Ospreys v Ulster Ulster Rugby Live

Day, It's win or bust for Ulster. They arrive in Wales, knowing

victory is required to keep their top four destiny in their own hands.

It has been an inconsistent season for Ulster. The team is under

pressure to deliver today. It is the penultimate day of the regular

season and it is an important one, live from the Liberty Stadium in

Swansea. Two wins required for Ulster to guarantee their place in

the play-offs. Can Ulster deliver a performance this afternoon when it

most matters, Ian? I think they can, through the last couple of seasons

and this season in Europe when the big games come, Ulster perform well

and they have done well at the Liberty. There will be big

performances hopefully from Best and Henderson. Let's check the table

after wins for Leinster over Glasgow.

Looking at that table, Andy, a victory is the only thing Ulster can

have this afternoon and with that in mind, what kind of tactics will they

try and employ do you think? I think you know, you're right, they just

need to win the match. There is so many permutation what, if Scarlets

get beat? We have got ourselves into a position through maybe throwing

away some earlier games in the season and it has cost us, you know

they have got to win the game and how they go about their business,

they have got to go after. Kicking and winning is not it, let's score

some tries. The pitch is gorgeous, it is like playing on a carpet. That

has its ups and downs, because it makes it a slippy surface. But it is

fantastic to play on. So Ulster can go after this. And they have to

deliver when it matters. Scoring lots of tries is something they did

the last they were here and played well last year. Yes and what we saw

last year Paddy Jackson kicked early in the game to slow down the other

side. There will be some route one to get over the gain line. It would

be niez to see them using Trimble first phase and open up the space.

With the team they have selected with Diack, they're looking to play

ball in hand. It is a big afternoon for Ulster rugby. They must win this

afternoon to try and make those play off position. More from Andy and Ian

at half time. But time to join our commentary team in Swansea.

COMMENTATOR: Andrew Trimble leads the Ulster side out and it is a

decent day in Swansea. There is a swirling breeze, but the pitch is in

good nick and it is cool. Diack comes in at No 8. The front five

stays the same, built around Best. McCloskey starts his first game in

thee months and Craig Gilroy plays his second game of the season at

full-back, normally operating on the wing. A huge game for both sides and

despite the permutations and Martin and myself were trying to work it

out, it could still go down to the last game of the season. But this is

the last home game for this Ospreys side who at one stage everyone

thought would have a good season. But the same could be said about

Ulster. No Alun-Wyn Jones, one of a quartet of Lions players and another

Lions player leads the Ospreys out this afternoon. Next week they have

to travel to Swansea and there is the Bath-bound Sam Underhill. Only

20 years of age. A handful of changes made by the Ospreys coach.

King moves to No 8. Dan Biggar returns.

A bit of a pause. As we wait for instructions. There is Stuart

McCloskey, starting his fist game for about three months. He came off

the bench last week and made a bit of a dent in the Munster defence.

And the referee is John Lacy. Lee Paterson is the TMO. This game gets

under way. Diack in his ninth season with

Ulster. Is this going to be the penultimate game for Piennar?

Sean Reidy has had a good season. Operates a lot at No 8. The ball

nudged forward. Bright start for Ulster. Afternoon, James, a pleasure

to be alongside you, a great start for Ulster. A fantastic kick off

from Jackson. Piutau outjumped Giles. It is an area they will

target, Giles is not one of the biggest wingers. I remember watching

you doing at the start of season, the Scrum Five programme, you

thought unster would win -- Ulster would win the thing. Did you have

any money on them? I did! I looked through the squad and thought Piutau

was the X Factor. But very similar to the Ospreys, they flattered to

deceive this year and this is a huge game for both teams. Ulster anxious,

got an early squeeze and they have the free kick against them. The

errors are costing Ulster possession. I think Mr Biggar will

go for touch and he has found his touch.

Trimble spilled the ball. That is not what Ulster need to be doing.

The Ospreys are better than most at counter attacking. This is big

Ashley Beck. Seven times he has been capped by Wales.

Into the line came Evans there. Ospreys profiting from that Ulster

mistake. Fonotia was born in Christchurch.

That looked like a high tackle. The lines judge kept his flag down.

Here comes the Ospreys again. This is better ball. Fonotia tries to

take it on. Good continuity by the Ospreys.

Referee has called the ruck, Ulster have got to get themselves back

onside and they didn't. I was going to say good patience from Ulster.

They had to defend multiple phases. Henderson did a good job initially.

Whether you agree or not, you have to listen to John Lacy. He was

calling for hands off and leave the scrum-half and he has conceded a

penalty. So good defence initially. Here he is being a nuisance. As an

07, I think that is harshly done by. He did call ruck and the ball was on

the ground, so maybe Henderson was at fault. Ospreys have kicked it

into the corner. The first serious chance now. Well taken by Tipuric.

What an excellent jumper he is. What a battle he will have with his old

mucker Sam Warburton for a place in the Lions team. The Ospreys looking

for the early try and it all came from that Ulster fumble. Referee's

called for ball to be used. Good tackle by Reidy. He seemed to

be taken out by Mujati. Smith may get over. Held up. How close was

that? Very close. Interesting call from the Ospreys not to take the

three points and go for the corner. Very nearly paid off. It is an area

where the Ospreys have struggled without Alun-Wyn Jones. This was a

great set up. Great take from Tipuric. Get the ball to back early

and they were in control and seemed like they were going to go over.

Rhys Webb should have released the back line. Chose to go himself. It

Wurz great defend from Reidy. The Ulster boys will have been working

on this all week. Watch Webb around the fringes. A lively start from

both teams. Webb is very dangerous and Smith nearly got over for his

second try of the season against Ulster. Key area the scrum, in the

scrum the Ospreys have struggled. John Lacy telling Rhys Webb to use

it. And he does use it. Oh that's got away there. Touched down and a

try's been given. The refer Yves was playing -- referee was playing

advantage and Habberfield squeaked over and you have to ask questions

about the defence. That bouncing ball causes the defence to hold.

Solid scrum. They go against the wheel. Piennar gets a hand in there.

But Beck with a great off-load. He is such a strong man. Trimble steps

in and a tidy finish from Habberfield. You miss one tackle and

it costs you dear. The bounce was awkward. Jackson held on to his man,

but not long enough to stop the pass. That is the perfect start for

the Ospreys. It was all Ulster and then mistake cost them. The scrum,

the penalty. But due rewards for the Ospreys, they chose to go for the

try, instead of the three points. A mismatch allowed them to get fwree

and that is a -- free and that is a fantastic converse. You said that

before the ball went over! He is such a talisman for this team. It is

difficult that bouncing ball. Just checks the defence. Trimble stepped

in. Jackson tried to repeat his match kick off.

Piutau has got himself hurt. He has banged his elbow. This would not be

good for Ulster if one of their star signings is hurt. It may be a

stinger, but he is holding that arm around the side. Here is Gilroy, not

sure where he is going. Piutau seems to be a bit better. He is going into

the ruck any way. Taken on by Reidy, who has been very busy as ush. -- as

always. Referee's happy Trimble did not do any obstructing.

