Ulster v Leinster

0:00:39 > 0:00:44For 142 years, Ulster and Leinster have been going head-to-head. Its

0:00:44 > 0:00:49Irish rugby's oldest rivalry, and one of the most eagerly anticipated

0:00:49 > 0:00:53games of the season. And it's an absolute sell-out in Belfast tonight

0:00:53 > 0:00:57for this derby game, which through the years has rarely disappointed.

0:00:57 > 0:01:08Gibson outside of him. Great burst by Gibson. Classic try.Nice

0:01:08 > 0:01:13sidestep from Topping. Stunning piece of finishing.Taken on by

0:01:13 > 0:01:17O'Driscoll. All the way to the line surely for Brian O'Driscoll. He has

0:01:17 > 0:01:21come inside to get the touchdown.

0:01:24 > 0:01:31Sean O'Brien skates in and has devastated Ulster.Muller looking

0:01:31 > 0:01:37for his first Ulster try.Pienaar with a crossfield kick. Well

0:01:37 > 0:01:47gathered. Trimble! Magnificent from Ulster.Good ball from Ulster. Taken

0:01:47 > 0:01:56by Henderson, straight through. What a try by Henderson.A try in his

0:01:56 > 0:02:01last game! Would you believe it. Roger Wilson!

0:02:04 > 0:02:08Some of the big names and the big games between these two sides.

0:02:08 > 0:02:13Welcome to the Kingspan Stadium for a Halloween instalment of Ulster

0:02:13 > 0:02:17Rugby live. Andy Ward and Ryan Constable with us for what we are

0:02:17 > 0:02:20expecting to be a pretty full on and physical interprovincial. The

0:02:20 > 0:02:24overall context of the season, how important do you think the game is

0:02:24 > 0:02:29tonight?These games are massive. Look at how the conferences are set

0:02:29 > 0:02:34up, don't finish third. You have to go away three times to win a title

0:02:34 > 0:02:39that way. These are the games in your conference where you finish in

0:02:39 > 0:02:42that pecking order. When you are at home you need to get the result. --

0:02:42 > 0:02:47that decide where you finish. Between these two sides, 16 players

0:02:47 > 0:02:52have been named in the Ireland for the autumn internationals. With that

0:02:52 > 0:02:56in mind, how does that change the bearing of the game?It doesn't

0:02:56 > 0:03:01change the bearings so much, but it shows the quality on show between

0:03:01 > 0:03:05these sides. These guys have been vying for those playing jerseys with

0:03:05 > 0:03:09the Irish team. It's all are nothing now. It will not happen in training

0:03:09 > 0:03:13sessions. On big Derby nights like tonight they have the per got their

0:03:13 > 0:03:21Stockdale, it's a big night for him tonight.Plenty Pro 14 action this

0:03:21 > 0:03:27weekend already. Any other Irish Derby last night, a big for

0:03:27 > 0:03:30weekend already. Any other Irish Derby last night, a big for,

0:03:30 > 0:03:38Connacht. Simon Zebo getting the opening try. Tries by O'Halloran

0:03:38 > 0:03:43Andy Farrell secured the victory for the home side. Munster down to 14

0:03:43 > 0:03:49men when Connacht scored the winning try.

0:04:06 > 0:04:18Glasgow are now top in conference A. And in conference B Scarlets

0:04:18 > 0:04:24currently top. Ulster making six changes to their starting line-up

0:04:24 > 0:04:31tonight. How much will the battle at half-back dictate with no Jonathan

0:04:31 > 0:04:35Sexton for Leinster, and Ulster down to their fourth choice scrum-half

0:04:35 > 0:04:38with Aaron Cairns.The half-backs determine how you implement your

0:04:38 > 0:04:45game plan. Aaron Cairns has been very impressive for the ravens and

0:04:45 > 0:04:49gets his opportunity tonight. A very impressive player who will snipe

0:04:49 > 0:04:52around the edges. He has played Irish sevens and he is physically up

0:04:52 > 0:05:00for it. With Leinster, Ross Byrne is a young man but has a lot of

0:05:00 > 0:05:05experience in games like this. That's the key area for me.Both

0:05:05 > 0:05:10teams had differing performances in Europe. Leinster are impressive but

0:05:10 > 0:05:14Ulster beaten by La Rochelle last week. Were Ulster as ordinary as the

0:05:14 > 0:05:18French made them appear and do you expect them to bounce back tonight

0:05:18 > 0:05:24dressed in blue I think there has to be a bounce back, certainly.The

0:05:24 > 0:05:28first 30 minutes last week, Ulster were impressive but La Rochelle are

0:05:28 > 0:05:37impressive. These Ulster players are stepping up when the heat is on.

0:05:37 > 0:05:41Vito had a fantastic match. Ulster looked out on their feet. We can't

0:05:41 > 0:05:45take too much away from that. We have to knuckle down. That was last

0:05:45 > 0:05:48week, and this is all about this week. A massive challenge for

0:05:48 > 0:05:55Ulster.Rory Best will make his first start for Ulster this season.

0:05:55 > 0:06:01It's a special night because it is his 200th appearance.It is very

0:06:01 > 0:06:08special. It's hard to know until you have dusted it all off, but it's

0:06:08 > 0:06:15probably something that when you sit back and see how many people get

0:06:15 > 0:06:18there, it's very special. To get the first cap and then see how the

0:06:18 > 0:06:24numbers go up, when I got past 150, it's something I would really like

0:06:24 > 0:06:31to do. To be here now, it's hard to believe. Achieving any milestones in

0:06:31 > 0:06:37an Ulster jersey is very special. I have to be very proud of it.Rory

0:06:37 > 0:06:44David Best, what a player.He's in the middle for Ulster. Testa to the

0:06:44 > 0:06:54line with the try.-- Best to the line. You don't get a lot of time to

0:06:54 > 0:06:59reflect on it. I will try to take a bit of time to reflect where I come

0:06:59 > 0:07:03out in front of the Kingspan fans. I suppose try to take a little bit of

0:07:03 > 0:07:08it in. I will have played 200 times for the province that means so much

0:07:08 > 0:07:13to me, that's very special. I'm very proud of it and I know my family and

0:07:13 > 0:07:17friends are very proud as well.He is the club captain, but not the

0:07:17 > 0:07:22captain tonight. Were you surprised? A player of that experience and what

0:07:22 > 0:07:26he offers, I am surprised. All these milestones he achieved, but his

0:07:26 > 0:07:30passion for playing for Ulster has never diminished, and neither has

0:07:30 > 0:07:34his ambition. He wants to win things. On days like this, players

0:07:34 > 0:07:40like that stand-up.We can speak to the Ulster director of rugby.A

0:07:40 > 0:07:43special night for Rory Best, but Iain Henderson retains the

0:07:43 > 0:07:49captaincy. What's your thinking? When Henderson came back a couple of

0:07:49 > 0:07:52weeks ago, we left Chris captain for an extra game. We let the returning

0:07:52 > 0:07:58player get his feet on the ground and feel his way. We try to broaden

0:07:58 > 0:08:03the leadership group that way and it works.Big night for Aaron Cairns

0:08:03 > 0:08:07starting at scrum-half. Our well-equipped is he to cope?He's a

0:08:07 > 0:08:12handy little player. He's physical will stop if you give him a bit of

0:08:12 > 0:08:18space he will take it. It's exciting for him. It's nice to have that many

0:08:18 > 0:08:22of your number nine is out, -- not nice. But I'm sure he will cope

0:08:22 > 0:08:32well.The Leinster pack is fully loaded this evening.Very much so

0:08:32 > 0:08:35for stop British and Irish Lions splattered through it. Devin Toner

0:08:35 > 0:08:39is a fantastic target. But Sean O'Brien will be the catalyst for the

0:08:39 > 0:08:44team. He is a brute. Good to see him getting back to crackling form for

0:08:44 > 0:08:48the Lions. The front row for Leinster tonight are very powerful.

0:08:48 > 0:08:53Ulster have their work cut out. It's always won and lost upfront for me.

0:08:53 > 0:08:57Spoken like a true forward! But more so tonight than any other night.

0:08:57 > 0:09:02It's going to be physical. You have to fight fire with fire on these big

0:09:02 > 0:09:05occasions and hopefully Ulster can stand up and put out the fires.

0:09:05 > 0:09:13Began here from the Leinster coach Leo Cullen.The guys are in good

0:09:13 > 0:09:20form. The last couple of weeks have been huge. Tonight is huge as well.

0:09:20 > 0:09:25It's looking back to Pro 14 action now and it's very different. Coming

0:09:25 > 0:09:29away to Ulster, it's a tough place to play. Different environment for

0:09:29 > 0:09:33the players and it will be a great experience for them.Absolutely full

0:09:33 > 0:09:40house tonight. Yes, Leinster coming in in better form, but home support

0:09:40 > 0:09:45counts for a lot. Sometimes the form book can go out of the window in

0:09:45 > 0:09:50games like this. We saw at La Rochelle last week, the home crowd.

0:09:50 > 0:09:53This will be vociferous tonight. They will want their team to win.

0:09:53 > 0:09:56Can they handle the physicality in the set piece and dominate

0:09:56 > 0:10:00collisions in the breakdown. It's a serious Leinster back row and that

0:10:00 > 0:10:03determines whether they get a purchase in this game.Do Ulster

0:10:03 > 0:10:08have what it takes upfront to control this game, Andy? It's an

0:10:08 > 0:10:13area that has let them down at times this season 's.They need a bit of

0:10:13 > 0:10:17continuity. It's a perfect night for Rory Best to get back into the

0:10:17 > 0:10:21groove. His leadership and captaincy will help to settle things down.

