the interception. To pick was on the

:46:23. > :46:31.outside, he just held on to it too long. Great recovery from McCloskey.

:46:32. > :46:36.Good defence from Luke Marshall. Biggar puts pressure on him. Ulster

:46:37. > :46:42.are hanging on. If they can hang onto 7-point gap the interval, and

:46:43. > :46:45.some harsh words said in the shed, as they call it in the southern

:46:46. > :46:51.hemisphere, who knows? But at the moment your money would have to be

:46:52. > :47:01.on the women's side. Yes, the need to have more inventiveness. To pick

:47:02. > :47:11.goes. It is the blood bin. He will have some of those Down Under come

:47:12. > :47:15.June. Sam Underhill will go to the openside for the Ospreys. Ulster

:47:16. > :47:23.would be more than happy for that half time whistle to be blown. The

:47:24. > :47:36.Ospreys are looking to put a lot of pressure on the Ulster scrum.

:47:37. > :47:50.Three minutes and counting. Can they hold on? A better scrum by Ulster.

:47:51. > :48:00.Sean Reidy number eight in the scrums. Marshall gets it away to

:48:01. > :48:12.Alan O'Connor. Good work by Conor Ryan Treadwell. Has Nicky Smith got

:48:13. > :48:17.the ball back to Paul Marshall? He has. You would think the first thing

:48:18. > :48:34.to do would be to get the ball from out of the. Now they have it. That

:48:35. > :48:41.was well done after all by Ulster. Just trying to get Paddy Jackson

:48:42. > :49:02.onto the front foot. Back into defensive mode by Ulster. 33 caps

:49:03. > :49:08.for Wales. George Clancy behind. The referee was in the most recent World

:49:09. > :49:16.Cup refereeing team. Plenty of options at the line-out. That has

:49:17. > :49:27.been miscued. Well taken by Ulster's captain. Marshall, O'Connor.

:49:28. > :49:47.Jackson gave that a wallop. Well covered by Dan Evans. Poor defending

:49:48. > :49:49.by Ulster. They'd is the try! Magnificently done by the Ospreys.

:49:50. > :49:55.And the Canadian International goes all the way. The Ospreys did what

:49:56. > :50:05.they have been threatening to do. That was one of the best tries I

:50:06. > :50:12.have seen, from Tyler Ardron. He kicked straight down Dan Evans'

:50:13. > :50:23.throat. Rory Best goes through him. Marshall fails to bring him down.

:50:24. > :50:28.Back inside by Tyler Ardron. The Ospreys blew two chances early on.

:50:29. > :50:36.Dan Evans is such an underrated player for the Ospreys. Great

:50:37. > :50:43.counterattacking. Was this borderline? No, I think it is fine.

:50:44. > :50:52.That is a killer blow. The conversion has been made good by Dan

:50:53. > :50:55.Evans. We really have to take their chance with four or five different

:50:56. > :51:09.hands, if they had them. 17-3. A well-deserved half time lead for

:51:10. > :51:20.the Ospreys, who had the better of the opening exchanges. Ulster simply

:51:21. > :51:26.have not been firing. A jittery error filled first-half. We have

:51:27. > :51:30.been watching a very jaded Ulster performance. Their season is now

:51:31. > :51:34.hanging by a thread. What do you make of that first-half performance?

:51:35. > :51:39.There will be -- they will be hugely disappointed. We said they looked

:51:40. > :51:47.flat when they came out, and they have unfortunately not have any set

:51:48. > :51:51.pieces to get going. Before the game we said they would look to get

:51:52. > :51:59.McCloskey over the gain line, but they have just given up. Is there

:52:00. > :52:03.any way back for Ulster, after that hammer blow? It was a massive hammer

:52:04. > :52:07.blow on the stroke of half-time, but there is always a way back. It is

:52:08. > :52:15.whether they want to come back or they have the passion inside

:52:16. > :52:19.themselves, the desire to go out and go after the performance. Going on

:52:20. > :52:25.the first 40 minutes you would say no chance of coming back. So they

:52:26. > :52:34.have to pull out their finger and do it. You cannot lose a set piece full

:52:35. > :52:38.stop Ulster have thrown three and lost three. Small errors and details

:52:39. > :52:45.going to the big picture and unless they sort themselves out, the

:52:46. > :52:48.Ospreys are hungrier. The first few times Ulster have the ball, they

:52:49. > :52:51.lost the line-out. And Iain Henderson also penalised at the

:52:52. > :52:57.break then giving that early penalty away, whether it was or wasn't,

:52:58. > :53:03.which allowed the Ospreys together opening score. Absolutely. We have

:53:04. > :53:09.got to fight for all the breakdowns, and we got into this rock nice and

:53:10. > :53:15.early. Iain Henderson was told to let it go, that is game on. He was

:53:16. > :53:22.told to let it go again, so he did. To me that if they are. He was hard

:53:23. > :53:29.done by on that situation. That is where the mockery of the game comes

:53:30. > :53:37.in a little bit. Pienaar has gone into contest, and Jackson feels he

:53:38. > :53:41.has to jam into shut the ball down. Ulster will be very disappointed.

:53:42. > :53:42.Ospreys should be going rate will stop they have just taken their

:53:43. > :54:08.chances. Baker's is a direct. Basham They just had to -- it down the

:54:09. > :54:12.park, and that was a superb first tackle. That is the story. They have

:54:13. > :54:17.missed first tackles. Good support play, which we compared to one of

:54:18. > :54:23.the earlier scenarios when we broke through, the support was just not

:54:24. > :54:26.the. So that sums it up. If you look at Rhys Webb, he runs in front of

:54:27. > :54:32.Andrew Warwick, which stops them building a wall. It is just a big

:54:33. > :54:36.gap, and the full-back sees two guys together and counterattacks. Aside

:54:37. > :54:41.from the line-out and the set piece, a lot of other Ulster errors in the

:54:42. > :54:49.first half as well that we can see highlighted here. Yes, Stuart

:54:50. > :54:54.McCloskey goes well, and again Gilroy looks at the ball. Ulster

:54:55. > :55:05.almost don't seem to be anticipating the break. We lose the support? When

:55:06. > :55:09.you have a guy like Catholic, he is world-class, and the support is not

:55:10. > :55:16.the. We are not aggressive at breakdowns. Again Ulster create an

:55:17. > :55:21.overlap, and Trimble thinks Paddy Jackson is about to get hit. Ulster

:55:22. > :55:28.obviously think if we can get outside this, but they have not had

:55:29. > :55:33.the accuracy they are looking for. Ospreys like to play with a bit of

:55:34. > :55:41.ambition and paste. It is just frustrating. And kicking the ball

:55:42. > :55:46.away, wrong decision? I think so. We have not had the ball much, but at

:55:47. > :55:50.the same thing we have to build momentum and if we keep giving away

:55:51. > :55:58.the ball, we're not able to build backpressure. Ospreys are probably

:55:59. > :56:04.saying, we have this game sorted. They cannot win their own set piece.

