:00:36. > :00:43.Christmas is in full swing at Ulster rugby headquarters for tonight's
:00:44. > :00:49.seasonal showdown. Ulster return to Pro12 action with the last home game
:00:50. > :00:54.of 2016. It's a sell-out into prevention of against. The champions
:00:55. > :01:04.have already beaten Ulster this season, but Les Kiss' men haven't
:01:05. > :01:07.lost in Belfast for over 50 years. We are set for a full house and it's
:01:08. > :01:18.all live here on BBC Two. Good evening and welcome to Ulster
:01:19. > :01:22.rugby life. Thankfully, storm Barbara has passed, though it is
:01:23. > :01:26.still pretty blustery and very cold. We are wrapped up nice and warm for
:01:27. > :01:32.this festive inter-pro. Good evening. How do you see this shaping
:01:33. > :01:37.up? Hopefully, great match. I've seen Rory Best sporting a black eye
:01:38. > :01:41.from last week against Clermont. Only a five-day turnaround, very
:01:42. > :01:46.heavy pitch tonight. Six changes in the Ulster side, a lot of changes in
:01:47. > :01:50.the Connacht side. Hopefully the Ulster boys can grind them down and
:01:51. > :01:54.last week doesn't creep into their legs after 60 minutes. Fifth-place
:01:55. > :02:00.Ulster against eighth place, they both have a game in hand over the
:02:01. > :02:04.top four. A win tonight and Ulster can move into the provisional
:02:05. > :02:09.play-off positions, which is imported. Very much so. We need to
:02:10. > :02:14.make sure we take away points. This is a dangerous time of year for
:02:15. > :02:18.everyone. It is a festive fever in the area and people can switch on
:02:19. > :02:22.and off. You can lose a lot of ground at this time of year. It is
:02:23. > :02:27.important that Ulster come out and start the way they mean to go on.
:02:28. > :02:31.Will play and keep coming at you right to the 79th minute. That is
:02:32. > :02:37.something to be mindful. Ulster have the strongest line-up paper.
:02:38. > :02:41.Connacht with over 20 players on the injury table. It is crazy and Pat
:02:42. > :02:48.Lam has alluded to it all week saying it is the worst time with the
:02:49. > :02:59.amount of injuries he has had. All the supporters want to see the high
:03:00. > :03:03.calibre of players. I think the Ulster team will be too strong
:03:04. > :03:08.tonight. The last time Ulster played at home was that sensational game
:03:09. > :03:12.against Clermont in Europe. What is the key to replicating that kind of
:03:13. > :03:17.performance week in week out? The top six inches. The guys have to do
:03:18. > :03:21.it. Rugby is a contact sport. They came out in that first week and hit
:03:22. > :03:24.the ground running and climbed into it. They gave away a quick try but
:03:25. > :03:30.responded exceptionally well very quickly. Last week against Clermont
:03:31. > :03:33.away, they started poorly and played catch-up rugby and won the second
:03:34. > :03:36.half with their game. If this had started the way they finished, it's
:03:37. > :03:41.superb. Hopefully they took a lesson from last week, bring it to this
:03:42. > :03:47.week. Connacht shouldn't be able to live with it. 'S record against
:03:48. > :03:51.Ulster is not good. How is that a factor? The boys have said this
:03:52. > :03:54.squad here will make history but the Ulster maps will be saying, let's go
:03:55. > :04:00.out here and try to turn them over and get the momentum going. Records
:04:01. > :04:08.could be broken. Connacht have lost 33 times in a row in Belfast. Let's
:04:09. > :04:12.see how it unfolds. COMMENTATOR: Good evening. A chilly
:04:13. > :04:17.season. Storm Barbara has done a bit this morning. It is a bit cold, a
:04:18. > :04:21.bit of a breeze. The pitch is not in bad condition underfoot whatsoever.
:04:22. > :04:27.This Connacht side, three changes upfront. Dave Heffernan, James
:04:28. > :04:35.Cannon and Sean O'Brien coming into the pack. Just the one change behind
:04:36. > :04:44.the scrum. Danie Poolman starts in the centre.
:04:45. > :04:51.The defending champions have such a terrific win in the last second of
:04:52. > :04:55.the game in that interracial game in the European Champions Cup match,
:04:56. > :05:02.but they are here not having one at this particular ground in various
:05:03. > :05:09.shapes and forms since 1960. 56 years have elapsed, and Ulster are
:05:10. > :05:18.being bled in the third game in succession by the current Irish
:05:19. > :05:21.skipper. Rory Best. Disappointing start and disappointing first half a
:05:22. > :05:25.week ago at Claremont. Ulster picked it up a wee bit in the second half
:05:26. > :05:29.and they have to try to replicate that second half formed by and large
:05:30. > :05:35.for this game. Les Kiss has made a lot of changes upfront. Andy Warwick
:05:36. > :05:39.coming in, Kieran Treadwell starting in the second row with Iain
:05:40. > :05:42.Henderson moving up from number six and Clive Ross and Roger Wilson
:05:43. > :05:51.starting in the back row. One change behind the scrum. Tommy Bowe is
:05:52. > :05:55.being rested. A third starter this season for Jacob Stockdale. Good to
:05:56. > :06:09.see Roger Wilson back, Ulster's most capped player. The referee is from
:06:10. > :06:15.Limerick, a former player. George Clancy, refereed at the most recent
:06:16. > :06:20.World Cups in 2011 and 2015. This is his 85th Pro12 game. Right on cue,
:06:21. > :06:31.having said what a nice night it is, the rain is coming down.
:06:32. > :06:42.There was a bit of a knock forward. A chilly evening. How big a
:06:43. > :06:47.conditions play tonight? Good evening. It will be massive. Wind
:06:48. > :06:51.swirling and with the rain, to. Impairment from an Ulster
:06:52. > :06:55.perspective. They start well, haven't done that in the recent
:06:56. > :06:59.games against Clermont. The first scrum gives forwards a good
:07:00. > :07:05.opportunity to get themselves forward. Connacht have a stone her
:07:06. > :07:24.man heavier at almost 18 stone per month. Quinn Roux and James Cannon.
:07:25. > :08:15.Davy Jones can also play at centre and full-back.
:08:16. > :08:20.Ulster, fine margins were not quite there for a lot of last week's
:08:21. > :08:27.games. They have to be right on the money tonight. Beer it is the
:08:28. > :08:43.basics. Charles Pugh to getting involved early. -- Charles Piutau.
:08:44. > :08:52.The wind is in Connacht's favour, very slightly. Iain Henderson
:08:53. > :08:54.operating in the second row. For the first time this season. He played
:08:55. > :09:09.the last seven games as a number six.
:09:10. > :09:18.I think that will be another Ulster line-out. Great catch and drive
:09:19. > :09:28.forwards. Well protected by Rory Best at the back.
:09:29. > :10:01.A change of mind, it was not forward. -- knocked forward.
:10:02. > :10:10.So effective. Pat Lam has them well drilled upfront. Able to win
:10:11. > :10:20.contracts situations with two or three men. -- contact situations.
:10:21. > :10:28.Jack Carty you kicked that magnificent conversion last weekend
:10:29. > :10:29.in Galway finds a very good touch. Dreadful injury that Pat Lam has had
:10:30. > :10:44.to put up with. Danie Poolman is an enormous fellow.
:10:45. > :11:02.Mostly plays on the wing. The ball is going to be put in the
:11:03. > :11:06.Ulster scrum. That is what they are all about. Keeping the ball alive.
:11:07. > :11:11.On this occasion, they were unable to hang on. The last major questions
:11:12. > :11:19.defensively of this Ulster backline this evening. Coming up to five
:11:20. > :11:27.minutes gone. The rain still drizzling down, a nasty night. Les
:11:28. > :11:31.Kiss deciding not to sit. What is it about football managers, they all
:11:32. > :11:36.like to chew. Whether it is rugby or association, one has to act. Fun and
:11:37. > :12:10.games on this site. There is a play down injured, looks
:12:11. > :12:35.like a Connacht player. Danie Poolman, a deceptively big
:12:36. > :13:00.fellow. That was a lovely angle being run by
:13:01. > :13:04.Connacht. I think an Ulster player was maybe tackled before he got the
:13:05. > :13:10.ball. The referee waiting for an advantage to Ulster, I think. Maybe
:13:11. > :13:25.he's going to give it to Connacht, another Ulster knock forward.
:13:26. > :13:45.Advantages over, according to the referee Roger Wilson.
:13:46. > :13:52.The wind is starting to really whip up here. Clive Ross told to get away
:13:53. > :14:21.out of it. Good defence by Ulster. Interesting from Pienaar. They had
:14:22. > :14:30.to give it back and ball, so to speak. Pienaar then slows the game
:14:31. > :14:41.down. Line-out to Connacht over on the 22. Eight minutes gone, still no
:14:42. > :14:46.score. In October in Galway, Pienaar raced into a huge lead. First time
:14:47. > :15:01.they have done that in living memory against Ulster.
:15:02. > :15:09.Holes are appearing in the Ulster defence.
:15:10. > :15:24.Bruising stuff by Luke Marshall. This is good stuff by Ulster.
:15:25. > :15:31.A little bit too much in front of Roger Wilson and that will be a
:15:32. > :15:36.Connacht scrimmage. Given the underfoot conditions, the first nine
:15:37. > :15:46.minutes have been good rugby. Iain Henderson did very well for Ulster.
:15:47. > :15:51.We see later on on them Luke Marshall break. Look at Marshall
:15:52. > :16:04.here. Bit of a flourish from the home side
:16:05. > :16:12.with nearly ten minutes gone, but it is a Connacht scrimmage.