0:10:21 > 0:10:26Make no mistake they will be under a lot of pressure tonight. But we are

0:10:26 > 0:10:32in a top competition, European rugby. This is an old-fashioned

0:10:32 > 0:10:37interprovincial, and these go back for a long time. A lot of past

0:10:37 > 0:10:41players will be sitting at home loving this.The last eight meetings

0:10:41 > 0:10:47between these sides have been won by the home side. Leinster know those

0:10:47 > 0:10:52kind of records are there to be toppled.In the last three games

0:10:52 > 0:10:55they have beaten Munster, Montpelier and Glasgow so they come here

0:10:55 > 0:10:58expecting to win. Don't underestimate an Ulster team at home

0:10:58 > 0:11:01in the evening with the crowd behind them. They know what is at stake. It

0:11:01 > 0:11:06be exciting to see they deliver. Blue it's going to be a massive

0:11:06 > 0:11:11night.Looking through the changing room, it seems very calm and

0:11:11 > 0:11:17composed. Big Rodney Ah You has a big night ahead of him. He has to

0:11:17 > 0:11:22put a bit and against world-class opposition in Callum Black. Man for

0:11:22 > 0:11:25man, they all have their individual goals tonight. I know for a fact

0:11:25 > 0:11:30they want to wake up tomorrow morning, as individuals, saying they

0:11:30 > 0:11:36gave their 110%.For us as fans and supporters, that's all we want. We

0:11:36 > 0:11:39can see Rory giving some chat to the changing room. He might not be the

0:11:39 > 0:11:44captain, but he is the captain in that room.It's obvious to see his

0:11:44 > 0:11:48influence before this game tonight, trying to galvanise this Ulster

0:11:48 > 0:11:53team.You can't just have one leader and look up to them and expect them

0:11:53 > 0:11:56to deliver everything. You have to have them across the park, leaders

0:11:56 > 0:12:00in your forward pack, the backline and defensive leaders. Everybody

0:12:00 > 0:12:05needs to be a leader in the big games. It's up to the individual to

0:12:05 > 0:12:08deliver individually first.The build-up is over. Time for the

0:12:08 > 0:12:22action. There is a real buzz in Belfast tonight. We can join the

0:12:22 > 0:12:29commentary team, Tony McWhirter and first Jim Neilly. COMMENTATOR:

0:12:29 > 0:12:33Whether he plays six, seven or eight, he's a presence. He comes

0:12:33 > 0:12:48back in, as does fellow Lion Jack McGrath R. Behind the scrum, the

0:12:48 > 0:12:56Byrne boys are back, no relation. It's a formidable looking Leinster

0:12:56 > 0:13:00side. They have made no fewer than 12 changes and two positional

0:13:00 > 0:13:07switches. They are out nice and early because they know what this

0:13:07 > 0:13:12means to be Ulster crowd. The one Ulster man in particular, and some

0:13:12 > 0:13:15of these Leinster players know him well from internationals and the

0:13:15 > 0:13:21Lions tours. The first packed house of the season at the Kingspan

0:13:21 > 0:13:25Stadium with more than 18,000 souls squeezed in for the latest chapter

0:13:25 > 0:13:37in a saga that goes all the way back 141 years, 1876. Who would have

0:13:37 > 0:13:42thought that when he made his Ulster debut as a replacement off the bench

0:13:42 > 0:13:48against Munster in 2004, that Rory Best, accompanied by his children

0:13:48 > 0:13:54this evening, would go on to win 104 caps for Ireland, make to Lions

0:13:54 > 0:13:58tours, play in three World Cups, be a member of a Grand Slam winning

0:13:58 > 0:14:04squad and be here tonight winning his 200th cap for the province that

0:14:04 > 0:14:07he has served so magnificently in the interim. It's a special night

0:14:07 > 0:14:15for a very special player. Out come the rest of the Ulster side.

0:14:15 > 0:14:19Determined to put behind them a rather disappointing performance a

0:14:19 > 0:14:23week ago in La Rochelle while opposition Leinster have come up

0:14:23 > 0:14:27with two back-to-back bonus point wins in Europe. Rory Best is back in

0:14:27 > 0:14:31the middle of the front row with Rodney Ah You starting. Henderson

0:14:31 > 0:14:39moving to the second row and the captaincy. A big night for young

0:14:39 > 0:14:45Aaron Cairns, starting for Ulster for the very first time. Jacob

0:14:45 > 0:14:48Stockdale on one wing, Tommy Bowe on the other, and the magical footed

0:14:48 > 0:15:01man himself, Charles Piutau playing yet again. A former Munster wing

0:15:01 > 0:15:04three quarters a few years ago, recorded as being the fastest

0:15:04 > 0:15:14referee in the world, John Lacey. Here we go. Scarlets in action later

0:15:14 > 0:15:21this evening. Second-place Ulster, third-place Leinster, and only one

0:15:21 > 0:15:29single point separating them. Charles Piutau with his first caps.

0:15:29 > 0:15:34Lealiifano, struggling with his first kick. Good to see Rob Kearney

0:15:34 > 0:15:41back again. Charles Piutau takes the past. Stockdale is given no room

0:15:41 > 0:15:52whatsoever. Callum Black, he was good in the scrum against La

0:15:52 > 0:15:54Rochelle last week.

0:15:59 > 0:16:03Stuart McCluskey, one of half a dozen Ulster men named in the Irish

0:16:03 > 0:16:10squad fully automated internationals. -- Stuart McCloskey.

0:16:10 > 0:16:14Stockdale puts his foot on the gas. Very nearly gets away. He has good

0:16:14 > 0:16:27support. Looked like Jean Deysel was the man in the frame. Lively start.

0:16:27 > 0:16:33Back inside to Luke Marshall. Nicely done. A big chip for Tommy Bowe. He

0:16:33 > 0:16:44has the gas but not the grass. Still there for Ulster. -- but not the

0:16:44 > 0:16:47grasp.

0:16:51 > 0:16:57Henderson upright, across 22 metre line. Well tackled by Murphy. Lively

0:16:57 > 0:17:08stuff from Ulster. Piutau, he is ferociously strong. Cairns, good

0:17:08 > 0:17:15pass in front of the man who is going to take it. Leinster's

0:17:15 > 0:17:21defending is holding firm so far. Stuart McCloskey. John Lacey has a

0:17:21 > 0:17:26good luck and the penalty goes against Ulster. What a good start

0:17:26 > 0:17:33from the men in white, Tony.Good evening, everyone. It's kicking off

0:17:33 > 0:17:37here. Nothing less than you would expect. A battle between these

0:17:37 > 0:17:41teams. John Lacey trying to get on top of affairs. Impressive from

0:17:41 > 0:17:45Ulster. A good start, especially off the back of last week and that

0:17:45 > 0:17:53second-half performance in La Rochelle, which wasn't very pretty.

0:17:53 > 0:17:58They started like this in the west of France last week. Rory Best and

0:17:58 > 0:18:06Sean O'Brien having a contretemps. There is a Leinster man down

0:18:06 > 0:18:11injured. I don't think there was any real this behaviour.There is

0:18:11 > 0:18:13nothing there. Three of you got involved and none of you were

0:18:13 > 0:18:20involved in the ruck. Just stay away. Off you go.Two Lions

0:18:20 > 0:18:26team-mates being told off like naughty schoolboys. Doesn't do any

0:18:26 > 0:18:31harm to let off some steam, no malice there.No harm whatsoever.

0:18:31 > 0:18:38McCluskey carrying. Rory Best comes in to try to clear but is unable to

0:18:38 > 0:18:47do so. John Lacey gives the penalty. -- McCloskey carrying.Sean O'Brien,

0:18:47 > 0:18:51somewhat averse to having his jersey pulled. Imagine, a game like rugby

0:18:51 > 0:18:56and you don't like having your jersey pulled! Stockdale with his

0:18:56 > 0:19:01foot on the gas, got away from his opposite number, Adam Byrne,

0:19:01 > 0:19:07initially.Good start from Adam Cairns initially. Beautiful angled

0:19:07 > 0:19:15cup from Luke Marshall. Also using the full width of the pitch. Last

0:19:15 > 0:19:19week, they will want to keep the ball in the field of play. Keep the

0:19:19 > 0:19:28tempo high. Attack, that's the main weapon Ulster have.Could strike by

0:19:28 > 0:19:37Ross Byrne. James Tracy, capped four times for Ireland. In the all

0:19:37 > 0:19:42international Leinster forward pack. Well taken by Murphy, nicely lifted.

0:19:42 > 0:19:49Devin Toner adding height and bulk. Good work by the Leinster forwards.

0:19:49 > 0:19:56James Tracy has the ball under his arm. He has put that high up into

0:19:56 > 0:20:01the night sky. What they take by Tommy Bowe!

0:20:07 > 0:20:12Clever kick from Stockdale. The Leinster defence will have to turn.

0:20:12 > 0:20:17Rob Kearney, a nasty little bounce. Ulster have made a decent number of

0:20:17 > 0:20:24metres.Good from Stockdale, the defence up in his face. Quite a

0:20:24 > 0:20:30strong wind at the Ulster backs. If they are kicking, they have to make

0:20:30 > 0:20:35sure they don't kick dead. Excellent from Tommy Bowe, the ball in the

0:20:35 > 0:20:41air, ball in both hands and good presentation to Aaron Cairns.

0:20:41 > 0:20:45Stockdale named in the Irish squad for the autumn internationals. Good

0:20:45 > 0:20:51take from Rory Best. It was a bit loopy. Cairns has done well. He is

0:20:51 > 0:20:58very quick. Watched him a couple of weeks ago scoring a fantastic try

0:20:58 > 0:21:12down in Banbridge for the Ulster A side against Scarlets. Tommy Bowe

0:21:12 > 0:21:17got up in the air. It's a penalty. It was knocked forward by a Leinster

0:21:17 > 0:21:22hand. The Leinster support player came in and touch the ball. Looking

0:21:22 > 0:21:26down, it seems Leinster have got a replacement on the field. It looks

0:21:26 > 0:21:31like Jordan Lorna has come from somewhere.He's in an offside

0:21:31 > 0:21:38position. Realistically he has to let the ball bounce. Much easier

0:21:38 > 0:21:45said than done whenever it is sitting in front of you.Noel Reid

0:21:45 > 0:21:50is the man who has gone off for Leinster, the scorer of the bonus

0:21:50 > 0:21:54point try in Scotstoun last week. And not many people do that.

0:21:54 > 0:21:57Leinster have had some great games in Europe.They were superb last

0:21:57 > 0:22:00week in Glasgow. Johnny Sexton not playing this evening. One of 12

0:22:00 > 0:22:06changes. But he was brilliant for the 65 minutes that he played.

0:22:06 > 0:22:09Glasgow are very difficult to beat at home but Leinster controlled it

0:22:09 > 0:22:17from start to finish.I did speak to one or two of them from the other

0:22:17 > 0:22:22team, I'm not picking you out.His second year in the Leinster Academy,

0:22:22 > 0:22:39just his fourth league game,. Lealiifano, his eighth start of the

0:22:39 > 0:22:48season for Leinster. What a very good kick from Lealiifano. Ulster

0:22:48 > 0:22:55leading 3-0. In terms of possession and territory, they deserve to be.