Herbst runs into another South African, Mujati.

The Ospreys' defence is pretty well organised.

Here goes Gilroy. Nice the side step. He needs help and gets it from

Best. A thunderous drive from the Irish international captain. It has

been pinched by the Ospreys! What a great bit of defending by the home

side. Not a great clearance from Biggar. But he will be happy.

Fantastic offload in McCloskey. He has seen Beck do the same. I thought

Gilroy was away, but finger tips, Biggar held on to him. Look at the

number of black jerseys compared to white ones. A great steal. But much

better from Ulster. Just keeping the ball and it was just the lack of

numbers in the break down. He is fantastic. This guy could play

inside centre, outside centre, full-back, he has all the skills. He

is like you. He is like me, but bigger, faster and stronger! And

they're paying him more! Yes, but a wonderful player. Without Alun-Wyn,

he is the talisman for the Ospreys. But better from Ulster. Reidy with a

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

Jones will be making his third. Thises why Tipuric is -- this is why

Tipuric is invaluable for any team he plays for.

I have a feeling it may not be Ulster's night, giving the

fundamental errors that have plagued them all season are creeping in.

Ulster had so many problems with the Cardiff centres a couple of weeks

ago. Mujati, born in Zimbabwe. If you're

Ulster, you can't afford basic sloppy line-outs, giveaways like

they did there. Lets all the pressure off the Ospreys. That time

the ball was out and well read by Reidy. Giving the ball, sloppy

line-out. Whether it was the call or the throw. Just basic errors. But in

games of this magnitude, you need to nail those big moments. Reidy capped

once for Ireland. His grandfather is from Kerry. So he is Irish

qualified. Played in the second Test against South Africa. Robbie Diack

began his top level rugby in Cape Town before coming to Ulster.

Beck with the chip. Nasty, awkward bounce. Well taken by Gilroy, who is

caught by Giles. Treadwell is establishing himself as

one of the starting line up for Ulster. Piennar, the first time he

has kicked. Cleverly done by Piutau, he allowed Webb to catch the ball

before he made the hit. That pass looked forward. I thought

the refer Yves was going to -- referee was going to let it go. He

lost the ball. Good build up, good carry, Davies has had some good

carries for the Ospreys. And Piennar's first kick, very reluctant

to kick. Piutau could have gone for thistle ball, but he wait -- for

this ball, but he waited for Webb. He has some engine Tipuric. He is

one of the fittest guys you will see and he will be every where today. It

is an interesting contrast in the back row, Underhill is mainly a 7.

Against a bigger moshgs physical Ulster back row.

Again that that is on the careless side by Ulster. One of those things

if it works it looks brilliant, if it doesn't it is smacked wrist time.

Looked like they created the joef lap. They needed -- overlap. They

needed to keep the ball. Again it is letting the Ospreys off the hook.

Ulster digging in. Webb with his first kick. That is hanging

perfectly. Somebody needs to get in there. It is well taken by Trimble

and he loses the ball. He has got his left hand bandaged. He had

surgery to repair a fracture. Maybe that is half an hourer -- hampering

him. Evans hasn't found touch, he has

found Piutau. Socks down around the ankles.

O'Connor starting for the fifth game in a row. Jackson again for

territory. Touch now by Evans. Plenty of time. That is a very good

kick by Evans. But Piutau takes it quickly.

Gilroy just hauled to ground. Diack runs into King.

Ulster being patient again. The Ospreys defence is well organised.

Tipuric is all over him like a cheap suit. The referee has the hand up

for the penalty for coming in at the side. Again Jackson's passing is way

ward. But they can come back for the penalty. He has penalised Tipuric

for coming in at the side. But Ulster with plenty of possession,

but they're not making any inroad into the Ospreys defence. Very well

organised the Ospreys defence. They're finding it difficult to go

through them or around them. We were doing some sums before the game in

the press room and it is hard to work out what could or couldn't

happen. Yeah, I think ultimately for Ulster, they have got to win this

game. If the Ospreys win and the Scarlets win tonight, they're in a

precarious position with Leinster coming to Belfast next week. So for

the Ospreys a win for them and they are more or less home and hosed.

Ulster have decided they want Paddy Jackson to go for posts. There was

that run by Gilroy, beat several players, but the run was more or

less lateral and he didn't end up any further ahead than where he was

when he received the ball. Jackson who scored all of Ulster's nine

points at the start of the season when they beat the Ospreys 9-7.

It is a fair old way out. He has the advantage of a bit of a breeze

behind him. That might just come in. That is a terrific kick by Paddy

Jackson. It veered off to the left and then changed its mind and went

between the posts. 19 minutes gone, 7-3. They needed that, Ulster.

Plenty of possession and nothing to show for it. That will settle them

down. They have gone through the phases, but basic errors have

scuppered them. Ospreys up very quickly. Gilroy

nearly got through, Mujati made the tackle. Slow progress by Ulster, but

they're moving in the right direction.

Evans well positioned. Ospreys back inside their own half. But they have

got the ball. That is the important thing.

Referee's happy the ball was thrown backward. Mujati again, he has been

very prominent the big South African.

Good work by Smith who, nearly scored in the opening minutes.

Mujati for the third time in about 30 seconds with ball in hand and

Ulster give away the penalty. Taken quickly. Piennar may have made

contact before the ten metre line was observed, but play on, says the

referee. Ulster drifting offside too much for the referee's liking. Diack

again the culprit. Again an Ulster mistake has cost

them possession and territory. John Lacy has said there is going to

be a TMO check. It is coming up on the big screen. Didn't see anything

too obvious, Jim. Is it the neck roll? Oh, dear that is not good. You

can't do that any more. That will be a penalty. I don't think it should

be a yellow card, but you never know. Definite penalty. Neil

Paterson has given up the refereeing for TMOing, which is a pity, because

I thought he was a good referee. Penalty against Scott Baldwin that

will take a bit of the impetus out of Ospreys. Into the second quarter

and 7-3 and given what is at stake, it is entitled to be a tense game.

It is edgy, but in fairness to both teams, the first option is to move

the ball and not kick. Ulster are looking to move the ball and the

Ospreys with an opportunity to go for the corner and they have take an

quick tap penalty. That is a blow for Ulster.

I do not know what is wrong with Pienaar. He is holding his left hand

side. That is the second poor line-out

that Ulster have been guilty of losing.

Bhutan is so strong and aggressive, and has given a half decent

platform. The referee was happy, there was no

infringement, despite the protestations of the Ospreys

faithful. I think Evans is down injured on the far side. Rhys Webb

as ever, looking for an opportunity. Bradley changes his mind. Luke

Marshall is the last man up. Compounding an error from the last

line-out. A fantastic kick from Dan Evans.