:56:05. > :56:10.Let's have a crack here. What is going on in these line-outs? Losing

:56:11. > :56:19.one, but losing all of them in the first half? For me, it is an asset

:56:20. > :56:22.to Ulster line-out. He calls very good line-outs, and it is noticeable

:56:23. > :56:26.when he is not on the park, because I have seen him play throughout the

:56:27. > :56:32.season and the line-out calls have not been particularly good. But in

:56:33. > :56:37.fairness, the Ospreys are putting Rory Best under immense pressure.

:56:38. > :56:46.Then we end up deep from the position of being in their half, 210

:56:47. > :56:51.yards from the online. It it is difficult to be constantly critical.

:56:52. > :56:59.The frustration is that they like to use their wingers and McCloskey, and

:57:00. > :57:04.then the on the back foot. Dan Evans has put the ball behind Ulster a few

:57:05. > :57:09.times, and they are trying to put on the wrong pressure, which leads to

:57:10. > :57:13.mistakes. Ospreys got through eventually for the second time, but

:57:14. > :57:17.before that Ulster stopped a couple going in, and you think that may

:57:18. > :57:21.have been one of the turning points of the game. Yes, the scramble

:57:22. > :57:24.defence has been good -- scrum defence has been good. Ospreys

:57:25. > :57:32.looked as if they were going to score. But they scrambled offence.

:57:33. > :57:40.This is where you want a little bit of cameras, take it out of play and

:57:41. > :57:45.reset. You cannot last 22 minutes against a quality outfit if you're

:57:46. > :57:48.scrambling the whole thing. When one team is on top, it is hard in the

:57:49. > :57:53.middle of the game to stop the momentum. That is going to be the

:57:54. > :58:01.keeper Ulster. Absolutely, it is difficult to stop this. It is like

:58:02. > :58:04.that in any game. The Ospreys looked like they are playing with happiness

:58:05. > :58:10.in their bones. There is a lot to be said for that. For the last umpteen

:58:11. > :58:15.games and months, they do not look happy individuals. And I think that

:58:16. > :58:19.comes together collectively. It is interesting to see how they

:58:20. > :58:24.galvanise in the second half. If they get happiness within themselves

:58:25. > :58:30.it will show on the way the play. At the minute I do not see it. I'm

:58:31. > :58:38.looking for inspiration. Let us get some thoughts from the Ulster set

:58:39. > :58:42.up. Thanks indeed, Bryn Cunningham with me. Just before we speak to

:58:43. > :58:55.him, I watched Ruan Pienaar within the tunnel, it looked like he was

:58:56. > :58:59.limping, so we will have some more news on that at half thing. How can

:59:00. > :59:02.they turn things around? The main thing is having to win the set

:59:03. > :59:07.piece. The line-out has failed miserably in the first half. We have

:59:08. > :59:12.had to be lost the moral. There were only a couple of scrums, one did not

:59:13. > :59:16.go well and one was average. The set piece is critical but more so than

:59:17. > :59:19.that, we have to get the numbers right defensively and an attack.

:59:20. > :59:24.We're not getting people working hard enough, so there is soft

:59:25. > :59:28.shoulders getting into wider channels comfortably. If we can get

:59:29. > :59:32.people round the corner quicker, we can put them behind the gain line

:59:33. > :59:36.and force them a little. Something we're down numbers whenever we have

:59:37. > :59:41.the ball. So a lot of it will be at the breakdown as well. We know they

:59:42. > :59:45.have a strong bunch of boys in the back row. We will try to disrupt as

:59:46. > :59:50.much as possible. If we have to, we will go through the middle to create

:59:51. > :59:57.something going forward. Paul Marshall said it could have been

:59:58. > :00:04.another try at the intercept, but how big a loss is Ruan Pienaar? He

:00:05. > :00:08.is a loss, but the guys have to put that behind. Marshall is a slightly

:00:09. > :00:15.different take of player and he will inject pace in the game, that is

:00:16. > :00:20.what he's good at. Being a great sum, he is going to have to do this.

:00:21. > :00:24.The try just before half time was a killer blow. We should have defended

:00:25. > :00:26.better, a one-off missed tackle and they are through the middle of us.

:00:27. > :00:34.You cannot Next score crucial? We we have to

:00:35. > :00:40.get the ball into our own hands and try and get them on the back foot

:00:41. > :00:44.and get an early score and get the momentum and the confidence going

:00:45. > :00:48.and there is no reason we can't get into the match and win. Ospreys will

:00:49. > :00:53.want to keep playing rugby. We have to be patient and hope chances will

:00:54. > :00:58.come our way. Thank you. Big half of rugby coming up for Ulster. Back to

:00:59. > :01:01.you in the studio. STUDIO: How do Ulster inject some

:01:02. > :01:05.energy into this performance which has been miss soing far? They need

:01:06. > :01:11.to keep hold of possession and if they can put the Ospreys under

:01:12. > :01:20.pressure and get some penalties and a quick tap or kick the corner. Brad

:01:21. > :01:28.Davies has them well organised, but they have get McCloskey going at

:01:29. > :01:36.Biggar. He is a selfish defender. And you need your blind wingers

:01:37. > :01:39.coming in to find space. Ulster have nothing to lose apart from their

:01:40. > :01:45.place in the top four, do they throw caution to the wind, they have got

:01:46. > :01:49.to score tries. They have got everything to play for. Ian's right,

:01:50. > :01:58.we have got to get across the gain line. Simple. Those rucks have to be

:01:59. > :02:03.quick and we need commitment to the rucks and go at it with venom. The

:02:04. > :02:08.game's been around a long time, you have got to fight fire with fire and

:02:09. > :02:12.not wait for situations to manifest themselves. We need vipds to step up

:02:13. > :02:21.-- individuals to step up to the plate and say, what is it worth to

:02:22. > :02:25.me. If the forwards can't secure go-forward ball, they have an

:02:26. > :02:30.attacking back three, but they have got to cut the mistake off. Yes they

:02:31. > :02:35.have made some breaks and Trimble works hard looking for to get off

:02:36. > :02:41.the wing and get hands on the ball. It is about energy and enthusiasm.

:02:42. > :02:49.Thank you. Can Ulster save their season with a big second half

:02:50. > :02:54.performance? Back to Martin and Jim. COMMENTATOR: 17-3 to the home side.