0:22:55 > 0:22:58Credit to Leinster as well. Their defensive line is yet to be

0:22:58 > 0:23:01breached. They look very well-organised, as you would expect

0:23:01 > 0:23:05from a team packed full of internationals. Ulster will have to

0:23:05 > 0:23:12work harder to open them up this evening.Knocked forward by Leinster

0:23:12 > 0:23:16and the referee plays advantage. Charles Piutau into contact.

0:23:16 > 0:23:31Lealiifano at scrum-half. Sean Reidy. Support from Callum Black.

0:23:36 > 0:23:43Well taken by McCloskey. Piutau across the ten metre line. The

0:23:43 > 0:23:45attacking by the men in blue is pretty useful again. And that has

0:23:45 > 0:23:52gone awry.I thought Aaron Cairns would come under more of an

0:23:52 > 0:23:57examination. Leinster happy to tackle and then back off. I thought

0:23:57 > 0:24:01there would be more counter rucking. Guys coming through the middle and

0:24:01 > 0:24:05messing up at the base. Trying to make him go against the flow. Simple

0:24:05 > 0:24:16ball to work with. He has been happy to service Lealiifano. Not going to

0:24:16 > 0:24:19the kicking zones yet. I'm surprised Leinster have and try to put him

0:24:19 > 0:24:25under more pressure.First scrum of the evening. Ulster, for the first

0:24:25 > 0:24:33time in a long time, are £1 per man heavier than Leinster. -- are one lb

0:24:33 > 0:24:40per man heavier.

0:24:44 > 0:24:48That was all over the place. It could go anywhere. It has come back

0:24:48 > 0:24:54to the Ulster side. The referee says play on. Good take from Stockdale. A

0:24:54 > 0:25:00buzz goes around the ground every time he takes the ball.

0:25:03 > 0:25:10Better pass from Cairns. Stockdale again. Jordi Murphy all over the

0:25:10 > 0:25:18place. Again, Sean Reidy. Has played in every position in the back rows

0:25:18 > 0:25:30so far this year. Jean Deysel. Huge kick coming down outside the 22.

0:25:30 > 0:25:37Good to see Rob Kearney back. Wild tackle by the Ulster skipper Iain

0:25:37 > 0:25:40Henderson. Here come the men in blue. This could be dangerous for

0:25:40 > 0:25:56Ulster. Great covering tackle by Lilia Farnell. -- by Lealiifano.

0:25:56 > 0:25:59Crossfield kick, reminiscent of last year. Stockdale wrestles and wins

0:25:59 > 0:26:09the ball. Terrific play from Jacob Stockdale. Saving a certain try, but

0:26:09 > 0:26:13they are not Out of the Woods yet. What a start to this game. Jean

0:26:13 > 0:26:23Deysel runs into Devin Toner. Aaron Cairns told to use it. Piutau,

0:26:23 > 0:26:30hasn't found touch. Another Leinster player going off injured. I think

0:26:30 > 0:26:34it's James Ryan. Rob Kearney happy to take the tackle. Gibson-Park

0:26:34 > 0:26:48picks it up. 15 or 16 months Furlong had for Ireland and the Lions.

0:26:48 > 0:26:54Ulster meeting fire with fire in the middle of the park. The Leinster

0:26:54 > 0:27:00skipper, Sean O'Brien, to Rob Kearney. Leinster still attacking.

0:27:02 > 0:27:10Jean Deysel holds him down. Luke Marshall in the middle of all of

0:27:10 > 0:27:17that. O'Brien scored two tries against Ulster half a dozen years

0:27:17 > 0:27:27ago in this fixture. A gap there, a rather wide pass. Jordan Larmour,

0:27:27 > 0:27:35he's a lively feller. Setting it up for Leinster, who are hanging onto

0:27:35 > 0:27:40the ball pretty well so far. No way through for Furlong. Good tackling

0:27:40 > 0:27:43by Ulster in their own half.

0:27:47 > 0:27:51Leinster mixing it up and giving away the penalty.

0:27:57 > 0:28:05Its breathless. Fantastic rugby from both sides. Jean Deysel on this

0:28:05 > 0:28:10occasion was taken off the ball illegally. McGrath carried, Jean

0:28:10 > 0:28:15Deysel over the top. Might have been slightly lucky there. It was on one

0:28:15 > 0:28:21knee and it could have easily gone against Ulster on that occasion.

0:28:21 > 0:28:25Don't get up if he hits you. Fantastic counterattacking by

0:28:25 > 0:28:29Leinster down this nearside. Played the numbers beautifully. The cover

0:28:29 > 0:28:35tackle by Rory Best almost on the Ulster line. The crossfield wiper.

0:28:35 > 0:28:39Surely if you put it through the hands, the number of phases Leinster

0:28:39 > 0:28:47have made, it would be better to work a more simple opening.

0:28:47 > 0:28:52Ross Molony has come on for the injured James Ryan. John Smit

0:28:52 > 0:28:57watching.

0:28:59 > 0:29:11Great cake by Ulster. -- great take. Doing well, making ten metres.

0:29:11 > 0:29:17Stockdale coming in like a flying forward. Great stuff from Ulster.

0:29:17 > 0:29:22Ayew looking for his first Ulster tried -- Ah You looking.

0:29:26 > 0:29:30Piutau, having a go himself. A good tackle by the Leinster skipper, Sean

0:29:30 > 0:29:42O'Brien. Ulster giving away the penalty. The Hurd work done -- hard

0:29:42 > 0:29:51work. Not releasing in the tackle, I think.Brilliant by Tracy.

0:29:51 > 0:29:55Impressive from Ulster, we talked about Leinster not sending men in

0:29:55 > 0:29:58and on this occasion it is McCloskey with the line break and then the

0:29:58 > 0:30:06pick and go, Ulster flooding the area and trying to work the

0:30:06 > 0:30:12openside. Brilliant defence by Leinster. Tracy, brilliant.14

0:30:12 > 0:30:21minutes:, Ulster are 40 minutes up Leinster have made a couple of

0:30:21 > 0:30:24changes, Jordan Larmour has come on and Molony has come on for the

0:30:24 > 0:30:36injured James Ryan. Well taken by Devin Toner. Rory Best directing

0:30:36 > 0:30:42operations. A good forward drive by Leinster.

0:30:44 > 0:30:53Gibson-Park. Stockdale winning it, but did he not it backwards to the

0:30:53 > 0:31:03Ulster side? He did, but back on the Leinster side. O'Loughlin, who

0:31:03 > 0:31:07ambushed them in the middle of last season, scoring two tries in the

0:31:07 > 0:31:18RBS. Scrappy but Leinster have won it. High tackled by Jean Deysel. The

0:31:18 > 0:31:22referee playing advantage for Leinster.

0:31:30 > 0:31:34The referee still playing advantage. Reavie getting over the halfway

0:31:34 > 0:31:41line. -- Leavy.

0:31:44 > 0:31:48Help from Toner, looking to create the overlap. Wonderful stuff from

0:31:48 > 0:31:53Leinster, look at this. My word, what a try that will be for the

0:31:53 > 0:32:03replacement. What a finish, just like Dublin. Jordan Lamour has done

0:32:03 > 0:32:11it in Belfast.He is rated very highly. In the Irish under 20 team

0:32:11 > 0:32:18for the last couple of seasons. Showing Henderson a clean power

0:32:18 > 0:32:25feels. Deysel is in trouble as well, maybe guilty of the high shoulder

0:32:25 > 0:32:30early on, coming off second -- a clean pair of heels. Turning

0:32:30 > 0:32:37Henderson inside out and blurring the Ulster cover -- blowing the

0:32:37 > 0:32:42Ulster cover.He popped up on the right wing. There is the finish but

0:32:42 > 0:32:46there was much more to it. Did he get it down correctly? They are

0:32:46 > 0:32:51having a look, is that what they are looking at?I don't think there is

0:32:51 > 0:32:55much wrong. Eight slip from Jamieson Park.Nothing McCloskey could have

0:32:55 > 0:33:04done.Beisel getting himself injured. -- Beisel. He's going to

0:33:04 > 0:33:09have to leave the pitch. Difficult when somebody slips like that as

0:33:09 > 0:33:20well.He has had his injury worries, Jean Deysel. Having another look at

0:33:20 > 0:33:31this. John Lacey having a word with the Ulster skipper. The grounding is

0:33:31 > 0:33:37fine. They are looking at the high tackled. Gibson-Park slipped into

0:33:37 > 0:33:43McCloskey, so he was and where he thought -- so he isn't where he

0:33:43 > 0:33:47thought he would be. Strictly speaking it is an offence.Number 12

0:33:47 > 0:33:55right.12? Heaslip, so I played the penalty advantage and the try is

0:33:55 > 0:34:01awarded, we'll leave it at that -- Heath slipped.That's good

0:34:01 > 0:34:10refereeing from John Lacey. --he slipped.The game has flowed, plenty

0:34:10 > 0:34:15of end to end action. That finish from Jordan Lamour, one for the

0:34:15 > 0:34:21highlights reel.The points have been added by the Leinster

0:34:21 > 0:34:27outside-half, Ross Byrne. Wonderful step and buy one at home for Ulster.

0:34:27 > 0:34:34Aaron Cairns isn't slow. By the time he turned, Jordan Larmour was away.

0:34:34 > 0:34:42His first try in competitive rugby for Jordan Larmour.Two hands on the

0:34:42 > 0:34:47ball when the tackle came in, making sure that it wasn't knocked. Very

0:34:47 > 0:34:54professional.They sell is sitting down, I wonder if it is temporary --

0:34:54 > 0:34:56Deysel is sitting down.

0:35:02 > 0:35:11Again that is hanging. Well taken by Piutau. Thought he was manhandled

0:35:11 > 0:35:16but you're not allowed to touch him at the King 's brand stadium. -- the

0:35:16 > 0:35:22Kingspan Stadium. The referee playing advantage for Leinster.

0:35:22 > 0:35:31Going to be a scrum. Let's talk to Ryan Constable.Outstanding game, a

0:35:31 > 0:35:34lot of width and tempo, Ulster controlling early possession and

0:35:34 > 0:35:39looking comfortable. Huge workrate from Stockdale and Aaron Cairns,

0:35:39 > 0:35:43looking composed in his first start but you saw the danger that Leinster

0:35:43 > 0:35:48possess in the wide channels, especially from the turnover.

0:35:48 > 0:35:51Excellent from Jordan Larmour, real quality and enjoying the spectacle

0:35:51 > 0:35:59so far.Thank you, Ryan. Eight night for Willie hats and the clubs will

0:35:59 > 0:36:07do something funny at -- it is a night for Willie hats and the clocks

0:36:07 > 0:36:19do something funny at 2am. -- woolly hats.