Piutau did well. They would be better off with Gilroy on the wing

and Piutau at 15. Answers on a postcard, please. Splendid kick from

Biggar. That has restored the 7-point differential. Almost 25

minutes gone. They should be putting the Ospreys under pressure. Get

those basics wrong in a game of this magnitude... James King played

number six a couple of weeks ago when the Ospreys were ambushed by

the Cardiff Blues. The man beside me find it difficult to keep the smile

off his face. It was a long time coming, seven years.

Jackson did well to recover that pass, it wasn't great. Did Gilroy

knock it forward? The referee played advantage for that. Perhaps we

should not be too harsh on Craig Gilroy, it has worked out. Taken on

by Baldwin. The hooker is involved in all the Welsh games in the most

recent Six Nations. Rhys Webb at the helm.

Good tackle by Nicky Smith, the Ospreys loosehead.

Not a lot of room out there. Treadwell tried to put something

into it. The idea was the but it did not work

out. It went to the Ospreys. Biggar was perfectly positioned. Dan

Evans had recovered from a little knock.

A good kick by Jackson. Ulster have given away possession. Ulster are

lacking a bit of creativity. The Ospreys seeming control. That was

sloppy from Biggar. A very loose pass. Put them under pressure, but

they got out of it. Ulster has plenty of possession this first

half, but not causing the Ospreys too many problems. Dan Biggar, one

of the most aggressive and competitive players in more ways

than one. On the table at the moment is that Leinster wrote in front, and

Ulster have one game to play. If it stays like this the Ospreys will

move into third place, with the Scarlets behind. They have to play

Galway in their last game. You would not read against the Scarlets

winning that. Both of these teams at the start of the season, I do not

think there has been an away semifinal win in the Pro12. You

would expect these two teams to be closer to the top two than they are.

Inconsistency from both teams throughout the season. Whoever

finishes in fourth place will have to go to Dublin to play Leinster. B

was happy with that, but it was by no means straight. He didn't give a

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

air. What a player can Piutau is. McCluskey did well. He got to have

we aren't nearly got the past away. Good work again by Treadwell. Little

bit better by Ulster, more purpose, I felt. Yes, McCluskey got his

hands-free. He is so big and strong, he has to get his hands everything.

-- McCloskey. Jails has not touched the ball that had not touched the

ball so far. If he gets a bit of space he could kill you. Reedy's

tackle was not high. Ulster still trying to battle and Nick turnover.

Good footwork by Beck, who is six foot three.

Penalty for Nicky Smith. We're going back to the high shot. I think

you're right. Andrew Trimble is being brought in. Is there a

sanction? You are right, I high tackle by Sean Reidy. Nothing more

than a penalty. But a warning, and he has had a word with Andy Trimble,

saying there is much too much of this happening. One of those awkward

ones for Sean Reidy. Going in at a low angle, swinging arm goes right

down, catching him across the shoulder. With the sanctions as they

are these days, it is a penalty. Wait -- less than ten metres to go.

A great kicked by Tipuric. Biggar gets it away quickly. Well

met by Luke Marshall. Ulster still looking to effect a half decent

turnover. A bit of zip on the far side. The referee has decided on a

line-out. Yes, both teams defensively looked more dangerous

when they haven't got the ball. Again the Ospreys, great defence

from Beck. Trying to go round the outside of Ulster, but good defence

from Trimble on the outside. The putting a bit of pressure on. I do

not think there is any doubt about Rory Best is serving his place in

the Lions to! But that is not going to help. In the previous two Lane

notes, the Ospreys put all sorts of pressure on Rory Best, the hooker.

He may not have full confidence in the call coming in, which leads to

not straight. You get the feeling the Ospreys can nail another score.

Into the crucial period that people talk

about. Little space before and after the interval. Tom Marshall stays

back on the outside. Well tackled by McCloskey. Good work by the man from

Christchurch. Back inside to James King. The Ospreys are building very

nicely. Justin Tipuric, stopped and checked and kept going. Tackled by

Treadwell. Robbie Diack just about got to him. Ingles Webb -- in goes

Webb. He knows he's not been held so he is entitled to move forward.

Great work. Gosh. That was very tight from John Lacey. He said the

initial fumble did not go forward, but... Let us have a look. Just

reaching for James King. That was very tight. That might just have

gone forward. They think the Ospreys have got the tribunal are looking

for. Give him the benefit, he is a lot closer than we are. This is a

crucial part of the game. If the Ospreys can get any sort of score to

go in front just before half time, that would give them huge

confidence. Iain Henderson in the middle of the picture. The first

pupil from Belfast Royal Academy to be chosen for the Lions tour since

the one and only later and much lamented Jack Kyle. Is a familiar

figure never to far-away. The water boy. But what will not be his

regular double! Six minutes to go until half time. Ulster are seven

points adrift. There goes Webb. He's going to get there! Intercepted by

Paul Marshall, who else! He sneaked in by the skin of the teeth and only

goes Andrew Trimble. Have Ulster did not concede a score there is hard to

fathom. But Marshall resented it. Andrew Warwick trying to create a

bit of space to execute the old exit strategy. I do not think that has

found touch. Well taken by Evans. Ospreys have completed some 40

metres but they still have possession. Still five minutes of

the first half remaining. Webb again. Biggar next to Bradley

Davies, the biggest centre in the world. Good work by O'Connor.

Good work by Henderson on the Springboks prop.

He got away! He had to just give the ball. That might have been in for

the second. But it is still there are. Rhys Webb. Biggar. And

Marshall. Giles tries to get away and does. Jackson on the outside

centre. Ospreys still pressing for the crucial pre-half-time drive.

James King got away from the first tackle. Here they come again. This

is going to be interesting. A good tackle by McCloskey. But back on the

Ospreys said. Webb on the money. That looked to be knocked forward.

How the Ospreys have not scored, I have no idea! A fascinating passage

of play. Goes back to the interception. To pick was on the

outside, he just held on to it too long. Great recovery from McCloskey.

Good defence from Luke Marshall. Biggar puts pressure on him. Ulster

are hanging on. If they can hang onto 7-point gap the interval, and

some harsh words said in the shed, as they call it in the southern

hemisphere, who knows? But at the moment your money would have to be

on the women's side. Yes, the need to have more inventiveness. To pick

goes. It is the blood bin. He will have some of those Down Under come

June. Sam Underhill will go to the openside for the Ospreys. Ulster

would be more than happy for that half time whistle to be blown. The

Ospreys are looking to put a lot of pressure on the Ulster scrum.

Three minutes and counting. Can they hold on? A better scrum by Ulster.

Sean Reidy number eight in the scrums. Marshall gets it away to

Alan O'Connor. Good work by Conor Ryan Treadwell. Has Nicky Smith got

the ball back to Paul Marshall? He has. You would think the first thing

to do would be to get the ball from out of the. Now they have it. That

was well done after all by Ulster. Just trying to get Paddy Jackson

onto the front foot. Back into defensive mode by Ulster. 33 caps

for Wales. George Clancy behind. The referee was in the most recent World

Cup refereeing team. Plenty of options at the line-out. That has

been miscued. Well taken by Ulster's captain. Marshall, O'Connor.