:02:55. > :02:58.We have not seen the pace of Giles, only 19, still to be a full-scale

:02:59. > :03:04.internationalist. But that I'm sure is not far away. He has had his

:03:05. > :03:11.hands full with Piutau. But he has coped well. We haven't seen any of

:03:12. > :03:18.the Welsh coaching teem. I think Robin McBride may not be too far

:03:19. > :03:23.away. Dan Biggar, who has kicked a penalty and converted tries by

:03:24. > :03:29.Habberfield and Ardron, to get the second half under way. John Lacy

:03:30. > :03:31.blows that whistle of his. That is not a bad restart kick. Trimble

:03:32. > :03:45.takes. Marshall on for the unfortunate Ruan

:03:46. > :03:54.Pienaar, not sure what the injury is. That has been allowed to go into

:03:55. > :04:01.touch. A decent exit route from Ulster. I know it is a cliche, but

:04:02. > :04:04.the next president score is crucial. If the Ospreys score first, you

:04:05. > :04:10.would think that would be game over. If Ulster can find a way, they need

:04:11. > :04:16.to get back into this game and they need the first score. Ospreys have

:04:17. > :04:22.two tries in the bag and will be probably thinking, bonus point. The

:04:23. > :04:28.Ospreys line-out has worked perfectly, unlike the Ulster

:04:29. > :04:32.line-out. Webb will kick tactically. Where is Piutau? There he is. Who

:04:33. > :04:48.has swept it up, but Tipuric. Look at Webb having a look to see

:04:49. > :04:54.what is available. Here is Giles. Good support play by the Ospreys.

:04:55. > :05:19.Beck the man in the middle of all that.

:05:20. > :05:39.What a tackle by Henderson. He has held Smith up.

:05:40. > :05:46.Underhill off to Bath and off to Argentina with the England squad

:05:47. > :05:51.this summer, picked by Eddie Jones, the England coach. Good pressure

:05:52. > :05:55.from the Ospreys. They're being patient, which is important. Ardron

:05:56. > :06:09.again makes a decent bit of ground. Look at this fellow, Tipuric, he

:06:10. > :06:15.seems to pop up just about every where. Evans has got away from

:06:16. > :06:24.another tackle. Jackson misses him this time.

:06:25. > :06:33.That is knocked forward. Play on says the referee. I don't think Luke

:06:34. > :06:39.Marshall has the gas. That is a poor kick by Marshall, he just needed to

:06:40. > :06:44.Poots it down the park. It looked like a tired kick from Marshall.

:06:45. > :06:50.King should have let that ball go for the Ospreys there. They look in

:06:51. > :06:56.control. Here is Dan Evans, great strength, shrugs off one, great

:06:57. > :07:01.incision and you need King, needs to give that. He has carried. That

:07:02. > :07:06.opportunity for Marshall, he has read it well, put pressure and just

:07:07. > :07:20.composure here. That is a really poor kick. And he is a very good

:07:21. > :07:26.footballer. Herbst has come off. Ah You the Irish international. I don't

:07:27. > :07:32.know why Henderson did that, he has given possession straight back to

:07:33. > :07:52.the Ospreys. Again Marshall's tired kick and Henderson's tired pass.

:07:53. > :08:00.That needs to kick and has it kicked for Ulster? Yes, it has. Good kick

:08:01. > :08:06.by Marshall who, hasn't played badly since he came on for Piennar.

:08:07. > :08:10.McCloskey limping a bit. Ulster need something to kick start them. That

:08:11. > :08:21.could be it. A great kick from Marshall. Paul Marshall has only

:08:22. > :08:29.missed about five match day squads in the last seven years. But that is

:08:30. > :08:41.a good line-out, the Ospreys' set piece has been exemplary.

:08:42. > :08:57.That is low and perfectly kicked by Biggar. Not sure if that was by get

:08:58. > :09:00.or design! When the Ospreys have the ball, there is no pressure at the

:09:01. > :09:07.break down area. You would expect more of them. They're not getting

:09:08. > :09:13.anywhere near, let alone slowing it down or stealing Ospreys' balls.

:09:14. > :09:17.They need a spark and something from Piutau or Trimble or Jackson,

:09:18. > :09:26.something to set them alight. Six minutes played in the second half.

:09:27. > :09:35.Again Ulster's thought process was good, but the execution was poor.

:09:36. > :09:44.Knocked forward by Piutau. It is sloppy. You look at Luke Marshall's

:09:45. > :09:51.kick into touch. Henner the son's pass to -- Henderson's pass to

:09:52. > :10:01.Biggar and it is a 50/50 ball that McCloskey is trying to make inside

:10:02. > :10:04.at best. Scombr If things remain this way, the Ospreys will move up

:10:05. > :10:22.to third. That is a better Ulster scrum. That

:10:23. > :10:25.is well taken on, but it has gone loose again. Marshall just about got

:10:26. > :10:38.it away to Gilroy. Again Paul Marshall has put in

:10:39. > :10:44.another very good kick. He is doing a Piennar. He is. He has played well

:10:45. > :10:47.since he has come on. I mentioned the pretty boys behind about

:10:48. > :10:53.creating a spark, but it cowl come from the -- could come from the

:10:54. > :11:00.scrum. It has put them under pressure. Ah You making that

:11:01. > :11:01.considerable presence felt. Can they do something similar at the

:11:02. > :11:18.line-out? That is well managed. Trimble keeps

:11:19. > :11:26.it in. Gilroy might think about the kick and he does. And the bounce

:11:27. > :11:31.favours Evans, who is caught by Marshall and here is Giles who is

:11:32. > :11:34.also caught by Marshall. It was around the neck, but I think Giles

:11:35. > :11:43.ducked into it. Baldwin is very dangerous. Rhys Webb has had a

:11:44. > :11:53.masterly performance at half-back, likewise Biggar.

:11:54. > :12:05.He has taken that into his 22, so he can't kick directly into touch.

:12:06. > :12:16.Not Trimble's best kick in the world. Taken by Giles. Whether a

:12:17. > :12:24.side step. -- what a side step. Webb tackled by Trimble - just about!

:12:25. > :12:34.Ospreys being very patient, having wrested possession from Ulster.

:12:35. > :12:40.Treadwell just managed to hang on to Ardron and no more.

:12:41. > :12:48.That may have been nudged forward. Ulster will get the scrum. Ospreys'

:12:49. > :12:54.turn to make a mistake or two. Biggar shouting at the forwards

:12:55. > :13:00.there, he is not a happy man! An intricate ball behind. It creates

:13:01. > :13:05.the knock-on. Very edgy the first ten minutes of this second half.