:16:13. > :17:04.Nicely read their stop make sure you're standing foot isn't outside
:17:05. > :17:15.the 22. When you are taking it just now. It is the 22. He can't kick it
:17:16. > :17:26.from outside of 22. He has made a decent touch, Ruan Pienaar. The most
:17:27. > :17:32.clean breaks in Europe so far this year. We have seen three clean
:17:33. > :17:38.breaks again this evening, we see how comfortable he is from one to 15
:17:39. > :17:45.with ball in hand. Intelligent running off the ball. Tom McCartney
:17:46. > :18:21.now signed a new contract. Ulster just that little bit of fine
:18:22. > :18:25.tuning a and there is an injury to a player. The won we have seen more
:18:26. > :18:28.from Henderson in the opening 12 minutes than we have seen in the
:18:29. > :18:33.last couple of games with ball in hand playing in the back row. He is
:18:34. > :18:35.up for this this evening. Such an imposing physical figure it with
:18:36. > :18:44.ball in hand. A great read defensively.
:18:45. > :18:58.That doesn't look too good for Quinn Roux. It looks like his left
:18:59. > :19:07.shoulder or his collarbone or his neck. 36 years of age. Came to
:19:08. > :19:12.Connacht a couple of years ago. George Clancy has called to have a
:19:13. > :19:19.look at something. Rodney Ah You driving through. Roger Wilson just
:19:20. > :19:22.picked him up and threw him out of the way. I don't think there was
:19:23. > :19:31.anything wrong with that. I don't know how that could be interpreted
:19:32. > :19:39.as a foul. The won I don't see much wrong with that. He put his backside
:19:40. > :19:45.in front of Roger Wilson. Lee Hodges is BTM oh, incidentally. To be harsh
:19:46. > :19:47.and Wilson, you could say he is coming in from the side. The attempt
:19:48. > :20:06.is to clear the man out. He is saying the tackle was illegal.
:20:07. > :20:10.There is no more than a penalty against Ulster for that. We should
:20:11. > :20:25.be grateful for small mercies. The touch judge on the near side is
:20:26. > :20:27.Dudley Phillips and his flag is going again. Second in from the left
:20:28. > :21:17.as we look at it. Coming in from the side at the
:21:18. > :21:27.breakdown by Ulster. Crowd, needless to say, don't like that. Clancy was
:21:28. > :21:29.right on top of that. Good kick chase from Ludik. Clive Walsh going
:21:30. > :21:43.down on the ball. I think it is Iain Henderson who has
:21:44. > :21:50.done. You must come in over the ball, not from the side. They are
:21:51. > :21:56.masters of the second-half performance into the wind, and the
:21:57. > :22:09.way this wind is going in Ulster's favour, Ulster needs to be thinking
:22:10. > :22:51.about sport pretty soon. -- points pretty soon.
:22:52. > :23:09.How many penalties is that Ulster have given away? Two, probably
:23:10. > :23:11.three. Ulster unable to get him off the latch. Clancy has got that
:23:12. > :23:27.right. Coming up to 60 minutes late, still
:23:28. > :24:09.no score. Nice bit of set piece played by
:24:10. > :24:16.Connacht. They made up an awful lot of ground.
:24:17. > :24:36.A bit high for Rodney Ah You. He has been binned for that before. Not
:24:37. > :24:40.forward by Connacht. A round of applause from the crowd, saying
:24:41. > :24:43.thank you to George Clancy, now he is giving them something. You won he
:24:44. > :24:54.has been very on the money. He got knocked back, the ball went
:24:55. > :25:06.between his legs rather than a knock-on. Danie Poolman in the ward
:25:07. > :25:11.for Connacht. Some intelligent rugby in terms of ball in hand. They have
:25:12. > :25:14.had so little possession that whenever they do turn the ball over,
:25:15. > :25:31.they turned defence into attack. Very difficult. Wonderfully well
:25:32. > :25:40.done by Piutau, who read that. Square off for me. Big hefty
:25:41. > :25:43.Connacht wearing number six, the other Sean O'Brien, the 26-year-old.
:25:44. > :26:02.No relation to the one from Leinster.
:26:03. > :26:20.Stuart McCloskey did the sensible thing and held onto it.
:26:21. > :26:32.Ulster at the 22 for just about the first time.
:26:33. > :27:03.Connacht bubbling away for everything at the breakdown.
:27:04. > :27:15.Well met in the middle of the park. Rodney Ah You, good release by the
:27:16. > :27:36.former Connacht prop. Great Connacht defence in the middle
:27:37. > :27:40.of the park. Ulster get the penalty. At this stage in the game in this
:27:41. > :27:45.stage in the season, they have the option, they can pick the scrum or
:27:46. > :27:50.go for the post and put it in the corner. 20 minutes into the first
:27:51. > :27:53.half, playing with gale force wind with the scores level, Ulster should
:27:54. > :28:02.look to get themselves on the scoreboard. Good set piece. We see
:28:03. > :28:07.Henderson and Stuart McCloskey. Connacht commit very few at the
:28:08. > :28:10.breakdown. They have a surplus of defenders and can send one very
:28:11. > :28:14.quickly up and they have made all the tackle is first up as well. That
:28:15. > :28:19.was a great tackle by Sean O'Brien on Roger Wilson. He is playing his
:28:20. > :28:22.first game for a while for Ulster. Missed the last four. Was ready to
:28:23. > :28:40.play last week, but didn't feature. Jackson, just 24 years old and hard
:28:41. > :28:46.to believe he has hundred and 50 appearances -- 150 appearances.
:28:47. > :28:54.No mistake with that. Not the easiest of kicking conditions, but
:28:55. > :29:01.Jackson has made sure and the king span -- Kingspan crowd will be
:29:02. > :29:07.happy. A sweet strike from Paddy Jackson. Massive improvement from
:29:08. > :29:16.his play last season, consistently now one of the best. Jack Carty gave
:29:17. > :29:35.that a wallop! Apologies if there is a bit of
:29:36. > :29:38.industrial language head there. It could probably be heard around
:29:39. > :29:46.Belfast City Hall, so sorry about that. They may not be happy with the
:29:47. > :29:52.fumbling of that all. Roger Wilson has done well, perhaps kicked to
:29:53. > :30:02.fight by Conner, but the basics he has done well. Realistically, in
:30:03. > :30:07.midfield with the wind behind, create your lines, please. 112
:30:08. > :30:12.appearances for Connacht before coming to this part of the world and
:30:13. > :30:18.signing up with Ulster. Now capped three times by Ireland, Rodney Ah
:30:19. > :30:25.You. Born in New Zealand, some 27 years ago. This is his eighth start
:30:26. > :30:30.of the season. His pal says, don't worry, you won't do that again. At
:30:31. > :30:36.least he better not. People in a good shift last week Clermont.
:30:37. > :30:39.Played well after taking a pasting in the home match against the French
:30:40. > :30:41.team and suddenly last week, he got the scrummaging sorted out. He made
:30:42. > :30:52.a big impact. This is a big scrum, Ah You will be
:30:53. > :30:53.looking to make amends and put some pressure on is old buddy Denis
:30:54. > :31:14.Buckley. That is a better from Connacht,
:31:15. > :31:20.Andrew Warwick being told to keep is buying up by the rectory. Poolman
:31:21. > :31:25.looking for a gap which didn't happen -- by the referee. Good work
:31:26. > :31:29.at the breakdown but Connacht have it. It has gone loose. Well tidied
:31:30. > :31:51.up by Sean O'Brien. Held up by Clive Ross, that is good
:31:52. > :31:58.work. George Coetzee said it has knocked on in the tackle so Connacht
:31:59. > :32:02.get another scrum. -- George Clancy. Good wriggling by Buckley, what a
:32:03. > :32:07.solid purple mini has been for Connacht down the years. He and Dave
:32:08. > :32:14.Heffernan both very good with ball in hand. Heffernan played against
:32:15. > :32:17.Ulster in the opening game between these teams this year and had a
:32:18. > :32:20.massively influential performance and might even have scored at try
:32:21. > :32:33.that night. It is a good player. Cup games including this one coming
:32:34. > :32:39.up for Ulster, Leinster await next week at the RDS and then away to the
:32:40. > :32:58.Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets -- tough games. And the last two European
:32:59. > :33:07.Games. Marmion once again. Once again Heffernan gets the strike.
:33:08. > :33:15.Muldoon leaves it for Marmion. That is spilled. Advantage to Ulster and
:33:16. > :33:22.none coming they could not get it away. Good defence by Ulster.
:33:23. > :33:26.Poolman took his eye off it. Soft hands and he just looked up and saw
:33:27. > :33:31.Marshall in his tracks and the ball spilled. Connacht in the red zone
:33:32. > :33:36.again, Pat Lam will not be happy with that. The picture is starting
:33:37. > :33:42.to cut up a bit, unsurprisingly given the weather we have add.
:33:43. > :33:47.George Godsey has moved them over a bit into a decent patch -- have had
:33:48. > :34:08.and George Klein C has moved them. It all starts in this front row.
:34:09. > :34:20.Connacht get a bit of a squeeze on. But illegally. Coming in at an angle
:34:21. > :34:25.I Denis Buckley I think. He slipped his bind and tried to come in at the
:34:26. > :34:32.side. The first penalty Ulster have got? Maybe the second. I think the
:34:33. > :34:38.first one Paddy kicked for the three points. Of course, silly me! They
:34:39. > :34:43.were a good go at each other in the front row. Denis Buckley is quite
:34:44. > :34:49.short in stature and he can be destructive as a loosehead against
:34:50. > :34:52.Ah You who is quite tall for a tight head. The dynamics and the physics
:34:53. > :34:57.might be stifling them. Buckley was always a very good ball carrier but
:34:58. > :35:02.he has beefed up to make himself a decent scrummager. Very good, low
:35:03. > :35:06.centre of gravity comedy gets his hips in the right place and there
:35:07. > :35:11.was a good battle going on. Finlay Bealham can play loosehead or tight
:35:12. > :35:16.head also be had a spell playing for the Belfast Harlequins but he is
:35:17. > :35:21.leaving the field and that is a bit unfortunate. It looks like JP Cooney
:35:22. > :35:29.might be coming on and that will be a blow for Connacht. I think that
:35:30. > :35:33.stems off the back of the Roger Wilson receiving the kick-off.