Jackson gave that a wallop. Well covered by Dan Evans. Poor defending

by Ulster. They'd is the try! Magnificently done by the Ospreys.

And the Canadian International goes all the way. The Ospreys did what

they have been threatening to do. That was one of the best tries I

have seen, from Tyler Ardron. He kicked straight down Dan Evans'

throat. Rory Best goes through him. Marshall fails to bring him down.

Back inside by Tyler Ardron. The Ospreys blew two chances early on.

Dan Evans is such an underrated player for the Ospreys. Great

counterattacking. Was this borderline? No, I think it is fine.

That is a killer blow. The conversion has been made good by Dan

Evans. We really have to take their chance with four or five different

hands, if they had them. 17-3. A well-deserved half time lead for

the Ospreys, who had the better of the opening exchanges. Ulster simply

have not been firing. A jittery error filled first-half. We have

been watching a very jaded Ulster performance. Their season is now

hanging by a thread. What do you make of that first-half performance?

There will be -- they will be hugely disappointed. We said they looked

flat when they came out, and they have unfortunately not have any set

pieces to get going. Before the game we said they would look to get

McCloskey over the gain line, but they have just given up. Is there

any way back for Ulster, after that hammer blow? It was a massive hammer

blow on the stroke of half-time, but there is always a way back. It is

whether they want to come back or they have the passion inside

themselves, the desire to go out and go after the performance. Going on

the first 40 minutes you would say no chance of coming back. So they

have to pull out their finger and do it. You cannot lose a set piece full

stop Ulster have thrown three and lost three. Small errors and details

going to the big picture and unless they sort themselves out, the

Ospreys are hungrier. The first few times Ulster have the ball, they

lost the line-out. And Iain Henderson also penalised at the

break then giving that early penalty away, whether it was or wasn't,

which allowed the Ospreys together opening score. Absolutely. We have

got to fight for all the breakdowns, and we got into this rock nice and

early. Iain Henderson was told to let it go, that is game on. He was

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

done by on that situation. That is where the mockery of the game comes

in a little bit. Pienaar has gone into contest, and Jackson feels he

has to jam into shut the ball down. Ulster will be very disappointed.

Ospreys should be going rate will stop they have just taken their

chances. Baker's is a direct. Basham They just had to -- it down the

park, and that was a superb first tackle. That is the story. They have

missed first tackles. Good support play, which we compared to one of

the earlier scenarios when we broke through, the support was just not

the. So that sums it up. If you look at Rhys Webb, he runs in front of

Andrew Warwick, which stops them building a wall. It is just a big

gap, and the full-back sees two guys together and counterattacks. Aside

from the line-out and the set piece, a lot of other Ulster errors in the

first half as well that we can see highlighted here. Yes, Stuart

McCloskey goes well, and again Gilroy looks at the ball. Ulster

almost don't seem to be anticipating the break. We lose the support? When

you have a guy like Catholic, he is world-class, and the support is not

the. We are not aggressive at breakdowns. Again Ulster create an

overlap, and Trimble thinks Paddy Jackson is about to get hit. Ulster

obviously think if we can get outside this, but they have not had

the accuracy they are looking for. Ospreys like to play with a bit of

ambition and paste. It is just frustrating. And kicking the ball

away, wrong decision? I think so. We have not had the ball much, but at

the same thing we have to build momentum and if we keep giving away

the ball, we're not able to build backpressure. Ospreys are probably

saying, we have this game sorted. They cannot win their own set piece.

Let's have a crack here. What is going on in these line-outs? Losing

one, but losing all of them in the first half? For me, it is an asset

to Ulster line-out. He calls very good line-outs, and it is noticeable

when he is not on the park, because I have seen him play throughout the

season and the line-out calls have not been particularly good. But in

fairness, the Ospreys are putting Rory Best under immense pressure.

Then we end up deep from the position of being in their half, 210

yards from the online. It it is difficult to be constantly critical.

The frustration is that they like to use their wingers and McCloskey, and

then the on the back foot. Dan Evans has put the ball behind Ulster a few

times, and they are trying to put on the wrong pressure, which leads to

mistakes. Ospreys got through eventually for the second time, but

before that Ulster stopped a couple going in, and you think that may

have been one of the turning points of the game. Yes, the scramble

defence has been good -- scrum defence has been good. Ospreys

looked as if they were going to score. But they scrambled offence.

This is where you want a little bit of cameras, take it out of play and

reset. You cannot last 22 minutes against a quality outfit if you're

scrambling the whole thing. When one team is on top, it is hard in the

middle of the game to stop the momentum. That is going to be the

keeper Ulster. Absolutely, it is difficult to stop this. It is like

that in any game. The Ospreys looked like they are playing with happiness

in their bones. There is a lot to be said for that. For the last umpteen

games and months, they do not look happy individuals. And I think that

comes together collectively. It is interesting to see how they

galvanise in the second half. If they get happiness within themselves

it will show on the way the play. At the minute I do not see it. I'm

looking for inspiration. Let us get some thoughts from the Ulster set

up. Thanks indeed, Bryn Cunningham with me. Just before we speak to

him, I watched Ruan Pienaar within the tunnel, it looked like he was

limping, so we will have some more news on that at half thing. How can

they turn things around? The main thing is having to win the set

piece. The line-out has failed miserably in the first half. We have

had to be lost the moral. There were only a couple of scrums, one did not

go well and one was average. The set piece is critical but more so than

that, we have to get the numbers right defensively and an attack.

We're not getting people working hard enough, so there is soft

shoulders getting into wider channels comfortably. If we can get

people round the corner quicker, we can put them behind the gain line

and force them a little. Something we're down numbers whenever we have

the ball. So a lot of it will be at the breakdown as well. We know they

have a strong bunch of boys in the back row. We will try to disrupt as

much as possible. If we have to, we will go through the middle to create

something going forward. Paul Marshall said it could have been

another try at the intercept, but how big a loss is Ruan Pienaar? He

is a loss, but the guys have to put that behind. Marshall is a slightly

different take of player and he will inject pace in the game, that is

what he's good at. Being a great sum, he is going to have to do this.

The try just before half time was a killer blow. We should have defended

better, a one-off missed tackle and they are through the middle of us.

You cannot Next score crucial? We we have to

get the ball into our own hands and try and get them on the back foot

and get an early score and get the momentum and the confidence going

and there is no reason we can't get into the match and win. Ospreys will

want to keep playing rugby. We have to be patient and hope chances will

come our way. Thank you. Big half of rugby coming up for Ulster. Back to

you in the studio. STUDIO: How do Ulster inject some

energy into this performance which has been miss soing far? They need

to keep hold of possession and if they can put the Ospreys under

pressure and get some penalties and a quick tap or kick the corner. Brad

Davies has them well organised, but they have get McCloskey going at

Biggar. He is a selfish defender. And you need your blind wingers

coming in to find space. Ulster have nothing to lose apart from their

place in the top four, do they throw caution to the wind, they have got

to score tries. They have got everything to play for. Ian's right,

we have got to get across the gain line. Simple. Those rucks have to be

quick and we need commitment to the rucks and go at it with venom. The

game's been around a long time, you have got to fight fire with fire and

not wait for situations to manifest themselves. We need vipds to step up

-- individuals to step up to the plate and say, what is it worth to

me. If the forwards can't secure go-forward ball, they have an

attacking back three, but they have got to cut the mistake off. Yes they

have made some breaks and Trimble works hard looking for to get off

the wing and get hands on the ball. It is about energy and enthusiasm.