:13:06. > :13:12.Neither side taking a strangle hold on the game. John Lacy has called

:13:13. > :13:17.for the clock to stop, a bit of time-out. There is a problem I

:13:18. > :13:27.thought with Smith, but he seems to be up again. John Lacy having a word

:13:28. > :13:34.with Ah You, looking down below, I don't think the Ospreys are making

:13:35. > :13:39.any changes. There the man who may have one more competitive game for

:13:40. > :13:43.Ulster. This man should have plenty more, Stuart McCloskey, just 24.

:13:44. > :13:50.Back in the starting 15 for the first time since January. You hope

:13:51. > :13:54.for Piennar's sake the injurive isn't too -- injury isn't too

:13:55. > :14:02.serious and hopefully it is not the last we will see of him in Ulster's

:14:03. > :14:08.colours. And that game Ulster, Leinster kicks off at 5.15, as do

:14:09. > :14:17.all the games on the last day of the season. That is a game you can see

:14:18. > :14:27.with us on BBC Two Northern Ireland. Ah You against Smith. Do we know

:14:28. > :14:31.where Piennar's going. There has been speculation. The smart money is

:14:32. > :14:37.on Montpellier, but there has been no statement from Ulster or

:14:38. > :14:43.Montpellier, for what ever reason. That is what even is assuming. We

:14:44. > :14:48.could be wrong he could go... Cardiff Blues. You would like that.

:14:49. > :14:56.They would have to sell the stadium to afford him. He has been a

:14:57. > :15:00.fantastic player for Ulster. He has been a fantastic player at world

:15:01. > :15:04.rugby level. You don't get to three World Cups and win one and finish in

:15:05. > :15:08.third place. He has been a sensational player. He is a big

:15:09. > :15:14.fella, Davies who has put in a shift or two in his time. Just 30. He had

:15:15. > :15:15.a start off with Cardiff and moved to Wasps and resettled back in

:15:16. > :15:38.Wales. Good solid scrum by Ah You. Lovely

:15:39. > :15:44.stuff by McCloskey. He needs help. No one was close enough to him. He

:15:45. > :15:47.had to look inside and outied and they manage -- outside and they

:15:48. > :15:53.managed to spill the ball forward. That sums up the afternoon and maybe

:15:54. > :16:00.the season. Knocked back by an Ospreys hand.

:16:01. > :16:07.What about these two, Marshall challenges Biggar, but Biggar gets

:16:08. > :16:13.it away. A good passage of play. They have worked it brilliantly,

:16:14. > :16:18.McCloskey, there is no support. McCloskey is looking for guys inside

:16:19. > :16:24.and out. But it is poor from Ulster. You have got to gamble and you have

:16:25. > :16:30.got to anticipate McCloskey going through line. Good defence again. He

:16:31. > :16:39.had tried the offlied and just knocked it on. Ulster hoping they

:16:40. > :16:44.can get their first successful line-out of afternoon and Ulster

:16:45. > :16:49.deciding to make a change and interestingly Stuart McCloskey has

:16:50. > :16:54.come off the field or is coming off. To be replaced by Stuart Olding.

:16:55. > :16:59.That is an interesting move. He doesn't seem injured. He doesn't

:17:00. > :17:05.look happy coming off. No, I'm sure he is not. Ulster managed to win a

:17:06. > :17:08.line-out and there is that very tried and tested centre partnership

:17:09. > :17:16.and somebody's got hurt straight way. That could be shocking timing

:17:17. > :17:18.for Ulster. Absolutely. An Ulster player down injured and I think it

:17:19. > :17:34.is Luke Marshall. It is not Marshall, it is Olding.

:17:35. > :17:40.Yes and he is just op. On. He has had problems, he had two operations

:17:41. > :17:57.for a knee ligament. The Ulster medical team are looking around.

:17:58. > :18:05.Paul Marshall has played well. Through by Warwick. A good bit of

:18:06. > :18:11.pace by the loosehead prop. Ulster are on the front foot, but they're a

:18:12. > :18:17.man down. Better stuff by the visitors. They need to score here.

:18:18. > :18:27.Treadwell thunders through and he is halted half a metre short. There is

:18:28. > :18:38.an offside advantage against Biggar according to John Lacy.

:18:39. > :18:49.Still all the pressure from the men in white. The refer eye ee I think

:18:50. > :18:54.is still playing advantage. That kick will go nowhere and the penalty

:18:55. > :18:59.will be given and Olding is down and will be stretchered off. That is

:19:00. > :19:07.very sad. I think he has twisted an ankle. I hope it is not another knee

:19:08. > :19:11.ligament, because he has had two operations. He collapsed in a heap

:19:12. > :19:17.after the first touch. That is the knee he has had all the bother with

:19:18. > :19:25.I do believe. The first touch, oh, he just, his level leg or ankle gets

:19:26. > :19:32.caught under his body. He knew straightaway. How very unfortunate.

:19:33. > :19:39.A couple of changes being made. Callum Black is on for Ulster.

:19:40. > :19:48.Likewise Jacob Stockdale wearing No 23. He will probably move into the

:19:49. > :19:54.outside centre position. There was that fist try scored in the first

:19:55. > :19:59.half by Tom Habberfield. And the second was a real gem. The initial

:20:00. > :20:08.thrust by Evans and a wonderful piece of play rounded buff aArdron.

:20:09. > :20:11.The Ospreys have made a change at tight hop prop. Mujati is off and

:20:12. > :20:24.Jones is on. We still wait to see what will

:20:25. > :20:29.happen with Stuart Olding. A lot of medical people around there. He had

:20:30. > :20:34.a serious look of resignation on his face, as if to say, I don't believe

:20:35. > :20:39.this is happening again. Fingers crossed it is not that ACL again. He

:20:40. > :20:47.has had two operations to repair it. Off he goes. Desperately bad luck

:20:48. > :20:53.for Stuart Olding. First touch, just come on the field for McCloskey and

:20:54. > :20:57.it was the hit from Underhill as he has passed the ball, holding his

:20:58. > :21:05.left leg, got caught under his body. I hope it is not as serious as it

:21:06. > :21:09.looks. Dr Michael Webb and their senior physio there. He has been

:21:10. > :21:15.taken off by the ambulance men and may well be a trip straight to

:21:16. > :21:19.hospital to have an X ray done. But Ulster are the closest they have

:21:20. > :21:22.been to the Ospreys line in this entire game and we have played

:21:23. > :21:27.nearly 15 minutes in the second half. Best gets the line-out spot

:21:28. > :21:47.on. Again Ospreys making themselves a

:21:48. > :21:50.bit of a nuisance and the referee says it was a maul and Ulster

:21:51. > :21:56.couldn't play it and Ospreys will get the scrum. I was going to say,