:35:34. > :35:41.Bealham tried to make a tackle and came off second best. He has not
:35:42. > :35:45.recovered from it. That scrum twisted round awkwardly and Finlay
:35:46. > :35:51.Bealham went down. The result was that he got himself quite badly
:35:52. > :35:58.injured. The coloured forwards just about drove over there tight head
:35:59. > :36:04.prop and he was twisted badly. McCloskey get it away, Stockdale,
:36:05. > :36:13.now it is PO time Peshmerga Piutau. We had Ludik with him. He comes back
:36:14. > :36:19.inside. -- Piutau. The first try of the game and it is McCloskey. From
:36:20. > :36:24.one end of the pitch to another, finished off by Stuart McCloskey,
:36:25. > :36:27.celebrating his 50th Ulster appearance with a fine try and his
:36:28. > :36:37.sixth in the league. Beautifully finished. A great dummy line from
:36:38. > :36:42.Luke Marshall. That opens up the space for Stockdale off the
:36:43. > :36:50.blindside wing. Piutau take it in two hands and they execute the G1
:36:51. > :36:53.one. McCloskey could not fail to score from there. A great line by
:36:54. > :37:01.Luke Marshall cutting in right-to-left and that holds the
:37:02. > :37:11.inside defence and takes Rory Parata away. It is a nice pass from
:37:12. > :37:16.McCloskey. He follows up and was in the right position to score in the
:37:17. > :37:20.corner. Connacht had been very much in this game and their most capped
:37:21. > :37:26.player of all-time, the great John Muldoon, fast approaching 300
:37:27. > :37:27.appearances for he is having a word. Jackson has struck that
:37:28. > :37:35.fantastically in difficult conditions. The crowd like that. And
:37:36. > :37:42.the Ulster players and coaching staff will as well. Ten Nel after
:37:43. > :37:48.just under half an hour. In terms of territory, it has been mostly
:37:49. > :37:56.Ulster. That might have been a high tackle by Parata. It was well played
:37:57. > :38:01.by George Clancy. That is a long restart, backward from Roger Wilson
:38:02. > :38:07.and the referee is happy with that. Retrieved at the second attempt.
:38:08. > :38:15.Clive Ross has done a lot of carrying soap bar this evening.
:38:16. > :38:20.Piutau in the outside-half position. He discovered that a bit and it has
:38:21. > :38:32.not found touch. O'Halloran bounced off Treadwell. Danie Poolman, Rory
:38:33. > :38:35.Parata, great tackle by Marshall, textbook stuff from the Ulster
:38:36. > :38:51.centre. Well recycled by the visitors. Adeolokun will put some
:38:52. > :39:02.zip into it given half a chance. Connacht again inside the Ulster
:39:03. > :39:08.half. Quinn Roux seems to be OK. Parata well by Marshall. He has got
:39:09. > :39:19.to release that. Knocked forward by Connacht. Was George Clancy a bit
:39:20. > :39:25.slow in not penalising Parata for not releasing? Maybe he was still
:39:26. > :39:30.moving. He has the option to be able to reposition his body. It is up to
:39:31. > :39:35.the tackler to get on his feet. Have a look at that, he was tackled and
:39:36. > :39:47.he rolled. Chris Henry was in. Marshall makes the tackle. Ludik was
:39:48. > :39:52.in over the ball. You can't really quibble with that. Half an hour
:39:53. > :39:58.gone. Ulster have to win this game to be with in any chance of
:39:59. > :40:10.finishing around the top six next year.
:40:11. > :40:22.Solid Ulster scrum. McCloskey has a go himself and cuts through but he
:40:23. > :40:27.needs some help. Pienaar looking to the narrow side and he finds
:40:28. > :40:31.Jackson. The kick for Stockdale, it might be a bit too far and it is.
:40:32. > :40:37.They will come back for the scrum, that was unfortunate for Jackson, it
:40:38. > :40:44.was pretty close to being perfect. We have seen what about legal weapon
:40:45. > :40:48.Stuart McCloskey is. As soon as the defender turned, he was happy to
:40:49. > :40:54.take him on. And he has the ability to reach, he has the ball and he is
:40:55. > :40:58.looking to off-load. The supporters cannot quite get close enough on his
:40:59. > :41:06.shoulder but he has the presence of mind to go to ground and recycle.
:41:07. > :41:12.Just one cap for Ireland against England at Twickenham in the 2016
:41:13. > :41:29.Six Nations. The crowd in fine voice.
:41:30. > :41:39.Can Ulster that is agreed on? That is a solid scrummage from Connacht.
:41:40. > :41:45.-- get a squeeze on. O'Halloran had to check a little bit. He had Matt
:41:46. > :41:58.Healy outside him. Well won by Connacht.
:41:59. > :42:07.Here they come again, Connacht. Ulster were just caught right on the
:42:08. > :42:19.good work by Henry at the breakdown as ever. Taken by Quinn Roux who
:42:20. > :42:27.runs into Rory Best. Marshall was up quickly. That had to be shuffled off
:42:28. > :42:32.and this is Matt Healy. That has set up nicely and what will Piutau do?
:42:33. > :42:36.He will have a go. He is strong enough to hang onto the ball and has
:42:37. > :42:47.done to ground so they have do play it. Pienaar has looked up the
:42:48. > :42:52.nearside. They have given Pienaar a bit more room. But Ulster take it
:42:53. > :43:04.forward through the forwards. Chris Henry set it up. Pienaar is inside
:43:05. > :43:10.his 22 just about. Well taken by Carty who was taken down by Matt
:43:11. > :43:17.Healy -- by Clive Ross. That has been stolen by Ulster. Pienaar, an
:43:18. > :43:31.uncharacteristic fumble and the need some help and has it from Clive
:43:32. > :43:39.Ross. Ah You takes it on. Good tackle by Nepia Fox-Matamua. Pienaar
:43:40. > :43:47.looking for a runner to his right hand side. He decides to take. That
:43:48. > :43:56.is knocked forward by O'Halloran. Very unfortunate, he doesn't make
:43:57. > :44:00.many of those mistakes. He is one of the most improved players in Irish
:44:01. > :44:09.rugby over the last couple of years. Very unusual to see him make such a
:44:10. > :44:13.gift. I think he was scanning to see where the space was in terms of the
:44:14. > :44:18.counterattack. But evident that Ulster are struggling to get any
:44:19. > :44:25.fast ball. Connacht are very good at slowing it down. The ball for
:44:26. > :44:28.Pienaar is scrappy, the last one came out of the side and Connacht
:44:29. > :44:35.are happy to play around the fringes and slowed things down. Ulster last
:44:36. > :44:45.season with the only Pro12 team to beat home and away. Five minutes
:44:46. > :44:57.until the interval and Ulster are 10-0 up. Ludik ran into Poolman. The
:44:58. > :45:00.referee has a hand out for a penalty against Connacht and at this stage
:45:01. > :45:06.you would think Ulster would go for the points. You would imagine they
:45:07. > :45:11.would take three. A slight change in tactic McCloskey was the dummy
:45:12. > :45:13.runner and the ball went behind him. They were looking for Louis Ludik
:45:14. > :45:23.but again good defence from Connacht. Connacht could not roll
:45:24. > :45:30.away. One South Africa on another and Danie Poolman has come off the
:45:31. > :45:37.worse. He normally plays on the wing but with the nasty injury to Bundee
:45:38. > :45:46.Aki De Villiers been pressed into service at inside centre. Do you
:45:47. > :45:52.think Connacht will be happy with this scoreline? -- he has been
:45:53. > :46:00.pressed into service. I think they will. It is important for Ulster to
:46:01. > :46:04.stretch any lead they have to the maximum before the break. We heard
:46:05. > :46:17.Stephen Kerr was mentioning before that that he thought it was a 15
:46:18. > :46:20.point wind -- Stephen Ferris. Pat Lam it's off to Bristol at the end
:46:21. > :46:25.of this season but what a fantastic job he has done with Connacht. Would
:46:26. > :46:32.you bet against him coming back and coaching Ireland when Joe Schmidt
:46:33. > :46:37.stops? I think he would be in the frame in terms of fulfilling the
:46:38. > :46:40.requirements of coaching in Ireland and the whole structure seemed to be
:46:41. > :46:46.about winding carriages through whether they are home-grown or from
:46:47. > :46:51.overseas. But on limited resources he has done a hell of a good job.
:46:52. > :46:55.Dannie Bulman went in very high on Louis Ludik and took a shoulder in
:46:56. > :47:01.the sternum -- Danie Poolman. I think he has been winded. Coming on
:47:02. > :47:08.is 21-year-old Ciaran Gaffney. It will be his first cap and what a
:47:09. > :47:21.cauldron to come into. In the meantime it is Paddy Jackson who is
:47:22. > :47:25.the man in the frame. No mistake. And the Ulster lead goes out to 13
:47:26. > :47:31.points. The second penalty from Jackson to add to the conversion of
:47:32. > :47:35.Stuart McCloskey's try so he is three out of three. Connacht have 21
:47:36. > :47:41.injuries and have a two in the first half through Poolman and Bealham.
:47:42. > :47:50.They have gone for six forward and only two backs on the bench and Pat
:47:51. > :47:58.Lam's resources are badly stretched. Roger Wilson took a bit of a clatter
:47:59. > :48:02.from Quinn Roux. A rare error in handling. That has given possession
:48:03. > :48:07.back to Connacht. There was nobody near him. Perhaps cold hands, very
:48:08. > :48:14.unlike Roger Wilson. That is a bit naughty maybe. Quinn Roux coming
:48:15. > :48:18.through and apologising. Unlike Roger Wilson, but that has been a
:48:19. > :48:25.massive Achilles heel for Conn Iggulden rugby this year, their
:48:26. > :48:33.pick-up -- for Ulster rugby this year. Becchetti of receiving has
:48:34. > :48:42.been poor. -- there kick-off receiving.