Thank you. Can Ulster save their season with a big second half

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

We have not seen the pace of Giles, only 19, still to be a full-scale

internationalist. But that I'm sure is not far away. He has had his

hands full with Piutau. But he has coped well. We haven't seen any of

the Welsh coaching teem. I think Robin McBride may not be too far

away. Dan Biggar, who has kicked a penalty and converted tries by

Habberfield and Ardron, to get the second half under way. John Lacy

blows that whistle of his. That is not a bad restart kick. Trimble

takes. Marshall on for the unfortunate Ruan

Pienaar, not sure what the injury is. That has been allowed to go into

touch. A decent exit route from Ulster. I know it is a cliche, but

the next president score is crucial. If the Ospreys score first, you

would think that would be game over. If Ulster can find a way, they need

to get back into this game and they need the first score. Ospreys have

two tries in the bag and will be probably thinking, bonus point. The

Ospreys line-out has worked perfectly, unlike the Ulster

line-out. Webb will kick tactically. Where is Piutau? There he is. Who

has swept it up, but Tipuric. Look at Webb having a look to see

what is available. Here is Giles. Good support play by the Ospreys.

Beck the man in the middle of all that.

What a tackle by Henderson. He has held Smith up.

Underhill off to Bath and off to Argentina with the England squad

this summer, picked by Eddie Jones, the England coach. Good pressure

from the Ospreys. They're being patient, which is important. Ardron

again makes a decent bit of ground. Look at this fellow, Tipuric, he

seems to pop up just about every where. Evans has got away from

another tackle. Jackson misses him this time.

That is knocked forward. Play on says the referee. I don't think Luke

Marshall has the gas. That is a poor kick by Marshall, he just needed to

Poots it down the park. It looked like a tired kick from Marshall.

King should have let that ball go for the Ospreys there. They look in

control. Here is Dan Evans, great strength, shrugs off one, great

incision and you need King, needs to give that. He has carried. That

opportunity for Marshall, he has read it well, put pressure and just

composure here. That is a really poor kick. And he is a very good

footballer. Herbst has come off. Ah You the Irish international. I don't

know why Henderson did that, he has given possession straight back to

the Ospreys. Again Marshall's tired kick and Henderson's tired pass.

That needs to kick and has it kicked for Ulster? Yes, it has. Good kick

by Marshall who, hasn't played badly since he came on for Piennar.

McCloskey limping a bit. Ulster need something to kick start them. That

could be it. A great kick from Marshall. Paul Marshall has only

missed about five match day squads in the last seven years. But that is

a good line-out, the Ospreys' set piece has been exemplary.

That is low and perfectly kicked by Biggar. Not sure if that was by get

or design! When the Ospreys have the ball, there is no pressure at the

break down area. You would expect more of them. They're not getting

anywhere near, let alone slowing it down or stealing Ospreys' balls.

They need a spark and something from Piutau or Trimble or Jackson,

something to set them alight. Six minutes played in the second half.

Again Ulster's thought process was good, but the execution was poor.

Knocked forward by Piutau. It is sloppy. You look at Luke Marshall's

kick into touch. Henner the son's pass to -- Henderson's pass to

Biggar and it is a 50/50 ball that McCloskey is trying to make inside

at best. Scombr If things remain this way, the Ospreys will move up

to third. That is a better Ulster scrum. That

is well taken on, but it has gone loose again. Marshall just about got

it away to Gilroy. Again Paul Marshall has put in

another very good kick. He is doing a Piennar. He is. He has played well

since he has come on. I mentioned the pretty boys behind about

creating a spark, but it cowl come from the -- could come from the

scrum. It has put them under pressure. Ah You making that

considerable presence felt. Can they do something similar at the

line-out? That is well managed. Trimble keeps

it in. Gilroy might think about the kick and he does. And the bounce

favours Evans, who is caught by Marshall and here is Giles who is

also caught by Marshall. It was around the neck, but I think Giles

ducked into it. Baldwin is very dangerous. Rhys Webb has had a

masterly performance at half-back, likewise Biggar.

He has taken that into his 22, so he can't kick directly into touch.

Not Trimble's best kick in the world. Taken by Giles. Whether a

side step. -- what a side step. Webb tackled by Trimble - just about!

Ospreys being very patient, having wrested possession from Ulster.

Treadwell just managed to hang on to Ardron and no more.

That may have been nudged forward. Ulster will get the scrum. Ospreys'

turn to make a mistake or two. Biggar shouting at the forwards

there, he is not a happy man! An intricate ball behind. It creates

the knock-on. Very edgy the first ten minutes of this second half.

Neither side taking a strangle hold on the game. John Lacy has called

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

thought with Smith, but he seems to be up again. John Lacy having a word

with Ah You, looking down below, I don't think the Ospreys are making

any changes. There the man who may have one more competitive game for

Ulster. This man should have plenty more, Stuart McCloskey, just 24.

Back in the starting 15 for the first time since January. You hope

for Piennar's sake the injurive isn't too -- injury isn't too

serious and hopefully it is not the last we will see of him in Ulster's

colours. And that game Ulster, Leinster kicks off at 5.15, as do

all the games on the last day of the season. That is a game you can see

with us on BBC Two Northern Ireland. Ah You against Smith. Do we know

where Piennar's going. There has been speculation. The smart money is

on Montpellier, but there has been no statement from Ulster or

Montpellier, for what ever reason. That is what even is assuming. We

could be wrong he could go... Cardiff Blues. You would like that.

They would have to sell the stadium to afford him. He has been a

fantastic player for Ulster. He has been a fantastic player at world

rugby level. You don't get to three World Cups and win one and finish in

third place. He has been a sensational player. He is a big

fella, Davies who has put in a shift or two in his time. Just 30. He had

a start off with Cardiff and moved to Wasps and resettled back in

Wales. Good solid scrum by Ah You. Lovely

stuff by McCloskey. He needs help. No one was close enough to him. He

had to look inside and outied and they manage -- outside and they

managed to spill the ball forward. That sums up the afternoon and maybe

the season. Knocked back by an Ospreys hand.