:21:57. > :22:03.it is imperative Ulster come away with some sort of score and great

:22:04. > :22:08.defence from the Ospreys. Outmuscled the Ulster pack. Great work by

:22:09. > :22:14.Underhill. Davies at the front, they have got the angle on the drive,

:22:15. > :22:19.driving Ulster to the touch line. Regrouped, Ulster to go forward, but

:22:20. > :22:25.Underhill somehow got in the middle of it, got his hands on Best. And

:22:26. > :22:32.pulled it down for a maul and a scrum to the Ospreys. Underhill born

:22:33. > :22:39.20 years ago in Ohio, dual qualification. Captained the England

:22:40. > :22:46.Under-18s and now has thrown his lot in with him. Richard Hill has been

:22:47. > :22:55.mentoring him and keeping a close eye on him. A great prospect for

:22:56. > :23:00.England. A really dynamic player. Richard Hill knows a thing or two

:23:01. > :23:05.about back row players. He looks about 35 and he is only 20. That is

:23:06. > :23:08.what playing in the back row does to you! We shall not talk about the

:23:09. > :23:27.difference, shall we? Ulster needed to score from a couple

:23:28. > :23:36.of chances. A good break from McCloskey. They have had their

:23:37. > :23:45.chances. An interesting change Mujati for Jones. You fancy Ulster

:23:46. > :23:50.in the scrum should attack Jones, because it wouldn't be his strongest

:23:51. > :23:56.part of his game, scrummaging on the loosehead. They have James back in

:23:57. > :24:02.his second incarnation here at the Liberty Stadium on the bench. Ulster

:24:03. > :24:09.with two new props on, Ah You and Black. They will hope to put some

:24:10. > :24:14.pressure on this Ospreys scrum and down they go and the referee has

:24:15. > :24:21.given a penalty. Somebody must have put a knee on the ground. Vengt I

:24:22. > :24:30.think it was Black. Yes, the referee said it is No 1. In fact it is No

:24:31. > :24:34.17. A huge moment for Ospreys to stop the drive and then have the

:24:35. > :24:40.penalty and they will have the throw in for the line-out as well. A big

:24:41. > :24:44.moment in the match. A scruffy kick, but it's found touch. We can't see

:24:45. > :24:48.it from there, there it was on the far side, Black going down and the

:24:49. > :24:55.referee, I don't know whether his attention was drawn to it by his

:24:56. > :25:08.assistant on the far side. Ospreys have made some 40 metres.

:25:09. > :25:14.Ulster trying to prevent that Ospreys drive. Shunting Ospreys to

:25:15. > :25:32.the touch looiven. -- touchline. Giles has done wonderfully well

:25:33. > :25:38.against the experienced All Black, Henderson.

:25:39. > :26:08.Well taken by Reidy. Ulster now on the front foot.

:26:09. > :26:23.Stockdale, the first time he has got his mitts on the ball since coming

:26:24. > :26:34.on. Tread well does well, drops the

:26:35. > :26:43.shoulder nicely. A bit of impetus getting built up by Ulster now.

:26:44. > :26:54.Stockdale couldn't get it away and Ulster have lost possession after of

:26:55. > :26:55.that. And look at Rhys Webb, what a clever bit of awareness of the

:26:56. > :27:09.space. It is all very measured by Ulster,

:27:10. > :27:13.but they're not making many inroads and the Ospreys give away a penalty.

:27:14. > :27:19.They didn't need to do that. Yes a sloppy penalty. That passage of play

:27:20. > :27:24.showed the whole game, Ulster threatening to cut loose and break

:27:25. > :27:29.the gain line. But the Ospreys defence, although they look

:27:30. > :27:39.stretched, they reorganise well and just cancelling out that Ulster

:27:40. > :27:43.attack. A good strike by Jackson. We are into the final quarter of the

:27:44. > :27:51.game and there are 14 points between them. So Ulster are well away from

:27:52. > :27:54.even a losing bonus point. The Ospreys make another replacement.

:27:55. > :28:06.Lloyd Ashley will come on. He is just a youngster himself. Off goes

:28:07. > :28:14.Bradley Davies. Paddy Jackson's kick has put Ulster into a good position.

:28:15. > :28:16.John Lacy telling the Ospreys forwards to move back and leave the

:28:17. > :28:27.space. Taken by Luke Marshall. He is

:28:28. > :28:33.hanging on to the ball, which he is allowed to do and Ospreys have

:28:34. > :28:36.stolen it! Ospreys work at the break down has been outstanding. The

:28:37. > :28:41.forwards have had the edge in the set pieces and they have had the

:28:42. > :28:50.edge in the break down and allowed Dan Biggar to clear. What a great

:28:51. > :28:54.piece of defending. How many times have you seen that today, break the

:28:55. > :29:00.gain line. They just need support runners A great line from Marshall.

:29:01. > :29:05.Just need that inside guy, somebody to support and to anticipate the

:29:06. > :29:12.break. Here we go. It looked border line, the pass from Reidy. But great

:29:13. > :29:18.angle. Nobody just cutting the line off Marshall. And little Tom

:29:19. > :29:25.Habberfield. How did he get in there? I don't know. Diack has been

:29:26. > :29:55.replaced by Timoney. Ospreys just lining up and taking

:29:56. > :30:12.Ulster players as they come. Henderson is coming into the game a

:30:13. > :30:37.bit more. Marshall couldn't get across the

:30:38. > :30:51.gain line, but he set it up well. Luke Marshall set it up nicely. Now

:30:52. > :31:25.we threw. -- Treadwell. The referee said that

:31:26. > :31:29.was fine. A bit of obstruction perhaps for Ulster. The referee said

:31:30. > :31:33.it was knocked on by Ulster, and yet again they have taken off the

:31:34. > :31:37.pressure. They are just not able to apply that finishing touch. But that

:31:38. > :31:43.was a bit more encouraging. Fantastic depends from the Ospreys.

:31:44. > :31:51.Time and time again Ulster is throwing everything to the back wall

:31:52. > :31:57.of the Ospreys. Just lacking a bit of stardust. Ulster not really

:31:58. > :32:07.getting into the Ospreys. Good work from Tipuric. He kicked the ball

:32:08. > :32:15.loose. Another lost opportunity for Ulster. Most of the game in this

:32:16. > :32:21.half has been in the Ospreys' half. But as far as Ulster is concerned,

:32:22. > :32:26.that is as bad as it has gone. Off goes Nicky Smith along comes the man

:32:27. > :32:29.who has played no fewer than 56 times for Wales, Paul James. He had

:32:30. > :32:37.a long spell here then went to Bath for a couple of seasons. Now he is

:32:38. > :32:41.back. -- now he is back. Rory Best is New Zealand bound with the Lions.