:48:43. > :48:57.That ball has not gone in properly. The referee will ask them to do it
:48:58. > :49:00.again. Rory Best really putting the squeeze on Dave Heffernan. The last
:49:01. > :49:06.couple of scrums for Connacht have had a slight squint because
:49:07. > :49:10.Heffernan is unable to strike such as the pressure that Rory Best is
:49:11. > :49:17.putting on him. From that position, Heffernan cannot lift his leg to
:49:18. > :49:24.strike the ball back. He is a ferociously strong man, Rory Best.
:49:25. > :49:27.Along with the wonderfully named Bismarck du Plessis, I reckon would
:49:28. > :49:35.be best scrummaging hookers in the world at moment. -- one of the best.
:49:36. > :49:41.Connacht will be looking for something before the interval. In
:49:42. > :49:46.the second half they will have the significant wind behind them. A good
:49:47. > :49:54.scrum once again from Connacht. Parata tries to make a bit of ground
:49:55. > :50:07.and runs into the Ulster back row. Heffernan is tackled by Best. Nice
:50:08. > :50:12.little off-load to Muldoon who scrambles forward. There was a hole
:50:13. > :50:17.there. A bit of blocking all stop and a bit of nonsense breaking out.
:50:18. > :50:22.But of you see Chris Henry getting involved like that. He did not think
:50:23. > :50:26.Marmion would release but that is a penalty against Connacht. We have
:50:27. > :50:32.seen two or three breaks from Marmion. Muldoon manages to make a
:50:33. > :50:37.yard or two, trying to clear some space for Kieran Marmion. These are
:50:38. > :50:41.almost perfect Galway conditioned this evening in terms of wind and
:50:42. > :50:52.rain. It is difficult for runners coming around the corner. Not quite
:50:53. > :50:56.the view of Galway Bay! Not quite. Chris Henry did well because he
:50:57. > :51:04.managed to disengage and make it back to Marmion to stop him getting
:51:05. > :51:16.to the line. It got a bit feisty. You would expect that in the derby.
:51:17. > :51:21.Absolutely. Will Ulster just put it into touch or think about adding to
:51:22. > :51:27.their 13 points? They are a long way from the Connacht line. A good drive
:51:28. > :51:33.by Connacht. And they have the put-in to the scrum but it will not
:51:34. > :51:40.matter. Ulster lost possession but George Clancy has decided that is
:51:41. > :51:46.the end of the first half and Ulster will not be too dissatisfied. Just
:51:47. > :51:51.one try through Stuart McCloskey, converted by Paddy Jackson added a
:51:52. > :51:58.couple of penalties. Ulster in control on the scoreboard. Not by
:51:59. > :52:04.any means error-free but Ulster will be happy with that. They would be
:52:05. > :52:10.ahead on points in boxing parlance. They have kept Connacht to know
:52:11. > :52:14.points. Connacht have defended well and been good with ball in hand
:52:15. > :52:18.given the difficult conditions. Stuart McCloskey has been the best
:52:19. > :52:22.player on show both with ball in hand and some of his good running
:52:23. > :52:26.off the ball as well. Connacht have lost a couple of players and Ulster
:52:27. > :52:35.are leading this game reasonably comfortable but a lot more to come
:52:36. > :52:39.in the second half. STUDIO: Not the most dynamic game but Ulster had
:52:40. > :52:44.been in control and deserving their 13-0 lead. Definitely, they played
:52:45. > :52:48.the better rugby, been better in attack and defence and looked
:52:49. > :52:53.comfortable all stop Connacht have been trying their wide pattern and
:52:54. > :52:58.on a wet and windy night, is it the way to go? I think they might change
:52:59. > :53:03.slightly in the second half with the wind and put it behind Ulster and
:53:04. > :53:06.make them play out. Ulster are cruising at the moment. Connacht
:53:07. > :53:13.have lost a couple of players and the Ulster bench is pretty strong.
:53:14. > :53:18.But with the strong wind, did you expect Ulster to put more points on
:53:19. > :53:20.the board, will they need them? I don't know if they will need them
:53:21. > :53:25.but in those conditions it is not the easiest to play with the wind at
:53:26. > :53:29.your back either. Ulster did not utilise the wind as much as they
:53:30. > :53:33.should. But they are here to play some rugby. They know they could put
:53:34. > :53:36.it in the corner and applied pressure and perhaps Connacht might
:53:37. > :53:39.have cracked but they have come up with a different mindset tonight and
:53:40. > :53:43.they are just looking to play rugby. They feel they have the personnel
:53:44. > :53:45.and strength and power to take Connacht on. They could have used it
:53:46. > :53:51.better but maybe they did not want to. It was a slow enough start of
:53:52. > :53:56.the game but suddenly Ulster were patient and scored a really good
:53:57. > :54:01.try. As soon as the whistle blew, the rain started coming down. It was
:54:02. > :54:08.exceptional, the line-out was good of the top. It is just passing and
:54:09. > :54:12.giving. Charles Piutau made the right decision to hold onto it.
:54:13. > :54:18.Stuart McCloskey recognised the space and Ruan Pienaar is a class
:54:19. > :54:23.act and he puts him in. Light from the start, three Pasalic covered
:54:24. > :54:33.almost three quarters of the width of the pitch -- three passes. That
:54:34. > :54:36.means you are right, it was the right decisions and just the speed
:54:37. > :54:41.of the ball coming back and it was a walk in at the end. A lot of the
:54:42. > :54:46.work was done early doors. And in the conditions that this pervert
:54:47. > :54:50.rugby. And it is not easy to play in these conditions tonight, not to
:54:51. > :54:54.make excuses, but it is tough. It is one of those when you are getting
:54:55. > :54:58.yourself ready, you're coming into the Kingspan and you have to
:54:59. > :55:03.mentally get yourself right, you know you have the roll up your
:55:04. > :55:07.sleeves and dig in. But they have been the better side, McCluskey in
:55:08. > :55:10.midfield has been exceptional getting over the gain line time and
:55:11. > :55:14.again. I would like to see the forwards working around the corner
:55:15. > :55:19.of it harder to create more space for the backs but heavily we will
:55:20. > :55:24.see that in the second half. The strong part for me is the Ulster
:55:25. > :55:28.forward in the set piece. It has stood up brilliantly. We must have
:55:29. > :55:33.stolen three or four Linux which is unsettling for them. The scrum has
:55:34. > :55:38.been strong. But you're right, there is more to give Best line-outs. If
:55:39. > :55:41.they can bring that element into it and combine that with the set piece
:55:42. > :55:46.dominant it will be a second Alli good second half. There have been a
:55:47. > :55:51.lot of turnovers and they have been successful at the line-out. And they
:55:52. > :55:57.are making Connacht make mistakes. Connacht are not putting a lot of
:55:58. > :56:03.numbers into the breakdown. They are setting up in their three different
:56:04. > :56:07.pods. But Henderson goes straight in and they are on the counterattack. A
:56:08. > :56:12.couple of passes over the top and Marshall is on the outside. There
:56:13. > :56:16.line-out defence has been very strong. We have not talked about
:56:17. > :56:19.Henderson and Treadwell in the second row, the first time Henderson
:56:20. > :56:23.has played at second row this season so it is good to see him playing
:56:24. > :56:29.well. They are making Connacht make mistakes. Henderson... This is not
:56:30. > :56:34.like Connacht, they have been lacking numbers at the breakdown.
:56:35. > :56:38.You could see the first man going through but then there was nobody
:56:39. > :56:41.else, where is the rest of the team? That is because they have so many
:56:42. > :56:44.personal changes and they are not quite on song as they have been in
:56:45. > :56:48.the European matches they have had. They know they have to perform hard
:56:49. > :56:52.and every man is working so hard tonight but it's not quite happening
:56:53. > :56:58.for them. One disappointing thing will be the penalty count earlier
:56:59. > :57:05.one for Ulster. I am sure a lot of people might be sitting at home
:57:06. > :57:09.saying George Clancy is never good appear! I think he got the first
:57:10. > :57:19.couple right. Maybe not the run for Roger Wilson -- of the one for Roger
:57:20. > :57:25.Wilson. He set the tone early of the way he wanted to referee the match.
:57:26. > :57:31.But I don't agree with all his decisions. It is there to say he is
:57:32. > :57:39.never the most popular in Belfast! I think he loves coming appear! Do you
:57:40. > :57:43.think for these big derbies that the referee should perhaps not come from
:57:44. > :57:47.the country for the teams involved? I agree, I think it is wrong now
:57:48. > :57:53.because there is so much at stake. This is a crucial time for all of
:57:54. > :57:58.the teams over Christmas. Personally I would like to see not an Irish
:57:59. > :58:04.referee taking it on. No disrespect, they are good referees but I think,
:58:05. > :58:09.they have all grown up with these guys and there has been some history
:58:10. > :58:12.over the years. Somebody like Nigel Owens coming year, a neutral
:58:13. > :58:18.referee, letting the game flow, both teams want to play rugby, maybe that
:58:19. > :58:24.should be looked at. I think so because there is a lot at stake. I
:58:25. > :58:30.have seen George referee Ulster many times and I'll be honest, he is not
:58:31. > :58:33.on my Christmas card list! We will leave it there! Let the happy get on
:58:34. > :58:38.in the second half. Against Clermont last week when Ulster discovered how
:58:39. > :58:41.to use Stuart McCloskey dummy was very successful and again tonight,
:58:42. > :58:47.with and without the ball he has been excellent. Just get it in his
:58:48. > :58:50.hands. He goes outside and is looking for runners inside or out
:58:51. > :58:57.and if Tommy Bowe was on the wing he would have been coming in for me.