What about these two, Marshall challenges Biggar, but Biggar gets

it away. A good passage of play. They have worked it brilliantly,

McCloskey, there is no support. McCloskey is looking for guys inside

and out. But it is poor from Ulster. You have got to gamble and you have

got to anticipate McCloskey going through line. Good defence again. He

had tried the offlied and just knocked it on. Ulster hoping they

can get their first successful line-out of afternoon and Ulster

deciding to make a change and interestingly Stuart McCloskey has

come off the field or is coming off. To be replaced by Stuart Olding.

That is an interesting move. He doesn't seem injured. He doesn't

look happy coming off. No, I'm sure he is not. Ulster managed to win a

line-out and there is that very tried and tested centre partnership

and somebody's got hurt straight way. That could be shocking timing

for Ulster. Absolutely. An Ulster player down injured and I think it

is Luke Marshall. It is not Marshall, it is Olding.

Yes and he is just op. On. He has had problems, he had two operations

for a knee ligament. The Ulster medical team are looking around.

Paul Marshall has played well. Through by Warwick. A good bit of

pace by the loosehead prop. Ulster are on the front foot, but they're a

man down. Better stuff by the visitors. They need to score here.

Treadwell thunders through and he is halted half a metre short. There is

an offside advantage against Biggar according to John Lacy.

Still all the pressure from the men in white. The refer eye ee I think

is still playing advantage. That kick will go nowhere and the penalty

will be given and Olding is down and will be stretchered off. That is

very sad. I think he has twisted an ankle. I hope it is not another knee

ligament, because he has had two operations. He collapsed in a heap

after the first touch. That is the knee he has had all the bother with

I do believe. The first touch, oh, he just, his level leg or ankle gets

caught under his body. He knew straightaway. How very unfortunate.

A couple of changes being made. Callum Black is on for Ulster.

Likewise Jacob Stockdale wearing No 23. He will probably move into the

outside centre position. There was that fist try scored in the first

half by Tom Habberfield. And the second was a real gem. The initial

thrust by Evans and a wonderful piece of play rounded buff aArdron.

The Ospreys have made a change at tight hop prop. Mujati is off and

Jones is on. We still wait to see what will

happen with Stuart Olding. A lot of medical people around there. He had

a serious look of resignation on his face, as if to say, I don't believe

this is happening again. Fingers crossed it is not that ACL again. He

has had two operations to repair it. Off he goes. Desperately bad luck

for Stuart Olding. First touch, just come on the field for McCloskey and

it was the hit from Underhill as he has passed the ball, holding his

left leg, got caught under his body. I hope it is not as serious as it

looks. Dr Michael Webb and their senior physio there. He has been

taken off by the ambulance men and may well be a trip straight to

hospital to have an X ray done. But Ulster are the closest they have

been to the Ospreys line in this entire game and we have played

nearly 15 minutes in the second half. Best gets the line-out spot

on. Again Ospreys making themselves a

bit of a nuisance and the referee says it was a maul and Ulster

couldn't play it and Ospreys will get the scrum. I was going to say,

it is imperative Ulster come away with some sort of score and great

defence from the Ospreys. Outmuscled the Ulster pack. Great work by

Underhill. Davies at the front, they have got the angle on the drive,

driving Ulster to the touch line. Regrouped, Ulster to go forward, but

Underhill somehow got in the middle of it, got his hands on Best. And

pulled it down for a maul and a scrum to the Ospreys. Underhill born

20 years ago in Ohio, dual qualification. Captained the England

Under-18s and now has thrown his lot in with him. Richard Hill has been

mentoring him and keeping a close eye on him. A great prospect for

England. A really dynamic player. Richard Hill knows a thing or two

about back row players. He looks about 35 and he is only 20. That is

what playing in the back row does to you! We shall not talk about the

difference, shall we? Ulster needed to score from a couple

of chances. A good break from McCloskey. They have had their

chances. An interesting change Mujati for Jones. You fancy Ulster

in the scrum should attack Jones, because it wouldn't be his strongest

part of his game, scrummaging on the loosehead. They have James back in

his second incarnation here at the Liberty Stadium on the bench. Ulster

with two new props on, Ah You and Black. They will hope to put some

pressure on this Ospreys scrum and down they go and the referee has

given a penalty. Somebody must have put a knee on the ground. Vengt I

think it was Black. Yes, the referee said it is No 1. In fact it is No

17. A huge moment for Ospreys to stop the drive and then have the

penalty and they will have the throw in for the line-out as well. A big

moment in the match. A scruffy kick, but it's found touch. We can't see

it from there, there it was on the far side, Black going down and the

referee, I don't know whether his attention was drawn to it by his

assistant on the far side. Ospreys have made some 40 metres.

Ulster trying to prevent that Ospreys drive. Shunting Ospreys to

the touch looiven. -- touchline. Giles has done wonderfully well

against the experienced All Black, Henderson.

Well taken by Reidy. Ulster now on the front foot.

Stockdale, the first time he has got his mitts on the ball since coming

on. Tread well does well, drops the

shoulder nicely. A bit of impetus getting built up by Ulster now.

Stockdale couldn't get it away and Ulster have lost possession after of

that. And look at Rhys Webb, what a clever bit of awareness of the

space. It is all very measured by Ulster,

but they're not making many inroads and the Ospreys give away a penalty.

They didn't need to do that. Yes a sloppy penalty. That passage of play

showed the whole game, Ulster threatening to cut loose and break

the gain line. But the Ospreys defence, although they look

stretched, they reorganise well and just cancelling out that Ulster

attack. A good strike by Jackson. We are into the final quarter of the

game and there are 14 points between them. So Ulster are well away from

even a losing bonus point. The Ospreys make another replacement.

Lloyd Ashley will come on. He is just a youngster himself. Off goes

Bradley Davies. Paddy Jackson's kick has put Ulster into a good position.

John Lacy telling the Ospreys forwards to move back and leave the

space. Taken by Luke Marshall. He is

hanging on to the ball, which he is allowed to do and Ospreys have

stolen it! Ospreys work at the break down has been outstanding. The

forwards have had the edge in the set pieces and they have had the

edge in the break down and allowed Dan Biggar to clear. What a great

piece of defending. How many times have you seen that today, break the

gain line. They just need support runners A great line from Marshall.

Just need that inside guy, somebody to support and to anticipate the

break. Here we go. It looked border line, the pass from Reidy. But great

angle. Nobody just cutting the line off Marshall. And little Tom

Habberfield. How did he get in there? I don't know. Diack has been

replaced by Timoney. Ospreys just lining up and taking

Ulster players as they come. Henderson is coming into the game a

bit more. Marshall couldn't get across the

gain line, but he set it up well. Luke Marshall set it up nicely. Now

we threw. -- Treadwell. The referee said that

was fine. A bit of obstruction perhaps for Ulster. The referee said

it was knocked on by Ulster, and yet again they have taken off the

pressure. They are just not able to apply that finishing touch. But that

was a bit more encouraging. Fantastic depends from the Ospreys.