:32:42. > :32:47.He comes off and is replaced with the man who has captained Ulster on

:32:48. > :33:10.37 occasions, Rob Herring. Ulster also making a replacement.

:33:11. > :33:23.Another kicking option for the Ospreys. Just over 15 minutes

:33:24. > :33:28.remaining. Ulster are 14 points adrift. Having won in exuberant

:33:29. > :33:42.fashion here years ago, they have yet to cross the Ospreys' line.

:33:43. > :34:28.By Ulster. Good covering stuff by Ashley.

:34:29. > :34:45.15 minutes to go. They needed to get that away quickly.

:34:46. > :35:20.Marshall got another one, but the kick was well directed. A fantastic

:35:21. > :35:30.kick from Marshall. But again Ulster have just run out of ideas. No real

:35:31. > :35:41.impetus over the Ospreys' game. -- gain line.

:35:42. > :35:48.The fill all your read here and whiskers of Dan Baker on the field.

:35:49. > :36:01.The Bath bound English international is waiting for once Sam Underhill

:36:02. > :36:14.has left. A bit of tightness. John Lacy mentioned the bags are the. It

:36:15. > :36:28.might well be Jones, the replacement. He mentioned his

:36:29. > :36:34.shoulder. I will put it on the screen for you now, Johnny. Is hard

:36:35. > :36:40.to see what they are talking about. There was a bit of competition on

:36:41. > :36:44.the grass. Trimble having a bit of a go. There is nothing in that at all.

:36:45. > :36:49.Nothing to worry about. I think he's going to say there is nothing in

:36:50. > :36:56.that, so let's start the clock again. 13 minutes remaining. Ulster

:36:57. > :37:02.are 14 points adrift. An empty bag in terms of points if they do not do

:37:03. > :37:04.anything special. Ospreys looked comfortably in defence, particularly

:37:05. > :37:17.with kicking like that. A good run by the big fella. He's

:37:18. > :37:44.going to get through! He took the count for the season up

:37:45. > :37:47.to nine. Again, the Ospreys have defended well. Ulster have to do it

:37:48. > :37:52.all again, they have to get possession first of all. They have

:37:53. > :37:56.got the penalty. John Lacy has told the Ospreys to leave the ball

:37:57. > :38:15.behind. Scott Baldwin was hanging onto it. Brilliant work from

:38:16. > :38:22.Stockdale. A great pass from Piutau. Uses his strength to get outside

:38:23. > :38:26.jails and Dan Evans. You could hear the Ulster supporters willing him to

:38:27. > :38:33.get across that line. He very nearly made it. Good covering by Matavesi.

:38:34. > :38:37.And a great steel from Luke Marshall in the breakdown. Probably the first

:38:38. > :38:44.Ulster player game to get his head over the ball. Ulster have gone for

:38:45. > :38:50.the scrum because the line-out has not functioned all that well. Let us

:38:51. > :39:07.see if the scrum functions any better. John Lacy not happy. Front

:39:08. > :39:12.row collapses. He joined Ulster at the start of the season. Scrums have

:39:13. > :39:17.become a mess since the replacements have come on. That is normally the

:39:18. > :39:29.case. A good contest in the scrum in the first half. Ulster had one very

:39:30. > :39:37.good scrum. Just over ten minutes to go. Ulster need a converted try to

:39:38. > :39:51.put themselves into losing bonus point range. Away he goes. Jackson.

:39:52. > :40:03.Gets it to Piutau, who loses possession, would you believe. Just

:40:04. > :40:11.a fumble, a poor pass. It is either communication or the skill level

:40:12. > :40:22.just has not been here from Ulster. Giles came on and anticipated Piutau

:40:23. > :40:29.coming in. It is so sloppy. It has been Ulster in the second half. Just

:40:30. > :40:34.that final pass. To be honest, they have made it easy for the Ospreys.

:40:35. > :40:41.Absolutely, everything they put them under pressure they make a basic

:40:42. > :40:44.mistake, whether it are line-out, a simple handling error, they have

:40:45. > :40:52.just made it so easy. The Ospreys have defended well, but Ulster have

:40:53. > :40:55.been very clinical in the second half. Just under nine minutes

:40:56. > :41:02.remaining. The scoreboard has not been troubled in this second half.

:41:03. > :41:07.Ulster have tried, but without success. That is a great Ulster

:41:08. > :41:28.scrum. That was well inside the 22, so no

:41:29. > :41:34.chance of them moving back. Is there a time for Ulster? The need to score

:41:35. > :41:35.before the clock goes to 75. Stranger things have happened, but I

:41:36. > :42:16.draw does not suit either team. He got in the way, but the referee

:42:17. > :42:19.was happy enough. He has refereed this game pretty well. Piutau has

:42:20. > :42:33.been given no chance to show his progress. Davis gets it away. We

:42:34. > :42:37.have not mentioned Dan Biggar for half an hour, he has had nothing to

:42:38. > :42:44.do. Has he been off having a cup of tea? !

:42:45. > :42:51.The Ospreys are inside the Ulster half for the first time in maybe 20

:42:52. > :43:08.minutes. And the Ospreys will settle for that. Expect the Ospreys to

:43:09. > :43:14.squeeze the life out of this game. The Ospreys have had the upper hand

:43:15. > :43:24.in the contact area. He genuinely has done something. He's going. Sam

:43:25. > :43:29.Davies has come on. Sam Davies started against the Cardiff Blues,

:43:30. > :43:36.and it has been a difficult afternoon -- and a difficult

:43:37. > :43:45.afternoon against the Ospreys a couple of weeks ago. Well robbed by

:43:46. > :44:03.Ulster. A good kick. This is going to be a

:44:04. > :44:09.footrace. A second kick was just too much. Stockdale controlled it well.

:44:10. > :44:20.He could not bring the left foot into play. Very difficult to

:44:21. > :44:27.criticise Stockdale. He made up so many yards on Sam Davies. A great

:44:28. > :44:32.kick from Piutau. Giles knew he did not have the guts to go all the way.

:44:33. > :44:42.A great kick. A fantastic chase from Stockdale. It was so difficult to

:44:43. > :44:51.control the ball. He needed a more subtle touch. But he did it

:44:52. > :45:02.splendidly. Timoney gets up to the ten metre line.

:45:03. > :45:07.The referee will blow the whistle because there was a touch and the

:45:08. > :45:13.far side, and it will be an Ulster line-out, I think. Five minutes

:45:14. > :45:20.remaining. They needed to score two tries by now. It is a big ask. They

:45:21. > :45:24.definitely had the opportunities, and that has been the difference.