:58:58. > :59:00.The ball in both hands, left or right and they also use him as a
:59:01. > :59:06.decoy and he runs a really hard line. A great tackle by Poolman and
:59:07. > :59:11.he went off injured afterwards. That is what McCloskey gives you. He
:59:12. > :59:18.always makes ground. He is a strong man, no mistake from over six foot
:59:19. > :59:22.and carries well. And he just runs hard. Obviously awkward to play
:59:23. > :59:28.against. I did not play against him, Stevie probably did and he must've
:59:29. > :59:31.hurt you! But he is a strong man and he does it every week and against
:59:32. > :59:36.quality opposition. He still seems to be able to do it. He's doing well
:59:37. > :59:41.and he gives Ulster a good platform, especially with him and Piutau. They
:59:42. > :59:46.need to run off their shoulders will stop Piutau is infamous for doing
:59:47. > :59:51.that. McCloskey illustrated it, they have to expect that they will make
:59:52. > :59:55.the bust. If Ulster can get on that, that is hard to pick up when we
:59:56. > :00:01.break through. Another plane is done that very often for Ulster and
:00:02. > :00:03.Ireland is Andrew Trimble -- another player. Sadly he is not 100% fit but
:00:04. > :00:16.he is talking to us. He just missed out, what is the
:00:17. > :00:19.latest? It is going in the right direction, just didn't get there in
:00:20. > :00:24.time. Plenty of running the last couple of weeks. Punishment for not
:00:25. > :00:28.being completely fit, but it's just that sharp change in direction just
:00:29. > :00:31.isn't quite there. Training on Wednesday and I was 90, 90 5% at
:00:32. > :00:34.didn't get there in time. Unfortunately, I get to sit this one
:00:35. > :00:39.out and endure another week of rehab. Ready for Leinster on New
:00:40. > :00:45.Year's Eve? Koloamatangi I am hoping so. Very close to this one, so if I
:00:46. > :00:50.can get in at the start next week and not stuff my face too much on
:00:51. > :00:54.Sunday and get back by the weekend and hopefully see how it goes. How
:00:55. > :00:58.special was the series that she got injured at the end? It was very
:00:59. > :01:04.special indeed. It took a bit of time to watch the video that Irish
:01:05. > :01:08.rugby tweeted today. It was a historic year, something I'm proud
:01:09. > :01:11.to be part of. It brings back a lot of fond memories and then you are
:01:12. > :01:16.reminded you are injured so you come back to earth very quickly. We
:01:17. > :01:20.accomplished a lot this year. A great bunch of lads and we created
:01:21. > :01:27.history. Very proud. What did you make of the first half? We've done a
:01:28. > :01:31.good job. Quite a pragmatic display. On nights like tonight, it might be
:01:32. > :01:35.tricky to play rugby. We want your line-ups to function well, and your
:01:36. > :01:42.nine and ten to manage you around the pitch and we have done that
:01:43. > :01:46.well. The boys are doing a good job. Connacht always make it difficult.
:01:47. > :01:50.How is the second half panning out? If we come out all guns blazing in
:01:51. > :01:53.the second half, this isn't a side that goes out of the gate. They will
:01:54. > :01:57.keep coming at you. We were better than them for long periods last year
:01:58. > :02:01.but they kept coming and made a dogfight. They want to play rugby,
:02:02. > :02:05.as well, so there is still entertaining rugby to be played and
:02:06. > :02:10.see how we go. In the context of this season, how important is a
:02:11. > :02:14.winter night? We have become a side that does it week in, week out.
:02:15. > :02:19.Fixtures like this, we have to win these if were going to compete to
:02:20. > :02:23.win the league. This is the best site in the league last year. It is
:02:24. > :02:27.a big test but we are up for it and it is important we keep things and
:02:28. > :02:31.discipline. I think we are going in the right direction, 13-0 lead. The
:02:32. > :02:37.second-half will be tricky. See how we go. As Andrew said, set pieces
:02:38. > :02:51.have been solid. Nine and ten tonight, they have been excellent. A
:02:52. > :02:54.couple of box kicks. Every week we talk about Pienaar. That's what he
:02:55. > :03:00.gives you. Paddy Jackson has been making the right calls in attack. He
:03:01. > :03:05.made that call for Stuart McCloskey round the corner and the massive
:03:06. > :03:13.break came. Kidding in difficult conditions. The one that landed from
:03:14. > :03:17.the touchline, an absolute peach. It has come on tremendously well over
:03:18. > :03:22.the past month. , Internationally, Paddy Jackson, is he number one? One
:03:23. > :03:25.thing that let him down for me is he has turned down from the kicking tee
:03:26. > :03:28.of the last three or four months. He is running the show. The man inside
:03:29. > :03:33.makes life easy for him. It'll be interesting to see how that pans
:03:34. > :03:37.out. How do Ulster manage the second-half playing into the strong
:03:38. > :03:43.wind? They to keep their discipline. No easy penalties, letting Connor
:03:44. > :03:48.kicked down to the corner. They will be very disciplined. When they
:03:49. > :03:53.box-kick, they have to get their he's right. No easy yards. There
:03:54. > :03:57.will be a few more pic and goes, tight around the fringes. If the
:03:58. > :04:01.spaces open up, you have to take it, be clinical. They will a clinical in
:04:02. > :04:05.the second hopefully as they were in the first. They have to keep playing
:04:06. > :04:12.rugby. Defence will win the second half for them. They have do keep
:04:13. > :04:16.harassing Connacht. Keep the wide game going. If Ulster can score
:04:17. > :04:22.next, do you feel this Pienaar team could fold? I don't know if they
:04:23. > :04:27.will fold, but they will definitely have doubts in the back of the mind
:04:28. > :04:33.about winning. If all is to score next, I believe. Will win. 100%
:04:34. > :04:39.correct. It doesn't matter who is caused next. It is the mindset. If
:04:40. > :04:42.we come out with the right mindset, it doesn't matter who scores next,
:04:43. > :04:47.Allstate will take it to the finish line. I hope you are sitting nice
:04:48. > :04:51.and warm wrapped up at home because he it is freezing. Enjoy the
:04:52. > :04:57.second-half. COMMENTATOR: Thanks, Steve, chaps. I
:04:58. > :05:03.think Sean Reidy has come on for all is to. He is looking clean and white
:05:04. > :05:08.and he has replaced Roger Wilson. Sean Reidy started the previous
:05:09. > :05:13.half-dozen games as number eight and comes on for the second. Allstate
:05:14. > :05:29.leading 13-0. Jack Carty gets us underway. -- Ulster are leading.
:05:30. > :05:32.The breeze that assisted Connacht in the first half has lessened a little
:05:33. > :05:39.bit. Pienaar could have got that away
:05:40. > :06:10.quicker, but somebody blocked it. The referee is going to bring them
:06:11. > :06:43.back. Against Wasps last week, when he
:06:44. > :06:53.talked the referee into giving the penalty. Pienaar with the end over
:06:54. > :07:06.end box-kick to relieve the pressure.
:07:07. > :07:19.There is a try scorer, Stuart McCloskey.
:07:20. > :07:35.Six internationals, including three behind the scrum.
:07:36. > :07:44.Just a little bit further, you are overextended. Just asking them to
:07:45. > :07:46.come a bit closer. The feet were too far back and that can always be a
:07:47. > :08:17.bit dangerous. Stuart McCloskey couldn't quite get
:08:18. > :08:25.the build-up and momentum, but he's done well.
:08:26. > :08:36.You are not on the ball! Can Ulster get this one back on Mark -- get
:08:37. > :08:52.this one back? Rodney Ah You ran in front of Ian
:08:53. > :08:58.Henderson, so his view was half blocked. Pienaar have to be
:08:59. > :09:11.ambitious. Chris Henry is doing well. Advantage over! O'Halloran
:09:12. > :09:57.showing great enterprise. A rare dither from Pienaar and
:09:58. > :10:03.Ulster have coughed up possession and Connacht get it away anyway can.
:10:04. > :10:08.That's really should have been a try for Ulster. Beer the space was
:10:09. > :10:12.there, perhaps Kieran Treadwell, if the man outside had kept his word.
:10:13. > :10:20.Sean Reidy coming in May be too early. Rory Best on this occasion
:10:21. > :10:24.with Stuart McCloskey and Henderson latching on. Pienaar looking for
:10:25. > :11:07.options and nothing there. Nothing is sticking at the moment
:11:08. > :11:12.for Ulster with too many little unforced errors. There are unfocused
:11:13. > :11:16.errors but they are trying to play rugby. Stephen and Andy talked about
:11:17. > :11:26.it at half-time, they aren't content to sit back and put boot to ball.
:11:27. > :11:42.Even when falling, you can transfer the ball to two hands. Piutau is so
:11:43. > :11:50.dangerous in those positions. Hang on. Clancy is coming over to speak
:11:51. > :12:02.to Jack Carty. Just make sure you are back. I'll give you time to talk
:12:03. > :12:05.to the boys. Sorry about that. He is making the point that are
:12:06. > :12:09.encroaching over that five metres before the ball is out of the scrum.
:12:10. > :12:14.He is watching the ball in the scrum and there are tough judges who are
:12:15. > :12:19.feeding that information. Sensible refereeing. He has told them he is
:12:20. > :12:28.watching for it and making sure it doesn't happen again.
:12:29. > :12:34.Last couple of times have been you, Ulster have won the game but there
:12:35. > :12:36.hasn't been more than a single scorer or a handful of points
:12:37. > :13:22.between them. That is an Allstate line-out. Good
:13:23. > :13:31.hustling defence by Ulster in terms of shutting down any space. Chris
:13:32. > :13:39.Henry, good skills by John Muldoon. Right pace, right time. Connacht
:13:40. > :13:44.intent on keeping ball in hand. I make the point in the first half,
:13:45. > :14:07.from one to 15, they are really confident with their ball skills.
:14:08. > :14:50.They really haven't used the wind, but it has dropped considerably.