Time and time again Ulster is throwing everything to the back wall

of the Ospreys. Just lacking a bit of stardust. Ulster not really

getting into the Ospreys. Good work from Tipuric. He kicked the ball

loose. Another lost opportunity for Ulster. Most of the game in this

half has been in the Ospreys' half. But as far as Ulster is concerned,

that is as bad as it has gone. Off goes Nicky Smith along comes the man

who has played no fewer than 56 times for Wales, Paul James. He had

a long spell here then went to Bath for a couple of seasons. Now he is

back. -- now he is back. Rory Best is New Zealand bound with the Lions.

He comes off and is replaced with the man who has captained Ulster on

37 occasions, Rob Herring. Ulster also making a replacement.

Another kicking option for the Ospreys. Just over 15 minutes

remaining. Ulster are 14 points adrift. Having won in exuberant

fashion here years ago, they have yet to cross the Ospreys' line.

By Ulster. Good covering stuff by Ashley.

15 minutes to go. They needed to get that away quickly.

Marshall got another one, but the kick was well directed. A fantastic

kick from Marshall. But again Ulster have just run out of ideas. No real

impetus over the Ospreys' game. -- gain line.

The fill all your read here and whiskers of Dan Baker on the field.

The Bath bound English international is waiting for once Sam Underhill

has left. A bit of tightness. John Lacy mentioned the bags are the. It

might well be Jones, the replacement. He mentioned his

shoulder. I will put it on the screen for you now, Johnny. Is hard

to see what they are talking about. There was a bit of competition on

the grass. Trimble having a bit of a go. There is nothing in that at all.

Nothing to worry about. I think he's going to say there is nothing in

that, so let's start the clock again. 13 minutes remaining. Ulster

are 14 points adrift. An empty bag in terms of points if they do not do

anything special. Ospreys looked comfortably in defence, particularly

with kicking like that. A good run by the big fella. He's

going to get through! He took the count for the season up

to nine. Again, the Ospreys have defended well. Ulster have to do it

all again, they have to get possession first of all. They have

got the penalty. John Lacy has told the Ospreys to leave the ball

behind. Scott Baldwin was hanging onto it. Brilliant work from

Stockdale. A great pass from Piutau. Uses his strength to get outside

jails and Dan Evans. You could hear the Ulster supporters willing him to

get across that line. He very nearly made it. Good covering by Matavesi.

And a great steel from Luke Marshall in the breakdown. Probably the first

Ulster player game to get his head over the ball. Ulster have gone for

the scrum because the line-out has not functioned all that well. Let us

see if the scrum functions any better. John Lacy not happy. Front

row collapses. He joined Ulster at the start of the season. Scrums have

become a mess since the replacements have come on. That is normally the

case. A good contest in the scrum in the first half. Ulster had one very

good scrum. Just over ten minutes to go. Ulster need a converted try to

put themselves into losing bonus point range. Away he goes. Jackson.

Gets it to Piutau, who loses possession, would you believe. Just

a fumble, a poor pass. It is either communication or the skill level

just has not been here from Ulster. Giles came on and anticipated Piutau

coming in. It is so sloppy. It has been Ulster in the second half. Just

that final pass. To be honest, they have made it easy for the Ospreys.

Absolutely, everything they put them under pressure they make a basic

mistake, whether it are line-out, a simple handling error, they have

just made it so easy. The Ospreys have defended well, but Ulster have

been very clinical in the second half. Just under nine minutes

remaining. The scoreboard has not been troubled in this second half.

Ulster have tried, but without success. That is a great Ulster

scrum. That was well inside the 22, so no

chance of them moving back. Is there a time for Ulster? The need to score

before the clock goes to 75. Stranger things have happened, but I

draw does not suit either team. He got in the way, but the referee

was happy enough. He has refereed this game pretty well. Piutau has

been given no chance to show his progress. Davis gets it away. We

have not mentioned Dan Biggar for half an hour, he has had nothing to

do. Has he been off having a cup of tea? !

The Ospreys are inside the Ulster half for the first time in maybe 20

minutes. And the Ospreys will settle for that. Expect the Ospreys to

squeeze the life out of this game. The Ospreys have had the upper hand

in the contact area. He genuinely has done something. He's going. Sam

Davies has come on. Sam Davies started against the Cardiff Blues,

and it has been a difficult afternoon -- and a difficult

afternoon against the Ospreys a couple of weeks ago. Well robbed by

Ulster. A good kick. This is going to be a

footrace. A second kick was just too much. Stockdale controlled it well.

He could not bring the left foot into play. Very difficult to

criticise Stockdale. He made up so many yards on Sam Davies. A great

kick from Piutau. Giles knew he did not have the guts to go all the way.

A great kick. A fantastic chase from Stockdale. It was so difficult to

control the ball. He needed a more subtle touch. But he did it

splendidly. Timoney gets up to the ten metre line.

The referee will blow the whistle because there was a touch and the

far side, and it will be an Ulster line-out, I think. Five minutes

remaining. They needed to score two tries by now. It is a big ask. They

definitely had the opportunities, and that has been the difference.

Ospreys had two chances in the first half and scored two tries. He has

had a fine day as the Ospreys captain. Meanwhile Ulster when the

line-out. Stockdale has been impressive since he came on.

Can Luke Marshall use the strength of his. Marshall gave away the

penalty. At needed to be released. One of the Ulster replacement came

in. Paul Marshall just went over. Yes, fresh legs, great cover.

Marshall got to his feet and won the turnover for the Ospreys. Fantastic

work. He made 13 appearances for the All Blacks. Handyman to have. 32

years old. Dan Evans has been given the man of the match, by the look of

things. I would not be surprised. Tipuric date have got it, or Webb.

Ulster are bringing on a replacement with three and a half minutes to go.

A man who will be playing in Cardiff next year has come on, -- Franco van

der Merwe. First chance Matavesi has to run

with the ball. The Ospreys are not resting on their

laurels. They will deny Ulster with what could be a crucial bonus point.

Ospreys get their third try! Bernard Leonard. After Ulster pressure, the

Ospreys have thrown off the shackles and broken free, and the former All

Black has made this game more than secure. That has been the

difference, how clinical the Ospreys have been.

Brilliant. We saw Leonard sweeping earlier with the great tackle.

Ulster's captain has a go. He keeps his composure. That gives Stockdale

nine for the season. Paddy Jackson drops the conversion. A bit of time

remaining. Stockdale has literally dangerous since he came on. A

mismatch from Sam Davies, and a great finish. It has been an

interesting cat and my second half. But the Ospreys performing like a

resilient mouse, and then scoring. What a great captaincy filling in

for Alan Jones. Ulster's hopes of doing what they

did a year ago when they robbed home by 40 points came to nothing. 17-3

down at the interval. A late try by Jacob Stockdale, and that put it

beyond Ulster's reach. My thanks to Martin Williams, Ospreys 24, Ulster

ten. Andy Ward and Ian Humphreys have been watching. A disappointing

afternoon for Ulster. Barring a Scarlets defeat tonight to Connacht,

that is pretty much the end of Ulster's season. What do you make of

a pretty average afternoon for Ulster? They are obviously going to

be very frustrated. We said we wanted to see some energy and

enthusiasm, but the last 510 minutes was the first time we saw them.