0:36:22 > 0:36:28Free kick against Ulster for early engagement, trying to get a bit of

0:36:28 > 0:36:43an advantage. Ah You the man. The referee has said that Leinster may

0:36:43 > 0:36:49want to take the scrummage again. Inviting Ah You onto him. Trying to

0:36:49 > 0:36:55change his feet to keep the weight. Wouldn't be surprised if McGrath let

0:36:55 > 0:37:00his way to go back on the heels and causing that slipped from Ayew. John

0:37:00 > 0:37:13Lacey was very quick.The dark arts of the front row. John Lacey has

0:37:13 > 0:37:24given it a bit blast of the whistle. Rodney Ah You is devoid of his

0:37:24 > 0:37:34facial hair, I hardly recognise him, looks about 30 years old.Jack

0:37:34 > 0:37:40McGrath in this tackle. Maybe not bending his knees very much on the

0:37:40 > 0:37:45last scrum. Both of them went down, John Lacey had a quiet word with him

0:37:45 > 0:37:50that time. I don't think there will be any messing here, it will be a

0:37:50 > 0:37:54penalty rather than a free kick against the offending team.If all

0:37:54 > 0:37:59give away another offence, having conceded a free kick from the next

0:37:59 > 0:38:05will be a penalty. Coming up to the end of the first quarter. The try

0:38:05 > 0:38:18from Jordan Larmour for Leinster. Gibson-Park. He has brought it in

0:38:18 > 0:38:29field very cleverly, very good kick. Offside against Leinster from the

0:38:29 > 0:38:32kick. A couple of the midfielders ahead of Gibson-Park read he kicked

0:38:32 > 0:38:38it.John Lacey was looking to his linesman as to where the offence

0:38:38 > 0:38:44took place. Good work from the three of them.Lealiffano has given our

0:38:44 > 0:38:54stay decent kick into Leinster territory. 3-7. The last seven games

0:38:54 > 0:38:57between them have gone with the home team.They are usually quite close.

0:38:57 > 0:39:04You mentioned Jean Deysel earlier, he's been replaced and perhaps that

0:39:04 > 0:39:14looks permanent.Scrappy line-out for Ulster. The referee has spotted

0:39:14 > 0:39:21a nudge forward. Going to be a lens that scrum. Ulster don't need to be

0:39:21 > 0:39:29doing that. -- Leinster scrum.You don't need that when Devin Toner is

0:39:29 > 0:39:36in the opposition, 639, a lighthouse of a man -- six feet nine. A

0:39:36 > 0:39:41difficult man to get over.Leo Cullen isn't giving much away.

0:39:41 > 0:39:47Winning the Heineken Cup three times.

0:40:02 > 0:40:09Ulster have dug in. Knocked forward. That's a rare error between the

0:40:09 > 0:40:16Leinster half-backs. A week ago it was Luke McGrath and Jonny Sexton

0:40:16 > 0:40:21who put in a masterclass against Glasgow away from home.Look at the

0:40:21 > 0:40:25conditions, that's a good from Leinster. The execution on this

0:40:25 > 0:40:29occasion, the ball being knocked on. You can see what they are trying to

0:40:29 > 0:40:40do, a double missed pass. Looking for the quick recycle. Didn't manage

0:40:40 > 0:40:44to hold onto it. Quite a stiff wind, it is a difficult option to kick,

0:40:44 > 0:40:51for the midfield target. Trying to soften up this Ulster defence.

0:40:51 > 0:40:55Ulster butting into the scrum. Can they defend it and allow Aron Canet

0:40:55 > 0:41:05is to make the right decision in terms of distribution? -- Aaron

0:41:05 > 0:41:11Cairns. A good scrum by Ulster. Reavie has gone to number eight.

0:41:11 > 0:41:18That's gone backward -- Reidy has gone to number eight. A lapse in

0:41:18 > 0:41:30concentration. A bit of silliness breaks out.The second or third

0:41:30 > 0:41:37little contretemps. More of the shirt pulling. Nice to see a bit of

0:41:37 > 0:41:46edge about it, it is a derby match. Joe Schmidt is watching as well. No

0:41:46 > 0:41:50questions and asked from both teams. No lack of competitiveness in Galway

0:41:50 > 0:41:58last night. Lealiffano, the pass was a bit high. Slight miscue by Aaron

0:41:58 > 0:42:10cans.It is the timing issue between nine and ten -- Cairns. He lasted

0:42:10 > 0:42:1345, 50 minutes against La Rochelle and by all accounts hasn't done much

0:42:13 > 0:42:19training this week. A number nine you probably haven't trained with

0:42:19 > 0:42:24before, it is that small fraction of a second that makes the difference.

0:42:24 > 0:42:36Peter Nelson E, -- Peter Nelson, the replacement. Gibson-Park, born in

0:42:36 > 0:42:40Auckland. A New Zealand Maori as well. Here they come again.

0:42:40 > 0:42:49McCloskey did well to hang onto that elusive Jordan Larmour.

0:42:53 > 0:43:04Gibson-Park again. Sean O'Brien was tackled by it Sean Reidy. Ross

0:43:04 > 0:43:15Byrne. James Tracy, on the Irish squad for the autumn internationals.

0:43:15 > 0:43:19As is Ulster's replacement hooker, on the bench tonight, Rob Herring.

0:43:19 > 0:43:31Gibson-Park had a glance. Penalty against Leinster. Hanging onto this

0:43:31 > 0:43:39game at the moment.They are, Leinster looked composed. I like

0:43:39 > 0:43:44that from Jamieson Park, he knows that there are spaces, squaring up

0:43:44 > 0:43:47against the opposite number, looking to see anyone breaks off. That's

0:43:47 > 0:43:55good play from Reidy as well.A good tackle by Callum Black. Lealiffano

0:43:55 > 0:44:01has given that a huge kick and it has gone into touch despite the

0:44:01 > 0:44:05efforts

0:44:07 > 0:44:10Byrne. Ulster getting the line-out. Leinster will be really happy. 20

0:44:10 > 0:44:18minutes into the first half, playing into the wind, four ahead. Ulster

0:44:18 > 0:44:21bossing the opening minutes but Leinster have had all of the ball

0:44:21 > 0:44:25and possession over the last ten. That's not a good sign, Tadhg

0:44:25 > 0:44:33Furlong having a rib tickle. Caught on the high side, not illegally, I

0:44:33 > 0:44:41have to say. Furlong isn't someone that Ireland wants to lose. Robbie

0:44:41 > 0:44:52Dayak, who got the 200 cap mark for Ulster in week ago. -- Diack.He

0:44:52 > 0:45:00looks suitably concerned.He was the Leinster coach but when you move to

0:45:00 > 0:45:03Ireland, your concern is Ireland, so any of your top players having an

0:45:03 > 0:45:09injury is concerning.Everyone in that squad is looking to play in the

0:45:09 > 0:45:18Pro14 games next week. He could be fit again before the Six Nations so

0:45:18 > 0:45:26there is a small window opportunity for the Irish coach.McDonald has

0:45:26 > 0:45:35had a good season for Ulster in terms of his line-out winning.

0:45:39 > 0:45:43Giving it everything, blew it out. Lovely piece of sleight of hand from

0:45:43 > 0:45:50Tommy Bowe. Lealiffano having a go himself. Good defence from Leinster.

0:45:50 > 0:45:55Still there for Ulster. This is close. John Lacey is in the perfect

0:45:55 > 0:46:00position. Has it been grounded? If not it will be a five metre scrum. A

0:46:00 > 0:46:05good piece of close quarter attacking from Ulster as they've

0:46:05 > 0:46:12done all season.Ulster working it from left to right. That's no look

0:46:12 > 0:46:16pass. You could sense that Leinster knew that it was coming. Five blue

0:46:16 > 0:46:21shirts on top of them. Ulster recycling well. Lealiffano cutting

0:46:21 > 0:46:30inside. The second one, Cairns has a go himself. That's good from the

0:46:30 > 0:46:34youngster.Good ambition but good defending from the Leinster

0:46:34 > 0:46:40outside-half, Ross Byrne.Great from Murphy early on, the phase of play

0:46:40 > 0:46:46before that. Lealiffano taking the ball and Murphy didn't take the

0:46:46 > 0:46:52dummy and stayed in his channel and made the tackle. All important.The

0:46:52 > 0:47:11crowd trying to get behind the men in white. Daniel Leavy. Leinster

0:47:11 > 0:47:15giving ground, around they come a little bit. Sean Reidy, going for

0:47:15 > 0:47:24the line, and Reidy has scored the try for Ulster, his seventh.A big

0:47:24 > 0:47:32scrum from Ulster. Rory Best makes such a difference. It is him and

0:47:32 > 0:47:42Callum Black. The left-hand side of the scrum, it is easy for Sean

0:47:42 > 0:47:50Reidy. Leinster tacklers struggling to get there. Obi he goes, five

0:47:50 > 0:47:56points but that comes from Ulster getting the angle around, shutting

0:47:56 > 0:48:03out the Leinster back road -- over he goes. Reidy taking on the

0:48:03 > 0:48:09half-backs and over he goes.He was low to the ground and squeezed over.

0:48:09 > 0:48:14It all came from a dominant run.

0:48:17 > 0:48:25Ulster are back in the lead. Two more points from Lealiffano. Ulster

0:48:25 > 0:48:29are into double figures. Very close in recent years between these two

0:48:29 > 0:48:35teams and it will be like that this evening. Nearly half an hour gone,

0:48:35 > 0:48:4110-7, Ulster.You see the advantage of having two good scrum back and

0:48:41 > 0:48:54rose. Henderson coming back gives a bit more grand -- back rows.Good

0:48:54 > 0:49:00work by Iain Henderson and his Irish colleague, Devin Toner. Leinster

0:49:00 > 0:49:03losing the ball. Trying to put a bit of zip into this and they've created

0:49:03 > 0:49:12space out wide. What a tackle by Rodney Ah You. Taken on by Dan

0:49:12 > 0:49:19Leavy. Gibson-Park. He has ducked under the title again and you can't

0:49:19 > 0:49:23blame people for getting him on the high side if he keeps doing that.

0:49:23 > 0:49:28Leinster responding. Leinster get the choice to level the game if they

0:49:28 > 0:49:34take the penalty shot which they buy will be well.Callum Black on this

0:49:34 > 0:49:40occasion -- which they probably will. Up goes the arm. Heck of a

0:49:40 > 0:49:45shot from Rodney Ah You. Rob Kenny got up with a smile on his face. --

0:49:45 > 0:49:57Rob Kearney. Difficult for him to get away. This shot from Ah You.I

0:49:57 > 0:50:03felt that from up here, that was a rib tickle.Rob Kearney took it on

0:50:03 > 0:50:08the chin, having a laugh to himself as he went back to the sideline.If

0:50:08 > 0:50:15he'd taken it on the chin he might not be getting up! Rodney Ah You,

0:50:15 > 0:50:22who has three Irish caps. Hasn't really featured in recent seasons.