:14:51. > :14:54.George Clancy telling that they are inside their 22 so they can kick
:14:55. > :15:07.directly at the touch if they wish. He has become a crowd pleaser,
:15:08. > :15:18.Piutau. The idea was good, execution was
:15:19. > :15:20.pretty good. Just didn't quite work out for Luke Marshall, but great
:15:21. > :15:43.effort. Good tackle by Jack Carty. A little
:15:44. > :15:49.bit too central. Badly beaten by the footwork of Piutau. I thought it
:15:50. > :15:54.might have been 22, but George Clancy explained that the ball was
:15:55. > :15:58.kicked and came off a Piutau player and came off the Connacht line,
:15:59. > :16:04.meaning it will be a scrum for Ulster. Connacht need everybody
:16:05. > :16:17.behind that goal line. John Muldoon trying to deploy his
:16:18. > :16:25.troops behind in case there is enough room on the narrow side for
:16:26. > :16:49.something, Allstate can wangle it. -- Ulster can wangle it.
:16:50. > :17:02.Ulster within touching distance of the Connacht post.
:17:03. > :17:13.Pienaar has got there? George Clancy right underneath him. Time off. He
:17:14. > :17:24.may well go upstairs to the TMO. I'm not so sure, but we find out. Try,
:17:25. > :17:31.yes or no, please? Olley Hodges will look at that. The former
:17:32. > :17:45.distinguished recipe Ofere referee from Leinster. -- referee.
:17:46. > :17:54.Not a good camera angle. George Clancy is in the perfect position, I
:17:55. > :18:02.am surprised he has done upstairs. It is on the line but he should be
:18:03. > :18:13.able to see it for himself. Clancy is in the perfect position. Ulster
:18:14. > :18:18.should have scored long before that. This is Stuart McCloskey going for
:18:19. > :18:20.the line, Paddy Jackson in to assist and Pienaar is the dummy and the
:18:21. > :18:39.sidestep and the drive. No score. Coming up to 12 minutes in
:18:40. > :18:43.the second half, the scoreboard has not been troubled since the
:18:44. > :18:54.interval. Pienaar was not too far away. Ten minutes on the clock,
:18:55. > :19:03.their ball security has been good, their pace and composure has been
:19:04. > :19:19.good. Credit to Piutau, the defence has been first class.
:19:20. > :19:27.The try has been given. They have got the try.
:19:28. > :19:34.Clive Ross has got his first ever Ulster try. He has waited a long
:19:35. > :19:41.time. His third season here in Belfast. His 42nd cap, 13 games he
:19:42. > :19:46.has played in Europe, and this is his 29th in the league and his first
:19:47. > :19:55.try. Stuart McCloskey causing all sorts of problems. Takes two or
:19:56. > :20:08.three defenders. A rerun of the Pienaar no try. We see good
:20:09. > :20:15.composure. Clive Ross stayed on his feet. A little help from his friends
:20:16. > :20:20.and he stayed upright. Paddy Jackson has the conversion and Ulster now I
:20:21. > :20:31.still inside the third quarter of this game. This is Ross striving for
:20:32. > :20:36.the line and he really did well. He deserves that. He has played very
:20:37. > :20:44.well this evening. Happy at six, happy at seven. Here is an
:20:45. > :20:52.interesting replacement. Pienaar is going off. 36 minutes to go and
:20:53. > :22:11.outcomes Paul Marshall, who else? Cap number 183.
:22:12. > :22:16.Good work on the charge there by the Connacht/ the this is good stuff
:22:17. > :22:35.from the visitors. Connacht not done by any means. The
:22:36. > :22:38.won we talked about Ulster and their ball security in the first ten to 15
:22:39. > :22:43.minutes. That is the first turnover they have had. Connacht go across
:22:44. > :22:51.the field but Tiernan O'Halloran does well.
:22:52. > :22:59.Nice short line and Jack Carty goes over five. They are very aggressive
:23:00. > :23:05.at the breakdown, Connacht. Jack Carty took that drive very nicely
:23:06. > :23:08.indeed. Anyone who thinks that Connacht would go out of the game at
:23:09. > :23:23.20-0 down, there is your answer. Niyi Adeolokun getting some
:23:24. > :23:32.treatment, but I think he will be fine. They have made the trip in
:23:33. > :23:39.decent numbers. They will be even happier if the scorer of the try can
:23:40. > :23:40.get the conversion. Ulster are warming up one or two replacements,
:23:41. > :23:58.it looks like. What a terrific kick. Jack Carty.
:23:59. > :24:05.Ulster, having been 20-0 up, they find themselves at 20-7. Jack Carty
:24:06. > :24:09.started a good four or five yards outside the Ulster left-hand upright
:24:10. > :24:20.and the wind with the way he hits the ball to the ball perfectly
:24:21. > :24:32.between the sticks. We hang herbs Taz, and for Ulster.
:24:33. > :24:37.-- Wiehahn Herbst. Also on Les Kiss' mind is a date with Leinster on New
:24:38. > :24:52.Year's Eve. Ulster pinched that one, but it will
:24:53. > :25:02.be a scrum to Connacht. Replacements coming on thick and fast.
:25:03. > :25:11.Connacht were looking for more from the referee there. There was a
:25:12. > :25:19.questioning look from some of the players. Ulster's senior medical man
:25:20. > :25:28.is having a look at him. A bank in the head. David Arnold had a knee
:25:29. > :25:35.replacement just last weekend. He will be up and being his older brace
:25:36. > :25:53.south as soon as possible. Bah humbug.
:25:54. > :26:02.Connacht are playing the way they like to play, good driving stuff.
:26:03. > :26:07.Ulster looking for a turnover and they have done. A bit scruffy.
:26:08. > :27:33.That was cruelly done. -- poor. A good line from Stuart McCloskey.
:27:34. > :27:38.Just a little rich... A sympathetic enough pass. Maybe Stuart McCloskey
:27:39. > :27:41.just overrun that. Once again, from the Connacht perspective, how good
:27:42. > :27:45.their defence is. They are scrambling, getting off the gain
:27:46. > :27:47.line and putting Ulster to watch three yards behind their own gain
:27:48. > :28:10.line. We have played just over one hour.
:28:11. > :28:25.We are now in the final quarter of this Guinness Pro12. 20-7. Ulster
:28:26. > :28:27.13-0 up at the interval. Hard to tell which are Ulster hats and which
:28:28. > :28:40.are festive hats. Magnificent occasion at the end of
:28:41. > :28:42.last season when Connacht won the title for the first time in their
:28:43. > :29:22.history. Ulster have kept possession, but the
:29:23. > :29:50.momentum is gone. Locale quickly Connacht are getting
:29:51. > :30:08.the ball back. -- look how quickly. Holding out on the tackle against
:30:09. > :30:15.keirin Gaffney. Were looking quite good. That was read quite well.
:30:16. > :30:19.Brings his man back inside and put him to ground. There is Sean Reidy
:30:20. > :30:31.and Clive Ross straight over the ball.
:30:32. > :30:37.Naulia Dawai has come on, the Fijian international. He's scored the
:30:38. > :30:43.crucial try last week when Connacht pipped Wasps at the end of the game.
:30:44. > :30:49.We touched on in the first half, the Connacht injury list, with six
:30:50. > :30:55.forward on the bench. We have already seen what JP Cooney and
:30:56. > :31:03.delay and have brought to the game. -- Ultan Dillane. And Dawai will be
:31:04. > :31:10.looking to make a big impact. Rory Best has played over an hour now.
:31:11. > :31:21.That was a bad line-out for Ulster to lose. Looked like Sean O'Brien
:31:22. > :31:26.made some ground. Marmion switches. Good defending by Ulster out wide,
:31:27. > :31:32.bread roll with the tackle. -- Treadwell. If Connacht can score
:31:33. > :31:39.next, you never know what could happen.
:31:40. > :31:47.Good switch by Carty. A bit of obstruction thought the crowd and it
:31:48. > :31:57.has gone loose now. Hacked on by Jackson. O'Halloran got back well,
:31:58. > :32:02.McCloskey nails him. O'Halloran is hanging on but legally. Aggressive
:32:03. > :32:11.stuff and an interception from Jacob Stockdale. Ulster ten metres out and
:32:12. > :32:24.try now could seal it. Rory Best on the charge. And George Clancy as
:32:25. > :32:31.penalised Ulster for hanging on. Muldoon rides Rory Best to ground
:32:32. > :32:34.and he was straight on the ball. Classic back row play by John
:32:35. > :32:37.Muldoon who has been doing it for years but completely legal and
:32:38. > :32:48.George Clancy gives Connacht the penalty. Jack Carty does not make
:32:49. > :32:55.much ground that he finds his touch. Caolin Blade has come on and Kieran
:32:56. > :33:03.Marmion goes off. Connacht may be looking to make another replacement.
:33:04. > :33:10.Caolin Blade just 22 years of age, Irish international at under 18 and
:33:11. > :33:18.under 19 level. Blade blocked that the way -- got that away well.
:33:19. > :33:22.Aggressive from Dawai. The Connacht forwards really know how to drive
:33:23. > :33:26.with ball in hand and their ability to release quickly is terrific.
:33:27. > :33:28.Blade was looking for a gap, closed off by Marshall. Well taken by
:33:29. > :33:43.Buckley. Connacht playing joyous rugby as
:33:44. > :33:54.ever. Good work by Rory Best. Connacht have it back again. Knocked
:33:55. > :34:00.forward. That was very unfortunate. Rory Parata just looked up to see
:34:01. > :34:01.what was available. It was misses Treadwell and Henderson, the Ulster
:34:02. > :34:21.second rows. -- messes. It just releases the pressure.