There were glimmers of hope, and plenty of chances. The frustrating

thing for them if they could not put the pressure on the Ospreys and give

themselves extra confidence. Why did Ulster look like a team to the

Hoover not trying to save their season? If we could all have some of

that, it would go a long way. I have no idea. We spoke a little about it

at half time, how this team needed to come out and do something in the

second 40 minutes. The first ten minutes in the second half just

summed up the season a little bit, Jacob Stockdale came on put some

injection into it, but until then did not look a team who wanted to do

it -- didn't want it enough. Let us look at the updated table. It does

not make great reading for Ulster. Ospreys have jumped into third.

Scarlets play tonight against Connacht. Scarlets when tonight,

they will leapfrog the Ospreys into third, which you would expect, but

who knows. If that happens Ulster simply cannot qualify for the top

four, even if they beat Leinster with the bonus point next week. The

heavily reliant on Connacht tonight. They have lost a big player for the

rest of the season. We know how difficult it can be, so fingers

crossed they give a bit of life and hope for next week because you do

not want to continue like this. It is a big inter-pro next week, Ulster

against Leinster, which we hope will still have some bearing. Ospreys are

way to the Scarlets, Munster have two games left, Glasgow against

Edinburgh does not really matter. Ospreys can only hope that one of

the fellow Irish provinces can do them a favour tonight. Yes, when you

look at those two fixtures, it is a big ask for Scarlets to lose both of

them. But let us wait until 5:30pm to see how it goes. On Monday

morning Ulster will review and start again. More importantly we need to

discuss what went wrong for Ulster. Ospreys scoring that late try, and

deservedly so. They deserved to win. Absolutely. We're talking about the

shortcomings of Ulster this afternoon, but credit has to go to

the Ospreys and how they played the game, and their attitude towards the

game. They wanted to go out into the top four unreservedly, and this man

here had an absolute blinder today. He got the Ospreys of course the

gain line -- across the gain line many things. He is a strong player,

and look at the off-loads. Ulster made breaks, we did not have support

runners. What is that all about? We have got to have the enthusiasm to

get on it, and for me the Ospreys thoroughly deserved the performance.

Jacob Stockdale, you cannot fault his effort this afternoon. He really

did try to get Ulster back into the game. He did, he has been one of the

top try scorer is in the league. He showed a lot of pace, obviously for

this trip, and there was a good kick two to. I think that Ulster, they

need to get the likes of Charles Piutau and Jacob Stockdale into the

space, they show how dangerous they are. For a young guy, there is a lot

of speed here. Perhaps there should have been a better opportunity to

off-load. But for me, Jacob Stockdale has been a shining light

for the Ulster team this year. He is a young player, we have to bear this

in mind, and he has had a superb season and is developing and looking

the part. If he keeps working with Charles Piutau, something good comes

from it when they play together. A bit of a tug put him off his stride.

It kind of summed up Ulster's they. They could not do enough. They had a

lot of pressure on the second half, but unfortunately could not find

their way across the gain line, despite what they did. Yes, this is

a good set piece. The frustrating thing is they made a couple of line

breaks but it was only five or ten minutes into the second half but

Ulster off-loaded the ball. They will be frustrated because they have

had chances. Despite the very late try, there was plenty ambition and

opportunity. Ian, Andy, thank you very much indeed. The Ulster team is

starting to emerge from the dressing room. First aid is the captain,

Andrew Trimble. Line thanks very much. Andrew Trimble, a tough game,

you could not get over the line. Yes, that sums it up. We got good

read and we felt like we had them on the ropes a couple of times, but we

could not get over the line. That has probably been a reflection on a

lot of games this season. Just that last piece of execution let us down.

Very disappointed. I think Ospreys gave us a bit of a lesson today. A

lot less possession but they did a lot with that. The season is now out

of your hands, you need results to go your way, do you feel? Yes, if

only to have a look at the numbers, and it is a long shot, but I suppose

next week a lot of that goes out the window, and you have an inter-pro

game, and we have to put a few of those runs right and try to work in

the execution, the last pass, and be more clinical, I think. Ospreys did

attack the number of times, they got the opportunity and they took it.

That is where we want to be. We need to increase our execution, otherwise

we will always become second-best. You beat Leinster towards the end of

last season, can you do the same again next week? Absolutely. I have

said this time time again, we are really good side, and we're just not

clicking at the minute. We are for long periods, then not getting over

the line. Binny to work on this. It is hard to find the magic formula

for that, but hopefully we will next week.

STUDIO: A despondent Ulster captain. If Ulster don't make the play-offs,

how much pressure is Les Kiss now under, do you think, it has been a

season of underperforming from an Ulster point of view. Yes, I agree,

we are sitting, we are... From one week to the next we are critical of

the players, but a lot of the situations come from the top for me

and the person holding the reins at the top. Let's hear what he has to

say. We have him talking to Kate. We spoke before the game about how much

pressure you're under to get a result today and keep the season

going. How disappointed are you? Yeah, apologies getting out here

late, it is not a, not the best dressing room. They're a bunch of

guys there who are disappointed. We afored them a lot -- afford them a

lot of time with the ball through our own making. They accepted that

is not good enough and when you give a team like Ospreys that, we gave it

to them and even in the sec half when we played a lot of footy, but

the opportunities we played were not good enough. Do you feel that the

results need to go your way, is it out of your hands entirely? It is

until tomorrow's game and we will see what p hs. I haven't checked the

table closely here and now. Ospreys are third, you're fifth. We need a

result to stay in the hunt. But look... We have had a good chat in

there and it is disappointment and across the board, we will dust down

and come back next week with a massive game. If there is a silver

lining you have an game to finish off your season at home. Look, these

things hurt for a while. But if there is something to get the best

out of yourself. Leinster are a good team and they will get better and

better. I think the team that beats Leinster will bin the Championship.

We will see where that goes. But in the end, just, it is disappointment

today. That is for sure. Thank for talking to us. A very down beat. How

much pressure is the coach under. He has to be under a lot of pressure,

it is a professional environment and from that interview, if the top man

is very sort of almost negative and within himself that's got to be

reflected through the squad and I dare say if I was a player and saw

my coach coming in with a real flat attitude, that will be reflected

through the team and you can't afford that. He has to say it is

what it is, but for me, a lot of credit has to be given to to Stock

some of other coaches, from the players from the performances and

from the whole thing moving forward at times. A lot of the coaches have

a lot to do. The pressure's on. Thank you very much. Ulster's final

home game of the season is that one next Saturday evening, you can join

us live on BBC Two for live cover onlying of Ulster against Leinster

and let's hope Piennar is fit to play what could be his last game for

Ulster. It is a bumper Saturday on BBC Northern Ireland as we have

local football's show piece in the Irish Cup Final. And Linfield have

won the Irish league today. That is it, barring a miracle, under Les

have kissed goodbye to their season.