0:50:22 > 0:50:27This is a chance knell for Ross Byrne, who already has a conversion

0:50:27 > 0:50:34-- a chance now. He converted from the great tries scored by Jordan

0:50:34 > 0:50:36Larmour.

0:50:40 > 0:50:48He's pushed it wide. Oh, he hasn't! It came in and the last minute.

0:50:48 > 0:50:54Well, well. I was certain it had gone wide and suddenly he judged the

0:50:54 > 0:51:01breeze perfectly. Look at that, it just came in. Still going wide and

0:51:01 > 0:51:06it just popped over. What a good kick. 10-10.You can see the

0:51:06 > 0:51:10strength of the wind that Leinster are playing into. Ulster have to use

0:51:10 > 0:51:17it to their advantage in this half. Well taken in by Adam Byrne. Another

0:51:17 > 0:51:24huge hit by Rodney Ah You. Gibson-Park inside the 22. That's

0:51:24 > 0:51:33going into the arms of Piutau. He hasn't quite got away. McCloskey, a

0:51:33 > 0:51:38bulldozing run from the centre. Marshall is helping. Diack, the

0:51:38 > 0:51:45third Ulster player to 200 caps. Nice presentation. O'Connor held up

0:51:45 > 0:51:53by the very strong Sean O'Brien. Ah You, did he not it forward? He has,

0:51:53 > 0:51:59the referee is playing advantage. Ulster can't expect Leinster to sit

0:51:59 > 0:52:07back. That should be advantage over. Luke Marshall, trying to keep the

0:52:07 > 0:52:14ball in play. He hasn't been dragged into touch, the referee playing game

0:52:14 > 0:52:24on. Sean Reidy has put himself about. Well taken by Leah --

0:52:24 > 0:52:27Lealiffano.

0:52:32 > 0:52:35Good work by Sean O'Brien there and Leinster are going to put into the

0:52:35 > 0:52:41scrum. Frantic pace.John Lacey couldn't play much an advantage

0:52:41 > 0:52:52there. McCloskey knocking a few dies over. It is like bolster have taken

0:52:52 > 0:52:59whatever La Rochelle had -- that Ulster has taken. You can feel some

0:52:59 > 0:53:10of these hits from here, fantastic stuff.Into the last crucial period

0:53:10 > 0:53:16where you feel a score is important, just before the interval. On single

0:53:16 > 0:53:28scores, games can turn.Cairns is going to have to watch himself here.

0:53:28 > 0:53:34Two men on the near side. Defenders to keep his eye on.A good Ulster

0:53:34 > 0:53:47scrum. The crowd not happy with that. Gibson-Park thought about the

0:53:47 > 0:53:54kick. Tadhg Furlong seems to be fine.

0:54:03 > 0:54:09Byrne looking for some width. That was a good piece of acceleration by

0:54:09 > 0:54:17Rob Kearney. Tommy Bowe and Rory Best, one of three survivors from

0:54:17 > 0:54:26the Grand Slam winning team of Ireland in 2009. Good wrap-up tackle

0:54:26 > 0:54:41bite Sean Reidy. -- by Sean Reidy. That's gone forward. The referee

0:54:41 > 0:54:47said that Ulster knocked the ball back so that is Leinster possession,

0:54:47 > 0:54:59unfortunate for Ulster. Cairns' attempted tackle. No room for Sean

0:54:59 > 0:55:02O'Brien to move. The pressure coming from Leinster. Clever chip to the

0:55:02 > 0:55:09far corner. It's been gathered well by Adam Byrne. There wasn't much in

0:55:09 > 0:55:18that. Jacob Stockdale, the head bandage. Both of them on the Irish

0:55:18 > 0:55:25squad. Could they be playing together for Ireland?It wouldn't

0:55:25 > 0:55:29surprise you, both of them will see gametime, potentially together. What

0:55:29 > 0:55:32Leinster do well when they have the ball, going through the phases, it

0:55:32 > 0:55:37is the flat ball, the special awareness of how teams defend

0:55:37 > 0:55:43against them. Rob Kearney on the previous occasion going outside

0:55:43 > 0:55:46McCloskey but it is the ability to find the space and communicate that

0:55:46 > 0:55:55to the passers.The tackle by Lealiffano. This is Rory Best.

0:55:55 > 0:56:03That's not so good. On the way food goes Dan Leavy. Leinster have the

0:56:03 > 0:56:09chance to get something. They need the quick ball. Referee playing

0:56:09 > 0:56:15advantage. It has gone wide, it could be a second Leinster try.

0:56:15 > 0:56:21Ulster must get their first tackles in. That was Dave Kearney. The

0:56:21 > 0:56:27referee may be playing advantage. Tracy, the Leinster hooker. They

0:56:27 > 0:56:31have bounced back every time Ulster have done something. Ah You again

0:56:31 > 0:56:37with the tackle. O'Brien had men outside him. They still have the

0:56:37 > 0:56:47overlap. The referee still playing advantage Leinster as Henderson

0:56:47 > 0:56:49tackles. Gibson-Park.

0:56:52 > 0:56:56Brochures pressure on the Ulster line and the referee has had quite

0:56:56 > 0:57:05enough -- ferocious pressure. He is bringing it back. If Leinster get it

0:57:05 > 0:57:11they will be three points ahead.It started from a poor set piece from

0:57:11 > 0:57:17the Ulster line-out. Leinster showing good composure. Advantage

0:57:17 > 0:57:22from John Lacey. Coming back from the onside. Leinster on this

0:57:22 > 0:57:26occasion probing and asking the questions. Jamieson Park looks very

0:57:26 > 0:57:41sharp. Perhaps slightly overthrown as well.Diack Bobby could have

0:57:41 > 0:57:55wasted it a bit higher -- probably could have wished it -- hoisted it.

0:57:55 > 0:57:58About two and a half minutes to the interval and Leinster are back in

0:57:58 > 0:58:07the lead. 10-14.Lealiffano was going for the quick one, trying to

0:58:07 > 0:58:15catch Leinster unawares.Gathered in by Leinster. David Coleman will be

0:58:15 > 0:58:25happier than he was, scoring two tries under pressure. Piutau getting

0:58:25 > 0:58:40it away to Cairns, who is quick. No room for him down the touchline.

0:58:40 > 0:58:49Spoken highly of in the sevens context.This tackle with Cairns.

0:58:49 > 0:58:59That was against Molony. Taking on somebody not quite his own size.The

0:58:59 > 0:59:07Irish sevens team, Cairns is thought of highly in terms of what he

0:59:07 > 0:59:14brings. Generally the first name on the team sheet. The genetics, very

0:59:14 > 0:59:19good-looking, fast and strong, hitting like a train, his team say.

0:59:19 > 0:59:23Playing on the wing rather than a scrum-half. He has acquitted himself

0:59:23 > 0:59:28well this evening.

0:59:28 > 0:59:32His half-back partner, Lealiifano, he has a conversion and penalty. Has

0:59:32 > 0:59:36given Ulster a decent bit of territory. They have to get this

0:59:36 > 0:59:43line-out right. All seven men in. Double century tonight for Rory

0:59:43 > 0:59:45Best.

0:59:50 > 0:59:56That's not a good sign. Away by Leinster. Perfect position for

0:59:56 > 1:00:04Ulster. Taken very quickly by Stockdale. I think he has whacked

1:00:04 > 1:00:09that straight back into touch. Leinster line-out after all that.

1:00:09 > 1:00:13Ulster being less accurate than they should be.Goodbye Leinster. The

1:00:13 > 1:00:19initial dummy by Alan O'Connor. Going back to steps into the Lion's

1:00:19 > 1:00:36then. -- the Lion's den. Leinster, Devin Toner and Ross Molony, working

1:00:36 > 1:00:50hard on the ground.That's been knocked forward, and there is time.

1:00:50 > 1:00:53Ulster will get the scrum. Could be the last set piece of the first

1:00:53 > 1:00:58half. Ulster probably too far from the Leinster line to do serious

1:00:58 > 1:01:04damage but who knows.Both centre halves have struggled a little bit.

1:01:04 > 1:01:08Not quite reaching their target with the pass on a number of occasions.

1:01:08 > 1:01:13Perhaps there is a bit of dew on the ground and the ball. Both struggling

1:01:13 > 1:01:23slightly.The wind is swelling as well.Good to see the back row

1:01:23 > 1:01:40forward back in as well. Healy.Greg Jones has joined the Academy.

1:01:47 > 1:01:53Cairns loses his footing. Pick-up by Henderson.

1:01:57 > 1:02:05Taken on by Callum Black. Can he put some width on this? Better stuff.

1:02:05 > 1:02:15Tommy Bowe. Alan O'Connor. He's done a good bit of grafting, the Ulster

1:02:15 > 1:02:25second row. Ulster needed to keep that in the hands. Not the cleverest

1:02:25 > 1:02:29thing to do by Aaron Cairns at the end of the first half. Ulster have

1:02:29 > 1:02:36lost the chance to go in a level terms. This is the man who set the

1:02:36 > 1:02:42Kingspan Stadium, not quite on fire, but certainly buzzing with an early

1:02:42 > 1:02:46try. The Leinster replacement Jordan Larmour. It's been a topsy-turvy old

1:02:46 > 1:02:53game. I don't think either coach will be too unhappy, particularly

1:02:53 > 1:02:58Leo Cullen.Both teams well matched. Leinster three points ahead. Playing

1:02:58 > 1:03:01into quite a strong wind in that half, so they will be the happier of

1:03:01 > 1:03:05the two teams. We always say it's easier to move the ball into the

1:03:05 > 1:03:13wind. Perhaps if Ulster can maintain the ball that the pack are

1:03:13 > 1:03:16producing, they will find it easier to move the ball in the second half.

1:03:16 > 1:03:24Fantastic 45 minutes.Sean Reidy going off for Jordan Larmour. The

1:03:24 > 1:03:26difference between the sides is a Ross Byrne penalty.