:34:22. > :34:25.Connacht are starting to play some more rugby and the Ulster line speed
:34:26. > :34:26.has dropped off and bait might be slipping off some tackles that they
:34:27. > :34:39.were making in the first 50 minutes. Dave Heffernan leaves the field
:34:40. > :34:47.having had a pretty good game and Tom McCartney have come on. Rory
:34:48. > :34:55.Best goes off and Rob Herring comes on, US captain Ulster on no fewer
:34:56. > :35:02.than 20 occasions. -- who has captained. Still plenty of mild on
:35:03. > :35:10.the clock for Rory Best. Franco Van der Merwe also coming on. Rory Best
:35:11. > :35:17.is unlikely to start in Dublin, such is the player management scheme now
:35:18. > :35:20.from Joe Schmidt and the Irish side. Anybody in that Irish squad will
:35:21. > :35:28.have limited time on the pitch over those two games. John Muldoon has
:35:29. > :35:35.left the field. Eoin McKeon comes on.
:35:36. > :35:49.Ulster scrum. Options right and left. Mostly to the right but don't
:35:50. > :35:50.rule out charge Piutau -- Charles Piutau doing something sneaky on the
:35:51. > :36:03.near side. Rob Herring wins his first scrum. A
:36:04. > :36:09.great squeeze by Ulster and they get the penalty. Sean Reidy had picked
:36:10. > :36:15.up and was driving for the line but the whistle had gone. The front row
:36:16. > :36:25.is not happy with each other but then they never are. They will ask
:36:26. > :36:37.Barry Jackson to keep doing what he has been doing or evening. -- Paddy
:36:38. > :36:42.Jackson. 13 points up, they will want to increase that and keep
:36:43. > :36:48.Connacht at Bray, potentially out of bonus point territory as well -- at
:36:49. > :36:51.bay. They then might re-evaluate and try to chase those two tries for the
:36:52. > :37:00.bonus point themselves. Franco Van der Merwe is going to
:37:01. > :37:03.come on and we think it is Clive Ross going off which would mean that
:37:04. > :37:13.Iain Henderson would go back to number six. In the meantime Paddy
:37:14. > :37:18.Jackson pops it between the posts and is looking a bit rosier for
:37:19. > :37:23.Ulster with 12 minutes remaining as they are now 23-7.
:37:24. > :37:26.Ulster with 12 minutes remaining as throw caution to the wind at 16
:37:27. > :37:36.points adrift. Iain Henderson is actually leaving. No, it is Clive
:37:37. > :37:50.Ross. Franco Van der Merwe has come on for his 50th league game.
:37:51. > :37:59.Marshall has put just about enough on that and it was a good kick. It
:38:00. > :38:09.is taken by Ultan Dillane. Blade gets it away. It looked like it was
:38:10. > :38:19.Eoin McKeon who got it. Carty is still there. This is nice stuff,
:38:20. > :38:25.Adeolokun gets no change out of Stockdale and that has been knocked
:38:26. > :38:29.forward. Stockdale has put in a very good defensive shift. Adeolokun is
:38:30. > :38:35.full of running, a slippery customer but Stockdale has managed him well.
:38:36. > :38:40.Younes managed to push him inside. -- he has managed. Les Kiss will be
:38:41. > :38:46.more than happy with the shift that Iain Henderson and Treadwell have
:38:47. > :38:50.put in in the second row. They have both carried well and been good in
:38:51. > :38:57.the line-out. Young Treadwell making his first start, he can be pleased
:38:58. > :39:01.with his performance. Jacob Stockdale's tackle initially seemed
:39:02. > :39:11.to be fine, I think it rode up a little bit and Adeolokun has been
:39:12. > :39:15.hurt. One hopes he is OK. Born in Nigeria some 26 years ago, winning
:39:16. > :39:21.his one Irish cap to date against Canada. A fine player for Dublin
:39:22. > :39:28.University. Let's have a look at this one. Stockdale stood his ground
:39:29. > :39:32.and that looked OK. I think he got hurt when he went to ground and his
:39:33. > :39:38.head hit the ground, I don't think there was anything but Stockdale
:39:39. > :39:54.bid. There was no swinging arm, he stood up Dolberg did not go high. --
:39:55. > :39:59.stood up and did not go high. He to step back in and pull himself up
:40:00. > :40:07.right. Jacob Stockdale has just made a man on Ball tack go -- tackle. I
:40:08. > :40:11.think the contact with the ground perhaps jarred him a bit. He will
:40:12. > :40:16.probably have too stay on unless he is pronounced dead! They don't have
:40:17. > :40:21.anybody left in the back division in terms of the substitutes. He is
:40:22. > :40:24.getting up very gingerly. They are going to have a look at him in terms
:40:25. > :40:31.of a head injury assessment. I don't think not have anybody else to come
:40:32. > :40:38.on. He's not going off. I'm pleased to see that.
:40:39. > :40:49.Just over ten minutes remaining. Ulster are 16 points to the good.
:40:50. > :40:58.Connacht need to score a couple of times to get within losing bonus
:40:59. > :41:01.point range. Another dent in their title intentions which was always
:41:02. > :41:11.going to be difficult after a magnificent season last year.
:41:12. > :41:17.Marshall, got it to Cave. Connacht making life difficult for Ulster at
:41:18. > :41:25.the breakdown. Van der Merwe is fresh. Likewise Callum Black.
:41:26. > :41:34.Naulia Dawai was in there. Treadwell.
:41:35. > :41:48.Jackson runs into JP Cooney and does not come out the worst. This is
:41:49. > :41:56.Wiehahn Herbst. Louis Ludik in the outside top position. --
:41:57. > :42:06.outside-half position. Piutau is there. All aggression and muscle and
:42:07. > :42:14.bustle. Quick ball and good driving by Henderson. Callum Black in
:42:15. > :42:24.attendance. Piutau. Sean Reidy was outside him.
:42:25. > :42:37.I think the touch judge on the far side has brought his attention to
:42:38. > :42:45.something. Number 20, neck roll. Sean Reidy has been penalised for an
:42:46. > :42:50.illegal tackle. A pity for Ulster because they were building up a head
:42:51. > :42:56.of steam. They had some momentum. When they get to the outside of that
:42:57. > :42:59.Connacht defence, Piutau has been lurking and he gets across the gain
:43:00. > :43:08.line every time he carries. So hard to put to ground. Despite having the
:43:09. > :43:13.wind behind him, Jack Carty did not make an awful lot of distance.
:43:14. > :43:18.Arnold still inside their own half. This is Tom McCartney who assigned
:43:19. > :43:26.along term contract with them and will be Irish qualified pretty soon.
:43:27. > :43:29.31 years of age now. You some pretty good hookers in front of him
:43:30. > :43:32.including the one who just left the field for Ulster. That did not look
:43:33. > :43:50.altogether straight. There didn't seem too much wrong
:43:51. > :43:58.with that. George Clancy, much to the delight of the Ulster fans,
:43:59. > :44:08.gives Ulster be put in at the scrum. -- the put in.
:44:09. > :44:14.Ulster are going to bring on another replacement and it is Tommy Bowe who
:44:15. > :44:29.will be coming on for the last few minutes.
:44:30. > :44:36.The band is striking up and the crowd are in good voice. Expect for
:44:37. > :44:41.Ulster, they have had some chances and did not take all of them. -- a
:44:42. > :44:53.mixed bag for Ulster. A chip and chase, this could be
:44:54. > :44:59.interesting. He has done well, Marshall, he nearly tried to flick
:45:00. > :45:07.it back between his legs. He is class at that. They brought in Louis
:45:08. > :45:14.Ludik of the wing. Marshall has 15 or 20 metres to explore. A good chip
:45:15. > :45:20.and just unlucky with the bounce but that was classic Marshall, something
:45:21. > :45:25.unexpected. Tommy Bowe, wearing number 23, has come on. Stuart
:45:26. > :45:32.McCloskey is leaving the field, the first try scorer.
:45:33. > :45:48.Well taken at the line-out and driven forward by Dawai.
:45:49. > :45:54.Blade gets it away, Carty, O'Halloran trying to get outside
:45:55. > :46:02.Treadwell and that has come off and Ulster hand. I put: Black cab secure
:46:03. > :46:10.audit but not so. Connacht will keep running until the end. O'Halloran
:46:11. > :46:22.again from full-back. Great wrap-up tackle by Paddy Jackson.
:46:23. > :46:31.Adeolokun has not been given a sniff of room. Here they come again. Full
:46:32. > :46:38.marks to them for giving it everything. The tackle from Darren
:46:39. > :46:46.Cave. Just over five minutes remaining. Buckley is tackled well
:46:47. > :47:00.by Van der Merwe. That has been knocked forward. Louis
:47:01. > :47:08.Ludik, it bounced beautifully for him but he has lost it. That might
:47:09. > :47:10.sum up Ulster's evening, child is not taken, cold hands and a couple
:47:11. > :47:20.of errors and they could not quite make it. -- chances not taken. They
:47:21. > :47:27.have been happy to let Connacht moved the ball from side to side.
:47:28. > :47:35.They had used the width of the Pittsburgh Ulster have been a bid to
:47:36. > :47:45.flood the outside man -- of the pitch.
:47:46. > :47:50.McCartney has had to come on and play at loosehead prop. He has
:47:51. > :47:57.played there before but not at this level.
:47:58. > :48:17.Caolin Blade was caught by his opposite number, Paul Marshall, who
:48:18. > :48:24.is unwell to release that ball. They are still battling away. Great work
:48:25. > :48:32.by Kieran Treadwell. Iain Henderson is the man on the deck. Ulster will
:48:33. > :48:38.be hoping to get some possession here, in such a good position on the
:48:39. > :48:48.field. Connacht minimising the number of men
:48:49. > :48:57.This is enterprise indeed but they have to kick and it is not a bad
:48:58. > :49:08.one. Tommy Bowe goes back. Piutau. He needs Tommy Bowe with him. This
:49:09. > :49:16.is Marshall. Back inside to Franco Van der Merwe. Less than three
:49:17. > :49:27.minutes remaining. Again it is Piutau who picks up.