:45:25. > :45:30.Ospreys had two chances in the first half and scored two tries. He has

:45:31. > :45:40.had a fine day as the Ospreys captain. Meanwhile Ulster when the

:45:41. > :46:04.line-out. Stockdale has been impressive since he came on.

:46:05. > :46:15.Can Luke Marshall use the strength of his. Marshall gave away the

:46:16. > :46:21.penalty. At needed to be released. One of the Ulster replacement came

:46:22. > :46:29.in. Paul Marshall just went over. Yes, fresh legs, great cover.

:46:30. > :46:42.Marshall got to his feet and won the turnover for the Ospreys. Fantastic

:46:43. > :46:52.work. He made 13 appearances for the All Blacks. Handyman to have. 32

:46:53. > :46:57.years old. Dan Evans has been given the man of the match, by the look of

:46:58. > :47:02.things. I would not be surprised. Tipuric date have got it, or Webb.

:47:03. > :47:07.Ulster are bringing on a replacement with three and a half minutes to go.

:47:08. > :47:12.A man who will be playing in Cardiff next year has come on, -- Franco van

:47:13. > :47:48.der Merwe. First chance Matavesi has to run

:47:49. > :49:07.with the ball. The Ospreys are not resting on their

:49:08. > :49:19.laurels. They will deny Ulster with what could be a crucial bonus point.

:49:20. > :49:26.Ospreys get their third try! Bernard Leonard. After Ulster pressure, the

:49:27. > :49:30.Ospreys have thrown off the shackles and broken free, and the former All

:49:31. > :49:39.Black has made this game more than secure. That has been the

:49:40. > :49:50.difference, how clinical the Ospreys have been.

:49:51. > :50:05.Brilliant. We saw Leonard sweeping earlier with the great tackle.

:50:06. > :50:22.Ulster's captain has a go. He keeps his composure. That gives Stockdale

:50:23. > :50:35.nine for the season. Paddy Jackson drops the conversion. A bit of time

:50:36. > :50:46.remaining. Stockdale has literally dangerous since he came on. A

:50:47. > :50:53.mismatch from Sam Davies, and a great finish. It has been an

:50:54. > :51:04.interesting cat and my second half. But the Ospreys performing like a

:51:05. > :51:05.resilient mouse, and then scoring. What a great captaincy filling in

:51:06. > :51:54.for Alan Jones. Ulster's hopes of doing what they

:51:55. > :52:00.did a year ago when they robbed home by 40 points came to nothing. 17-3

:52:01. > :52:06.down at the interval. A late try by Jacob Stockdale, and that put it

:52:07. > :52:19.beyond Ulster's reach. My thanks to Martin Williams, Ospreys 24, Ulster

:52:20. > :52:28.ten. Andy Ward and Ian Humphreys have been watching. A disappointing

:52:29. > :52:31.afternoon for Ulster. Barring a Scarlets defeat tonight to Connacht,

:52:32. > :52:40.that is pretty much the end of Ulster's season. What do you make of

:52:41. > :52:47.a pretty average afternoon for Ulster? They are obviously going to

:52:48. > :52:51.be very frustrated. We said we wanted to see some energy and

:52:52. > :52:56.enthusiasm, but the last 510 minutes was the first time we saw them.

:52:57. > :52:59.There were glimmers of hope, and plenty of chances. The frustrating

:53:00. > :53:05.thing for them if they could not put the pressure on the Ospreys and give

:53:06. > :53:09.themselves extra confidence. Why did Ulster look like a team to the

:53:10. > :53:17.Hoover not trying to save their season? If we could all have some of

:53:18. > :53:25.that, it would go a long way. I have no idea. We spoke a little about it

:53:26. > :53:28.at half time, how this team needed to come out and do something in the

:53:29. > :53:37.second 40 minutes. The first ten minutes in the second half just

:53:38. > :53:40.summed up the season a little bit, Jacob Stockdale came on put some

:53:41. > :53:46.injection into it, but until then did not look a team who wanted to do

:53:47. > :53:48.it -- didn't want it enough. Let us look at the updated table. It does

:53:49. > :54:10.not make great reading for Ulster. Ospreys have jumped into third.

:54:11. > :54:15.Scarlets play tonight against Connacht. Scarlets when tonight,

:54:16. > :54:19.they will leapfrog the Ospreys into third, which you would expect, but

:54:20. > :54:23.who knows. If that happens Ulster simply cannot qualify for the top

:54:24. > :54:30.four, even if they beat Leinster with the bonus point next week. The

:54:31. > :54:34.heavily reliant on Connacht tonight. They have lost a big player for the

:54:35. > :54:37.rest of the season. We know how difficult it can be, so fingers

:54:38. > :54:46.crossed they give a bit of life and hope for next week because you do

:54:47. > :54:51.not want to continue like this. It is a big inter-pro next week, Ulster

:54:52. > :54:59.against Leinster, which we hope will still have some bearing. Ospreys are

:55:00. > :55:07.way to the Scarlets, Munster have two games left, Glasgow against

:55:08. > :55:10.Edinburgh does not really matter. Ospreys can only hope that one of

:55:11. > :55:18.the fellow Irish provinces can do them a favour tonight. Yes, when you

:55:19. > :55:24.look at those two fixtures, it is a big ask for Scarlets to lose both of

:55:25. > :55:27.them. But let us wait until 5:30pm to see how it goes. On Monday

:55:28. > :55:33.morning Ulster will review and start again. More importantly we need to

:55:34. > :55:39.discuss what went wrong for Ulster. Ospreys scoring that late try, and

:55:40. > :55:44.deservedly so. They deserved to win. Absolutely. We're talking about the

:55:45. > :55:47.shortcomings of Ulster this afternoon, but credit has to go to

:55:48. > :55:54.the Ospreys and how they played the game, and their attitude towards the

:55:55. > :55:57.game. They wanted to go out into the top four unreservedly, and this man

:55:58. > :56:04.here had an absolute blinder today. He got the Ospreys of course the

:56:05. > :56:15.gain line -- across the gain line many things. He is a strong player,

:56:16. > :56:20.and look at the off-loads. Ulster made breaks, we did not have support

:56:21. > :56:23.runners. What is that all about? We have got to have the enthusiasm to

:56:24. > :56:27.get on it, and for me the Ospreys thoroughly deserved the performance.