1:03:33 > 1:03:40Rory Best's 200th appearance. It's been feisty and fiery at times. Some

1:03:40 > 1:03:46tricks of the trade from Jordan Larmour. They try from him. Sean

1:03:46 > 1:03:49Reidy levelled things and Leinster go in narrowly in front. A three

1:03:49 > 1:03:58point advantage. It's been a cracking Irish Derby. Ryan Constable

1:03:58 > 1:04:03and Andy Ward, one that has lived up to expectation.Hugely physical, we

1:04:03 > 1:04:08have seen some niggle and some big shots going in. We wondered if

1:04:08 > 1:04:11Ulster could handle the physicality but they have stepped up in that

1:04:11 > 1:04:16department. Leinster going away from home, into the wind, ahead, probably

1:04:16 > 1:04:20the happier of the two teams.It hasn't been perfect at times. Some

1:04:20 > 1:04:25handling errors and loose passes. But for the majority of the half it

1:04:25 > 1:04:31has been entertainment.A very enjoyable 40 minutes from anybody.

1:04:31 > 1:04:37If you are neutral watching it will be tremendous. Big shots going in.

1:04:37 > 1:04:42And some easy line-outs have slipped through. Other than that it has been

1:04:42 > 1:04:50very tight. That's what to expect in a derby.Ulster will be disappointed

1:04:50 > 1:04:55with their defence for that Leinster score but it was a scorcher.Times

1:04:55 > 1:05:00you have to put your hand up and say it's an outstanding finish. Ulster

1:05:00 > 1:05:05had dominated to that point. Getting a bit of space and overcommitment on

1:05:05 > 1:05:09the outside. Pure finishing ability and pace and sidestep to go all the

1:05:09 > 1:05:19way.That's a very unfortunate situation, the slip. Shown too much

1:05:19 > 1:05:24on the inside, he got ahead of him. Aaron Cairns did very well to turn

1:05:24 > 1:05:30and catch. Not far off. Almost got there, but they composed finish.

1:05:30 > 1:05:34They deserve that because they were playing good rugby at that point.

1:05:34 > 1:05:38Young Aaron Cairns making his first Ulster start. What have you made of

1:05:38 > 1:05:42his performance?To make your debut on a game like this with this

1:05:42 > 1:05:47intensity, he has started tremendously well. We have seen his

1:05:47 > 1:05:50physical attributes. His passing hasn't been flawless but we expect

1:05:50 > 1:05:56that. He has acquitted himself particularly well.It's a big step

1:05:56 > 1:05:59up to come from where Cairns has played his rugby every week. He has

1:05:59 > 1:06:03played some club rugby, and the gulf between the professional and amateur

1:06:03 > 1:06:09game is a big one. But he took his chance very well. He saw the gap

1:06:09 > 1:06:14here, I thought he was almost in. The defence just picked him up. He

1:06:14 > 1:06:17is offering a threat around the side. Everything that is being asked

1:06:17 > 1:06:22of him at this stage, that's what you want from your scrum-half. They

1:06:22 > 1:06:27were all drifting off. They can't drift off now because they know

1:06:27 > 1:06:32Cairns will have a pop. He's a tenacious young man. He's had a good

1:06:32 > 1:06:36half.From this opportunity that they couldn't quite convert, Ulster

1:06:36 > 1:06:42got the score from Sean Reidy. After a sustained amount of Leinster

1:06:42 > 1:06:47pressure, it came at the right time for Ulster.The scrum was always

1:06:47 > 1:06:50going to be a difficult contest but they got the upper hand and it

1:06:50 > 1:06:54created the platform. Ulster show when they have continuity and keep

1:06:54 > 1:06:58possession, they have the right options and they can build pressure.

1:06:58 > 1:07:04It has an excellent pick and go and drive across the line.Our set piece

1:07:04 > 1:07:09tonight has been fantastic, especially the scrum. We talked

1:07:09 > 1:07:12about the start, the international front row from Leinster, but our

1:07:12 > 1:07:16boys have stood up with a really good platform. It's messy there, but

1:07:16 > 1:07:20Sean Reidy has had a good game, at the forefront of a lot of the niggle

1:07:20 > 1:07:24and everything good about Ulster. He's had some hard work to do,

1:07:24 > 1:07:32pumping his legs, but fantastic finish.You mentioned the set piece,

1:07:32 > 1:07:35some loose line-outs from Ulster. I use a prize the scrummage has been

1:07:35 > 1:07:40so strong against a solid Leinster pack?I would be delighted to have

1:07:40 > 1:07:43that platform upfront. If I could tweak the line-out and get those

1:07:43 > 1:07:47issues sorted, it gives them a platform to create things. It's

1:07:47 > 1:07:51clear where the Ulster strengths are on the outside channels. We have

1:07:51 > 1:07:55seen glimpses of those breaks. Stockdale and Piutau at his elusive

1:07:55 > 1:08:02best. It's about that contest upfront and Ulster need to do what

1:08:02 > 1:08:05they have continued to do.We can go down pitch side to join Gavin

1:08:05 > 1:08:12Andrews.Darren Cave is with us. Doing some fitness. What have you

1:08:12 > 1:08:17made of a pretty tight game? Probably as expected. Two very good

1:08:17 > 1:08:22teams going at it. 13-10, you expected to be close. Some big hits

1:08:22 > 1:08:29going in. Very physical and what both teams would have been

1:08:29 > 1:08:31expecting.Young players on both sides putting up their hands on the

1:08:31 > 1:08:36biggest stage.From an Ulster points of view it's great to see Cairns get

1:08:36 > 1:08:39his first start on the competitive stage. What a night to do it,

1:08:39 > 1:08:45sold-out Kingspan against a very strong side. Let's hope it

1:08:45 > 1:08:49continues.A big ask for a guy to come in to make his first start in

1:08:49 > 1:08:53this environment.You have to start somewhere. He has trained with the

1:08:53 > 1:08:58group for a couple of years and has played well in a few of the A games

1:08:58 > 1:09:02and friendlies. It comes as no surprise for our boys who have seen

1:09:02 > 1:09:09him in training that he has done well tonight.What has gone well for

1:09:09 > 1:09:14Ulster and what will the dressing rooms be saying?Both teams in a

1:09:14 > 1:09:17similar position. Neither team has played their hand. It feels like not

1:09:17 > 1:09:22a lot has happened, a lot of errors, but both teams in the game. From our

1:09:22 > 1:09:25point of view we will be disappointed we haven't been more

1:09:25 > 1:09:30accurate, but we have only three points behind. At the same time, if

1:09:30 > 1:09:33we can be more accurate and put them under pressure in the second half

1:09:33 > 1:09:38what, we can come out of the right side of the scoreline.A huge

1:09:38 > 1:09:44second-half, Kings next week, and then the Ireland period.The

1:09:44 > 1:09:48interprovincial games are always big. Leinster will be there at the

1:09:48 > 1:09:53end of the year. I have been around long enough to know that if you

1:09:53 > 1:09:57start losing games at home in the league then it makes a dent at the

1:09:57 > 1:10:00end of the year. If you can go through the season, winning your

1:10:00 > 1:10:04home games and picking up what you can on the road, that's the way to

1:10:04 > 1:10:09approach it. Fingers crossed for a big second-half.You are one of the

1:10:09 > 1:10:13Ulster most experienced players. Does it get more physical all the

1:10:13 > 1:10:19time?The big shot on Aaron Cairns came right in front of me on the

1:10:19 > 1:10:24bench. For the years I have been in Rugby, is getting more physical. Big

1:10:24 > 1:10:28boys floating around. Some of those big hits from Rodney Ah You, they

1:10:28 > 1:10:33were massive. And big scrum from Callum Black at one stage. It's a

1:10:33 > 1:10:42big man's game.You are still looking young, you're fine!We will

1:10:42 > 1:10:46talk about physicality in a moment. The one thing Darren Cave said the

1:10:46 > 1:10:49coach will try to drive home is accuracy in the second half. That's

1:10:49 > 1:10:54for Ulster can win this game.Its accuracy in the line-out, in their

1:10:54 > 1:10:59handling. Decision-making, all those things. We have seen it from both

1:10:59 > 1:11:07sides. Fairly brisk conditions, both sides. Handling errors have stopped

1:11:07 > 1:11:10the teams imposing themselves on each other. Similar messages in the

1:11:10 > 1:11:15changing rooms, keep the physicality but more focus and accuracy.But it

1:11:15 > 1:11:22is a derby and we have seen some big hits in the first half. It had you

1:11:22 > 1:11:25salivating at times, and the! Absolutely, this is what we have

1:11:25 > 1:11:29come to see. Rugby is all about this physicality and boys putting their

1:11:29 > 1:11:35bodies on the line every week. Some big shots coming in. I think the

1:11:35 > 1:11:40referee has had a very good game in terms of handling it all.Very

1:11:40 > 1:11:50feisty.Not often you see this in the modern game. Some of the shots

1:11:50 > 1:11:55here, Rodney Ah You, boom, get you some of that. It's a peach. He's a

1:11:55 > 1:12:01big man. When he puts a shotgun, you feel it. Another shot. I thought the

1:12:01 > 1:12:08scrambling defence with Rory Best working hard. That was the tackle at

1:12:08 > 1:12:11that point, after covering serious ground. It shows Rory Best at his

1:12:11 > 1:12:20best.Those are the commitment and 1% pieces of play that people don't

1:12:20 > 1:12:26always notice. We see it flare up a little bit there. Nobody throwing

1:12:26 > 1:12:30punches, just some argy-bargy, but it shows what's at stake. Irish

1:12:30 > 1:12:35selection coming up and guys going head-to-head. Adam Byrne, Jacob

1:12:35 > 1:12:40Stockdale, all in the air. It has been intriguing to watch. Really

1:12:40 > 1:12:44competitive stuff, as you would expect.Mention in the Irish

1:12:44 > 1:12:47selection, Jacob Stockdale has done himself no harm. He's gone looking

1:12:47 > 1:12:53for a lot of action.Brilliant. He's big and rangy. You don't realise how

1:12:53 > 1:12:57big he is until you stand by him. And he's only going to get bigger.

1:12:57 > 1:13:02He puts his hand up the whole time looking for it. The decision-making

1:13:02 > 1:13:08has been exceptional in that first 40 minutes. Fantastic kick, and his

1:13:08 > 1:13:11workrate of the ball, he's such a big boy. I can't tell you the last

1:13:11 > 1:13:15time I saw him go into contact and lose the ball. He's maturing

1:13:15 > 1:13:21fantastically well and I keep forgetting he's just a young man.

1:13:21 > 1:13:24The key is, young guys in these environments, you don't want them

1:13:24 > 1:13:29passive. You want them to stand up and get their hands on the ball and

1:13:29 > 1:13:33show that hunger. We are seeing that from these young guys when they get

1:13:33 > 1:13:36their opportunity.Passing the test when they were under pressure early.