:49:28. > :49:35.The switch by Marshall to Tommy Bowe. Got back to European scoring
:49:36. > :49:55.last week with a cup tries against Clermont.
:49:56. > :50:04.Treadwell makes ground for the home side and now Jackson inside to Tommy
:50:05. > :50:13.Bowe but obstruction from Ulster. A penalty. A bit overenthusiastic and
:50:14. > :50:25.here come Connacht. Good tackle on Shane Delahunt. The last couple of
:50:26. > :50:30.minutes. It has been entertaining. Ulster will be happy to get back to
:50:31. > :50:39.winning ways having gone down in Galway at the last time these teams
:50:40. > :50:47.met in October. Ulster have to watch Connacht's exuberance. Good tackle
:50:48. > :50:52.by Stockdale. And good work by Stockdale again, he puts himself
:50:53. > :51:01.around but he did so from an offside position. Taken quickly by Delahunt.
:51:02. > :51:13.Rory Parata. Into the final minute of the game.
:51:14. > :51:25.Matt Healy tackled by Rob Herring. Connacht have meant out wide. The
:51:26. > :51:42.Ulster tackling is good again. 30 seconds left. Well presented for
:51:43. > :51:46.Blade. Adeolokun. The ball has been knocked forward by Connacht and
:51:47. > :51:52.there is time for the scrum but I'm pretty sure that Ulster will pop it
:51:53. > :51:57.into touch. They will stick it in touch and look forward to Leinster
:51:58. > :52:03.on New Year's Eve. This was a potential banana skin for Ulster.
:52:04. > :52:07.Connacht are shorn of 21 players and that they can some injuries this
:52:08. > :52:11.evening but Ulster will be happy coming off the back of that average
:52:12. > :52:15.performance against Clermont last week. They were second best then but
:52:16. > :52:20.we have seen some enterprise tonight. The two second rows, I have
:52:21. > :52:26.been impressed with them and this is the best game for Henderson since he
:52:27. > :52:30.came back from his lay-off. Pienaar and Jackson speak for themselves and
:52:31. > :52:35.McCloskey has been head and shoulders above everything else, the
:52:36. > :52:44.fulcrum of the attack and sound defensively. Ulster are in good
:52:45. > :52:50.shape going to Dublin. That'll be a different game next week. You can
:52:51. > :52:55.hear that with us live on BBC Radio Ulster.
:52:56. > :53:07.Not so good for Connacht because Ultan Dillane is leaving the field,
:53:08. > :53:13.the Irish international who has produced some muscular performances
:53:14. > :53:17.for Ireland as well as for Connacht in the last 12 months. He has a
:53:18. > :53:21.pretty heavily strapped left knee and is certainly not favouring it.
:53:22. > :53:32.One hopes from an Irish perspective he is OK. He had a terrific 2016.
:53:33. > :53:38.Notched up eight Irish caps. We hope he's OK.
:53:39. > :53:42.There is another young man who has had a very good year, Iain
:53:43. > :53:48.Henderson, following on from the World Cup.
:53:49. > :53:55.A minute of what used to be called extra time has been played. I can't
:53:56. > :53:59.see Ulster wanting to do anything other than put it away and Paul
:54:00. > :54:08.Marshall does that. Ulster come through this, they conceded a try in
:54:09. > :54:15.the second half but added ten points themselves and they have taken the
:54:16. > :54:22.game with the final score Ulster 23-7 Connacht. STUDIO: We did not
:54:23. > :54:28.see the flair of the Clermont match but certainly that was a dogged and
:54:29. > :54:31.determined display by Ulster. And deserved winners led by the man of
:54:32. > :54:37.the match Iain Henderson. He played very well. The forwards gave the
:54:38. > :54:41.backs the platform. McCluskey in midfield had a tremendous game but
:54:42. > :54:45.Henderson was calling the line-ups -- McCloskey. It was very windy out
:54:46. > :54:51.there but their set piece was very good and Henderson was an absolute
:54:52. > :54:59.beast around the pitch. And that last play, he tracked down the
:55:00. > :55:05.winger, typified his plate. -- 's play. And to go into the second row
:55:06. > :55:09.and vice versa shows his immense utility that he can bring to any
:55:10. > :55:13.team. I thought he was a solid performer tonight with Paddy Jackson
:55:14. > :55:20.pulling the strings. Ulster are up to fourth tonight. Great reading. We
:55:21. > :55:26.went through that blip with a couple of defeats having made such a good
:55:27. > :55:29.start with those five wins. Ulster fans were a bit apprehensive for the
:55:30. > :55:33.rest of the season but we have performed well in the last few weeks
:55:34. > :55:35.and given the crowd something to cheer about. It was a professional
:55:36. > :55:43.performance tonight and the fans will go home happy. Those are the
:55:44. > :55:47.Boxing Day fixtures. The Scarlets play the Ospreys on the 27th. Things
:55:48. > :55:53.are looking up as we approach the end of the year for Ulster. Exactly
:55:54. > :55:57.what we wanted, we have played ten games and won seven and only lost
:55:58. > :56:03.three which is not a bad return. There was a moment, but there is a
:56:04. > :56:07.long way to go and it is great to see so many Irish teams in the top
:56:08. > :56:12.four. Connacht are not followed by a -- not far behind. We can hear from
:56:13. > :56:18.the man of the match. Congratulations from a real light of
:56:19. > :56:23.graft for you out there. It was knew it is going to be and it was a bit
:56:24. > :56:27.slippy at times and windy but you have to play in these conditions in
:56:28. > :56:34.December so we knew what our job was. The first art went well, the
:56:35. > :56:39.second half we missed a few opportunities but it gives us plenty
:56:40. > :56:45.to work on in training. Connacht do not let up. That's it, they went a
:56:46. > :56:49.few players down with injuries and the players who came on did really
:56:50. > :56:54.well for them and they did not open up towards the end. We would prefer
:56:55. > :56:58.to take some opportunities but the boys knuckled down and got the win.
:56:59. > :57:06.How important is that in your season? Every win is important,
:57:07. > :57:11.especially you need do is put at this end of the season come March
:57:12. > :57:24.and maple to make it easier. -- and April. Congratulations, you are the
:57:25. > :57:28.man of the match. Thank you. He is an important figure in the Ulster
:57:29. > :57:32.team and they came out in the second half and did exactly what you want
:57:33. > :57:35.them to do and put another try on the board early. They took the
:57:36. > :57:40.restart and got up the pitch, a couple of phases. They make a
:57:41. > :57:47.mistake from the box-kick from Pienaar. That is exactly what Les
:57:48. > :57:50.Kiss and the coaching staff would have wanted. McCloskey up the
:57:51. > :57:56.middle, working hard and look how quick the ball is. Clive Ross, it is
:57:57. > :58:03.a great finish, he had some work to do and it was a great finish. This
:58:04. > :58:07.was brilliant and the boys worked well. It was good to see them
:58:08. > :58:11.working well off the ball as well and that is where that came from.
:58:12. > :58:17.The right amount of guys to win a ruck. We have overcommitted at times
:58:18. > :58:22.which has left us short later on but the balance is looking better and
:58:23. > :58:25.the ball came back at pace and that was crucial tonight. Ulster sought
:58:26. > :58:29.so much of the ball, will they be disappointed not to put more points
:58:30. > :58:34.on the board, perhaps a bonus point slipping away? Maybe but it was all
:58:35. > :58:39.about the four points and that in the table. They may be let some
:58:40. > :58:44.opportunities slip but they will go home happy tonight and Iain
:58:45. > :58:47.Henderson will enjoy a Christmas celebration. Not sure if he will
:58:48. > :58:51.play next week but they will be happy. And obviously one of those
:58:52. > :58:58.opportunities come a great break by Charles Piutau. This is where he is
:58:59. > :59:02.electric, I love to see him in broken play because he is so strong
:59:03. > :59:08.in a one-on-one situation, that step, he is magic. My son will be
:59:09. > :59:12.sitting at home, a love to see this man with ball in hand! He's
:59:13. > :59:18.tremendous, world-class. I do see him here, it is great and the light
:59:19. > :59:23.it up when he plays rugby will stop at on the road next against
:59:24. > :59:29.Leinster, can Ulster do the double? I hope so. They might rest a few
:59:30. > :59:35.players, the likes of Paddy Jackson, Rory Best who had a massive couple
:59:36. > :59:38.of weeks with the Clermont back-to-back and 60 minutes tonight.
:59:39. > :59:43.I'm not sure what type of team Les Kiss will bend down to Leinster.
:59:44. > :59:50.Hopefully they can take confidence from tonight -- send down. Thank you
:59:51. > :59:57.very much for your company tonight. The next game is on the road for
:59:58. > :00:04.Ulster, when they meet Leinster on New Year's Eve. And the first game
:00:05. > :00:08.of the New Year is also away, at Welsh opposition Scarlets and you
:00:09. > :00:14.could see that live on BBC Two on Friday the 6th of January. That is
:00:15. > :00:20.it from Ulsterman to be live this evening and it leaves only from all
:00:21. > :00:29.of us to wish you a very happy Christmas. Goodbye.
:00:30. > :00:38.# Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
:00:39. > :00:44.# It doesn't show signs of stopping # And I've bought some corn for
:00:45. > :00:49.popping # The lights are turned way down low
:00:50. > :00:56.# Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
:00:57. > :00:59.# When we finally kiss good night # How I hate going out in the storm
:01:00. > :01:05.# But if you really hold me tight This Christmas, meet up with some
:01:06. > :01:08.old friends... Give My Head Peace returns...
:01:09. > :01:14.All right, Andrew? It was the best time
:01:15. > :01:18.of my professional life. ..and a special,
:01:19. > :01:20.one-off new episode. Brilliant, isn't he?
:01:21. > :01:22.The farce awakens. That's it!
:01:23. > :01:26.I'm finished with this family!