:56:28. > :56:32.Jacob Stockdale, you cannot fault his effort this afternoon. He really

:56:33. > :56:35.did try to get Ulster back into the game. He did, he has been one of the

:56:36. > :56:41.top try scorer is in the league. He showed a lot of pace, obviously for

:56:42. > :56:46.this trip, and there was a good kick two to. I think that Ulster, they

:56:47. > :56:52.need to get the likes of Charles Piutau and Jacob Stockdale into the

:56:53. > :56:56.space, they show how dangerous they are. For a young guy, there is a lot

:56:57. > :57:01.of speed here. Perhaps there should have been a better opportunity to

:57:02. > :57:05.off-load. But for me, Jacob Stockdale has been a shining light

:57:06. > :57:11.for the Ulster team this year. He is a young player, we have to bear this

:57:12. > :57:14.in mind, and he has had a superb season and is developing and looking

:57:15. > :57:25.the part. If he keeps working with Charles Piutau, something good comes

:57:26. > :57:31.from it when they play together. A bit of a tug put him off his stride.

:57:32. > :57:36.It kind of summed up Ulster's they. They could not do enough. They had a

:57:37. > :57:42.lot of pressure on the second half, but unfortunately could not find

:57:43. > :57:46.their way across the gain line, despite what they did. Yes, this is

:57:47. > :57:55.a good set piece. The frustrating thing is they made a couple of line

:57:56. > :58:01.breaks but it was only five or ten minutes into the second half but

:58:02. > :58:07.Ulster off-loaded the ball. They will be frustrated because they have

:58:08. > :58:14.had chances. Despite the very late try, there was plenty ambition and

:58:15. > :58:19.opportunity. Ian, Andy, thank you very much indeed. The Ulster team is

:58:20. > :58:24.starting to emerge from the dressing room. First aid is the captain,

:58:25. > :58:34.Andrew Trimble. Line thanks very much. Andrew Trimble, a tough game,

:58:35. > :58:39.you could not get over the line. Yes, that sums it up. We got good

:58:40. > :58:44.read and we felt like we had them on the ropes a couple of times, but we

:58:45. > :58:47.could not get over the line. That has probably been a reflection on a

:58:48. > :58:53.lot of games this season. Just that last piece of execution let us down.

:58:54. > :59:01.Very disappointed. I think Ospreys gave us a bit of a lesson today. A

:59:02. > :59:06.lot less possession but they did a lot with that. The season is now out

:59:07. > :59:10.of your hands, you need results to go your way, do you feel? Yes, if

:59:11. > :59:18.only to have a look at the numbers, and it is a long shot, but I suppose

:59:19. > :59:24.next week a lot of that goes out the window, and you have an inter-pro

:59:25. > :59:32.game, and we have to put a few of those runs right and try to work in

:59:33. > :59:35.the execution, the last pass, and be more clinical, I think. Ospreys did

:59:36. > :59:42.attack the number of times, they got the opportunity and they took it.

:59:43. > :59:49.That is where we want to be. We need to increase our execution, otherwise

:59:50. > :59:53.we will always become second-best. You beat Leinster towards the end of

:59:54. > :00:00.last season, can you do the same again next week? Absolutely. I have

:00:01. > :00:05.said this time time again, we are really good side, and we're just not

:00:06. > :00:09.clicking at the minute. We are for long periods, then not getting over

:00:10. > :00:12.the line. Binny to work on this. It is hard to find the magic formula

:00:13. > :00:17.for that, but hopefully we will next week.

:00:18. > :00:25.STUDIO: A despondent Ulster captain. If Ulster don't make the play-offs,

:00:26. > :00:29.how much pressure is Les Kiss now under, do you think, it has been a

:00:30. > :00:35.season of underperforming from an Ulster point of view. Yes, I agree,

:00:36. > :00:39.we are sitting, we are... From one week to the next we are critical of

:00:40. > :00:46.the players, but a lot of the situations come from the top for me

:00:47. > :00:54.and the person holding the reins at the top. Let's hear what he has to

:00:55. > :00:58.say. We have him talking to Kate. We spoke before the game about how much

:00:59. > :01:04.pressure you're under to get a result today and keep the season

:01:05. > :01:08.going. How disappointed are you? Yeah, apologies getting out here

:01:09. > :01:14.late, it is not a, not the best dressing room. They're a bunch of

:01:15. > :01:19.guys there who are disappointed. We afored them a lot -- afford them a

:01:20. > :01:28.lot of time with the ball through our own making. They accepted that

:01:29. > :01:32.is not good enough and when you give a team like Ospreys that, we gave it

:01:33. > :01:36.to them and even in the sec half when we played a lot of footy, but

:01:37. > :01:42.the opportunities we played were not good enough. Do you feel that the

:01:43. > :01:50.results need to go your way, is it out of your hands entirely? It is

:01:51. > :01:57.until tomorrow's game and we will see what p hs. I haven't checked the

:01:58. > :02:01.table closely here and now. Ospreys are third, you're fifth. We need a

:02:02. > :02:09.result to stay in the hunt. But look... We have had a good chat in

:02:10. > :02:13.there and it is disappointment and across the board, we will dust down

:02:14. > :02:18.and come back next week with a massive game. If there is a silver

:02:19. > :02:25.lining you have an game to finish off your season at home. Look, these

:02:26. > :02:35.things hurt for a while. But if there is something to get the best

:02:36. > :02:40.out of yourself. Leinster are a good team and they will get better and

:02:41. > :02:45.better. I think the team that beats Leinster will bin the Championship.

:02:46. > :02:50.We will see where that goes. But in the end, just, it is disappointment

:02:51. > :02:59.today. That is for sure. Thank for talking to us. A very down beat. How

:03:00. > :03:04.much pressure is the coach under. He has to be under a lot of pressure,

:03:05. > :03:09.it is a professional environment and from that interview, if the top man

:03:10. > :03:12.is very sort of almost negative and within himself that's got to be

:03:13. > :03:19.reflected through the squad and I dare say if I was a player and saw

:03:20. > :03:22.my coach coming in with a real flat attitude, that will be reflected

:03:23. > :03:28.through the team and you can't afford that. He has to say it is

:03:29. > :03:36.what it is, but for me, a lot of credit has to be given to to Stock

:03:37. > :03:42.some of other coaches, from the players from the performances and

:03:43. > :03:47.from the whole thing moving forward at times. A lot of the coaches have

:03:48. > :03:51.a lot to do. The pressure's on. Thank you very much. Ulster's final

:03:52. > :03:59.home game of the season is that one next Saturday evening, you can join

:04:00. > :04:03.us live on BBC Two for live cover onlying of Ulster against Leinster

:04:04. > :04:09.and let's hope Piennar is fit to play what could be his last game for

:04:10. > :04:14.Ulster. It is a bumper Saturday on BBC Northern Ireland as we have

:04:15. > :04:21.local football's show piece in the Irish Cup Final. And Linfield have

:04:22. > :04:28.won the Irish league today. That is it, barring a miracle, under Les

:04:29. > :04:32.have kissed goodbye to their season.