1:13:36 > 1:13:40It's one of the non-negotiable is in a Joe Schmidt team. You have to have

1:13:40 > 1:13:48the aerial skills. Perfect example from that by Jacob.Where will this

1:13:48 > 1:13:53game be won and lost in the second half?Ryan touched on the accuracy,

1:13:53 > 1:13:57not so much on the ball, but getting into good starting positions. You

1:13:57 > 1:14:01need to be accurate where you are at all times as an individual. Have

1:14:01 > 1:14:05your wits about you. If you can do that as an individual, the team can

1:14:05 > 1:14:10come forward.Who will be the main Ulster game changer?Charles Piutau,

1:14:10 > 1:14:14but that space has to be preserved and created for him. That comes from

1:14:14 > 1:14:21upfront. Maintain the physicality, improve the focus and accuracy and

1:14:21 > 1:14:25they will win.Leinster have looked dangerous on the counter attack as

1:14:25 > 1:14:33well. Back to Tony and Jim for the second half. COMMENTATOR: This game

1:14:33 > 1:14:37poised on a knife edge as ever. The difference between the two sides is

1:14:37 > 1:14:41a penalty goal, courtesy of the man getting the second half under way,

1:14:41 > 1:14:50the Leinster outside-half Ross Byrne. Ross Byrne added a conversion

1:14:50 > 1:14:56and a couple of penalties to the try from Jordan Larmour. This will be a

1:14:56 > 1:15:04crucial game for both sides as far as conference B of the Guinness Pro

1:15:04 > 1:15:0714 is concerned. Taken by Tommy Bowe straightaway. He hasn't looked bad

1:15:07 > 1:15:11at all this evening.

1:15:14 > 1:15:20Aaron Cairns has left a bit to go before the Six Nations. Lealiifano

1:15:20 > 1:15:25has got away. He needs some help. Clever kick, but nobody chasing

1:15:25 > 1:15:37apart from Piutau. A shove in the back from Piutau. Chance for Ulster.

1:15:37 > 1:15:44But the chance was created by Lealiifano.They were mismatched

1:15:44 > 1:15:54defensively. Lealiifano shows and goes. Ball taken in both hands.

1:15:54 > 1:15:59Showing awareness. Happy to put his boot on the ball.Nobody close

1:15:59 > 1:16:04enough to pass the ball too and he put it down. Piutau was too far from

1:16:04 > 1:16:05him.

1:16:09 > 1:16:14Showed some pace as well for a man with a suspected bad hamstring.I

1:16:14 > 1:16:21wouldn't know anything about hamstrings! That's worked well. It's

1:16:21 > 1:16:28stolen. Rory Best. We can hear the cheers from the Ulster crowd who

1:16:28 > 1:16:36have appreciated him for the last 13 years. Aaron Cairns. Just 198 caps

1:16:36 > 1:16:47behind him. Nice shimmy from McCloskey. Devin Toner retrieves it.

1:16:47 > 1:16:53Ulster don't want this, they have been outflanked. The extra man.

1:16:53 > 1:16:58Nicely done. Rob Kearney kicking and chasing. Ulster will have to shift.

1:16:58 > 1:17:03It's bouncing. Catastrophic. It hasn't gone to hand. Knock forward

1:17:03 > 1:17:08by Leinster and somehow Ulster have avoided conceding the try. Stockdale

1:17:08 > 1:17:13is hauled to the ground. The initial knock forward was by Leinster. Very

1:17:13 > 1:17:19nearly a Leinster try.It was. Ulster will count themselves very

1:17:19 > 1:17:29lucky. I don't know why he didn't finish itself. If he had gone

1:17:29 > 1:17:33forward you think momentum would have carried him over the line. The

1:17:33 > 1:17:44harder option was the pass inside.

1:17:48 > 1:17:59Ulster playing another get out of jail card.

1:18:00 > 1:18:04You saw how they were able to create the overlap. There didn't seem to be

1:18:04 > 1:18:09one initially.Because they run straight they always hold the

1:18:09 > 1:18:12outside line. Very good at committing defenders and creating

1:18:12 > 1:18:16space with the pass and running angles.

1:18:21 > 1:18:24Leinster trying to put a bit of pressure on the first Ulster scrum

1:18:24 > 1:18:30of the second half. Changes in personnel from the 30 that left the

1:18:30 > 1:18:34field at the interval. Leinster making to changes in the first half

1:18:34 > 1:18:44because of injury. Noel Reid had gone off. James Ryan had gone off.

1:18:44 > 1:18:47Set up by McCloskey. The first time Cairns has kicked the ball out of

1:18:47 > 1:18:54hand.The big question for Aaron Cairns in the second half. The game

1:18:54 > 1:18:59management side of things. Into the wind, whenever you get a snowball

1:18:59 > 1:19:03against the defence that's pressing hard. Box kicking has to be

1:19:03 > 1:19:07absolutely on the money. Communication skills have to be good

1:19:07 > 1:19:10and communication skills to your forwards in terms of passing

1:19:10 > 1:19:18options. It will be a big 40 minutes for him.Leinster will get the

1:19:18 > 1:19:24put-in at the scrum. They will be mighty relieved at that. The first

1:19:24 > 1:19:28misfiring Leinster scrum. Ulster picking one off, thrown by Tracey,

1:19:28 > 1:19:33down the Leinster side. Even though Geordan Murphy rose above everybody.

1:19:33 > 1:19:45-- Jordi Murphy.Excellent strategy for Ulster. There is a blindside if

1:19:45 > 1:19:51Aaron Cairns can have a look at that. Might have to play the past

1:19:51 > 1:19:54two Lealiifano or possibly Sean Reidy coming off the back of the

1:19:54 > 1:20:00scrum. It's all about maintaining possession of the scrum.The sheer

1:20:00 > 1:20:02strength of Rory Best, under pressure to hook the ball.

1:20:02 > 1:20:12Lealiifano. Stockdale outside him. Ulster quicker to the ball. Good

1:20:12 > 1:20:19pass from Cairns, flat ball to Robbie Diack. Took the tackle well.

1:20:22 > 1:20:29Luke Marshall got away with one. And a bit more. Big shoulder charge from

1:20:29 > 1:20:37Luke Marshall. Ulster will get the penalty. High-risk game from Ulster.

1:20:37 > 1:20:43Absolutely, they say the best form of defence is to attack. Again,

1:20:43 > 1:20:47Lealiifano conducting the orchestra beautifully. Through the hole,

1:20:47 > 1:20:58bouncing 31. Setting up the ball nicely. Sean O'Brien again.

1:20:58 > 1:21:04Pilfering.Might be beyond the range of Christian Lealiifano. He has

1:21:04 > 1:21:07opted for position. He has given Ulster a pretty decent position

1:21:07 > 1:21:18coming up to 70 -- 17 minutes of the second half. Don't put it up your

1:21:18 > 1:21:27jumper! Well done. Crucial line-out for Ulster. They must get in

1:21:27 > 1:21:30position.

1:21:33 > 1:21:40That's pretty bad. In fact, very bad. What was going on there, I

1:21:40 > 1:21:44don't know. The third line-out Ulster have messed up. Leinster have

1:21:44 > 1:21:49got the chance to clear. Outside their 22. Gibson-Park can't kick

1:21:49 > 1:21:54directly into touch, but he's a good little box kicker. It has gone

1:21:54 > 1:22:03infield. Tommy Bowe takes. Knock forward from Jacob Stockdale, under

1:22:03 > 1:22:09pressure from his opposite number. You'll make good line chase from

1:22:09 > 1:22:14Leinster. Again, the line-out becoming a thorn in the side for

1:22:14 > 1:22:18Ulster. Only Rory Best's second game, and perhaps there is a lack of

1:22:18 > 1:22:21cohesion and understanding between him and his second rows. Perhaps

1:22:21 > 1:22:27some new call outs at that have been brought in from last year. People

1:22:27 > 1:22:30would normally say thank goodness, Jack McGrath are coming ashore, and

1:22:30 > 1:22:40then you looked at the man coming on board. Cian Healy. In my opinion, he

1:22:40 > 1:22:47was the best loosehead prop in the world.He has been playing out of

1:22:47 > 1:22:54his skin. Healy still has a lot to prove. Very talented footballer. His

1:22:54 > 1:22:59form this season so far has been fantastic.30 years of age, in prop

1:22:59 > 1:23:05forward terms, he's just a teenager. Going up against Rodney Ah You, had

1:23:05 > 1:23:09a good first half against Jack McGrath are. We will see how he gets

1:23:09 > 1:23:14on against Master Healy.Rodney's biggest problem has been intensity.

1:23:14 > 1:23:18How long can you keep him on the pitch? He's fitter than he used to

1:23:18 > 1:23:22be. Cian Healy will ask a stern examination of him for potentially

1:23:22 > 1:23:2830 minutes if he can go that long. Replacement tight head prop on the

1:23:28 > 1:23:37bench at the moment is Ross Kane. Captain of the Ulster A side in the

1:23:37 > 1:23:45Irish cup. Solid enough scrummaging from Ulster. Maybe slightly

1:23:45 > 1:23:54overcooked. Yes it is.Interesting option for the restart. There is

1:23:54 > 1:23:59quite a strong wind but the picture is very narrow. The scrum at the 15

1:23:59 > 1:24:04metre line, the pass goes another five or ten metres inside. It's a

1:24:04 > 1:24:09kick into a 20, 25 metre channel. Ross Byrne normally gets those spot

1:24:09 > 1:24:14on, but he was well wide with that. He was, and Charles Piutau was also

1:24:14 > 1:24:24well positioned. Some options in terms of midfield scrum restarts.

1:24:24 > 1:24:36Better line-out. Not straight.Is the same, not straight.Arise smile

1:24:36 > 1:24:41from Rory Best. He was doing his best with that in the wind, but it

1:24:41 > 1:24:49drifted towards the skipper Iain Henderson. -- a wry smile.Tracy is

1:24:49 > 1:24:53at the back of the line-out, looking right down the middle. He has been

1:24:53 > 1:25:02consistent. That's all you can ask for.Ten minutes gone, the score has

1:25:02 > 1:25:13not advanced. I'm pretty sure it will.

1:25:13 > 1:25:18Callum Black must think it's his birthday tonight against the

1:25:18 > 1:25:21comparatively light 19 stone of Furlong. He was up against 20 stones

1:25:21 > 1:25:34last week in La Rochelle. Les Kiss on his right, former British and

1:25:34 > 1:25:38Irish Lions scrum-half Dwayne Peale. And John O Gibbs is also there.

1:25:38 > 1:25:42Impressive Trinity.

1:25:59 > 1:26:02Leinster getting a genuine squeeze on for the first time, winning the

1:26:02 > 1:26:07penalty at the scrum for the first time. How significant will that be?

1:26:07 > 1:26:11In the meantime, the referee plays advantage. Good tackle by Luke

1:26:11 > 1:26:16Marshall, had a cracking game a couple of weeks ago against Wasps in

1:26:16 > 1:26:21the Champions Cup. Sean O'Brien, still playing advantage. Gibson-Park

1:26:21 > 1:26:26looking for somebody in support. He decides Leinster have not gained the

1:26:26 > 1:26:31advantage and will come back for the penalty. Is this within the range of

1:26:31 > 1:26:37Ross Byrne?I would say it probably is with the wind. Given the fact

1:26:37 > 1:26:43there are only three points between them. Looking at Tadhg Furlong, he

1:26:43 > 1:26:47holds and holds, wrestling with Callum Black, dropping the knee. As

1:26:47 > 1:26:50soon as Anthony goes down, Furlong puts on the heat, chasing up the

1:26:50 > 1:27:01inside.You see the influence of Cian Healy straightaway at that

1:27:01 > 1:27:04first scrimmage. He had Rodney Ah You under pressure.That pressure

1:27:04 > 1:27:10works across the front row. Maybe Rory Best having to change the angle

1:27:10 > 1:27:15on which he scrummages on. Perhaps giving Rodney Ah You more weight and

1:27:15 > 1:27:20poise converted the first half. Cian Healy is on fresh to expose Callum

1:27:20 > 1:27:27Black a little bit more.He has been 100% so far with his goal-kicking.

1:27:27 > 1:27:32Ross Byrne looking to take Leinster up to six points. He is underneath

1:27:32 > 1:27:36that one. And he has miscued that. We thought he miscued on towards the

1:27:36 > 1:27:41end of the first half but it clipped over the bar. That one hasn't, a let

1:27:41 > 1:27:46off for Ulster, who will be concerned about their set piece now.

1:27:46 > 1:27:50Who threw it?

1:27:56 > 1:28:02Captaining Ulster no fewer than four times this season. Lealiifano.

1:28:02 > 1:28:07That's hanging. Needs somebody underneath it. Taken in by Rory

1:28:07 > 1:28:15O'Loughlin. Gibson-Park to Devin Toner.

1:28:19 > 1:28:23Well read by Ulster. They seemed to have plenty of men. Out of the back

1:28:23 > 1:28:29of the hand. Good handoff by O'Loughlin, immensely strong.

1:28:35 > 1:28:39Leinster have upped the tempo ever so slightly and it's starting to pay

1:28:39 > 1:28:46off. Tommy Bowe did well to shadow his man to the ground.

1:28:51 > 1:28:56Switched by Gibson-Park, out of the back of the hand from O'Brien to

1:28:56 > 1:29:08Gibson-Park. Sean Reidy extricate is from that. Furlong. Again,

1:29:08 > 1:29:12Leinster's big men and big players, their marquee players beginning to

1:29:12 > 1:29:15crank it up.

1:29:19 > 1:29:26Uttering RAM from -- uttering RAM stuff from Leinster.Slower from

1:29:26 > 1:29:28Leinster.

1:29:33 > 1:29:40Reidy wasn't held. Crowd screaming for a penalty against Leinster but

1:29:40 > 1:29:48the referee is having none of it. Rob Kearney. A genuine full-back

1:29:48 > 1:29:54named in Joe Schmidt's squad but no place for Simon Zebo, in the week

1:29:54 > 1:29:58announced he was retiring from Ulster at the end of the season.

1:29:58 > 1:30:08Healy again, strong enough to present. Great tackle by Luke

1:30:08 > 1:30:13Marshall, who's been outstanding. That's the turnover. Ulster had a

1:30:13 > 1:30:19decent chance but they couldn't get the pass away. A bit of a slap

1:30:19 > 1:30:22forward by Leinster, the referee is going to check with his assistant.

1:30:22 > 1:30:29Just show me that, please.John Lacey calling for his TMO, Lee

1:30:29 > 1:30:33Hodges, to have a look in case it was a deliberate knock-on by

1:30:33 > 1:30:37Leinster, in which case there may be a yellow card depending on who was

1:30:37 > 1:30:44available.It's in terms of numbers and space. Great game management by

1:30:44 > 1:30:50Leinster in terms of their ball control.Having a look now.Pick and

1:30:50 > 1:30:55go options, Sean O'Brien coming into the game but good defence from

1:30:55 > 1:31:01Ulster as well, no missed tackles. Both teams evenly matched.Here it

1:31:01 > 1:31:06is again. Tommy Bowe putting it out wide. Was that slap forward by Dave

1:31:06 > 1:31:19Kearney? Here is the pass.Yeah, he did, he's given the yellow card.

1:31:19 > 1:31:24Very touch and go. If Dave Kearney had held back it may have gone into

1:31:24 > 1:31:31touch.We mentioned in terms of what referees are looking for, if the

1:31:31 > 1:31:39pass is completed, if it's an advantage for the team with the ball

1:31:39 > 1:31:46to win space. That was two against one. Following the arm, he knew what

1:31:46 > 1:31:52he was doing there.Rory Best is leaving the field, likewise Callum

1:31:52 > 1:31:58Black and on comes Andrew Warwick, the prop, and Rob Herring. A

1:31:58 > 1:32:04generous round of applause for the man who is winning his 200th Ulster

1:32:04 > 1:32:12cap this evening, Rory Best. Long may he reign, as they say.

1:32:12 > 1:32:16Straightaway Ulster making a mess of the line-out. Rob Herring not faring

1:32:16 > 1:32:20any better than Rory Best, which isn't good at all. If you're set

1:32:20 > 1:32:28piece isn't functioning, I know it is windy.Too flat. John Burgess

1:32:28 > 1:32:33jumping at the five metre line, get hold of possession and restart. Men

1:32:33 > 1:32:40going up and down the line. The wind is having a massive influence out

1:32:40 > 1:32:45here. Ulster giving away the advantage, which they've worked hard

1:32:45 > 1:32:51to get.

1:32:55 > 1:33:03Jack Conan has come on wearing number 20. Leavy has gone off.

1:33:03 > 1:33:09Changing to a scrum-half for Leinster. Luke Maguire has come on

1:33:09 > 1:33:15for Gibson-Park. McGuire on the side. Bouncing once and into touch

1:33:15 > 1:33:22for the Ulster line-out. Leinster think they can cope with that.You

1:33:22 > 1:33:28can see what McGrath was trying to do, not executing well. Trying to

1:33:28 > 1:33:32put it in behind Tommy Bowe. Squirted off the outside of his left

1:33:32 > 1:33:45foot. Trying to kick for touch. The line-out has trouble, Herring,

1:33:45 > 1:33:48Diack. Maybe the simple option with Henderson coming forward and taking

1:33:48 > 1:33:54the ball.Another line-out shambles by Ulster and if they are going to

1:33:54 > 1:34:00lose the game, this will be a contributory factor. A good shot by

1:34:00 > 1:34:08Alan O'Connor, who has grafted away again. Well taken by Piutau. Takes

1:34:08 > 1:34:17the tap. Sean Reidy managing to get away, he has a lot of gas and Bobby

1:34:17 > 1:34:30could have gone all the way. Penalty against Kieran Healy -- Kieran

1:34:30 > 1:34:37Healy.A bit of sarcasm, can't play the scrum-half. Healy thought he was

1:34:37 > 1:34:48on the back foot.Ulster will be relieved and they are hoping that

1:34:48 > 1:34:52they can get one line-out right in the second half because they haven't

1:34:52 > 1:35:01yet.Try and cut the opposition numbers down. Seriously the problems

1:35:01 > 1:35:09have come from overthrows. You can space that is there, it just needs

1:35:09 > 1:35:16Diack coming forward. Straightforward. Lealiffano getting

1:35:16 > 1:35:27himself in trouble. Stockdale coming off the wing. Devin Toner played in

1:35:27 > 1:35:44the recent World Cup. Not forward back -- knocked forward by Ah You.

1:35:44 > 1:35:51Lovely dummy by O'Brien. That could be it. John Lacey gives the try, no

1:35:51 > 1:35:56hesitation whatsoever. Not going upstairs to see the grounding or

1:35:56 > 1:36:04foot placement. Killer blow by Leinster.Alan Byrne making the

1:36:04 > 1:36:11line, O'Brien with the show and go. That's how you score. Five, six

1:36:11 > 1:36:14metres out, he saw the defence coming across, he got the ball on

1:36:14 > 1:36:19the right hand, sliding in from two or three metres out, giving the

1:36:19 > 1:36:24opposition no chance to put him away. Ah You with the turnover,

1:36:24 > 1:36:33toner stretching down. Over he goes. Cairns coming across, slightly

1:36:33 > 1:36:37hampered but I don't think there was anything to worry about. Luke

1:36:37 > 1:36:42McGrath, hardly on the field for more than a couple of minutes and he

1:36:42 > 1:36:52scores what could be a crucial try. Ross Byrne, a very strong wind. He

1:36:52 > 1:36:57hit it about between the posts and it was carried outside. Midway

1:36:57 > 1:37:05through the second half, Leinster now leading 18-10. Tadhg Furlong has

1:37:05 > 1:37:13gone off the field and on has come Andrew Porter, another youngster who

1:37:13 > 1:37:19is so highly rated. I'd say youngster, look at the size of him!

1:37:19 > 1:37:24Beautiful from O'Brien, the nice pass. McGrath doing what Jamison

1:37:24 > 1:37:28Park didn't do, committing and going early, let momentum and speed take

1:37:28 > 1:37:34you to the line.Going straight into touch. We've seen else to do that

1:37:34 > 1:37:39before. The heads mustn't be allowed to go down.This was the same

1:37:39 > 1:37:43against La Rochelle, conceding that score at the start of the second

1:37:43 > 1:37:49half, giving away the penalty, La Rochelle scoring again, I'll giving

1:37:49 > 1:37:54away another penalty and it seems to be a lack of concentration. Perhaps

1:37:54 > 1:37:57the head going down slightly, certainly a lack of individual

1:37:57 > 1:38:06concentration around the opposition. A man making his first Ulster start

1:38:06 > 1:38:15leaving the field, his second cap. Number 21 has come on, Jonny

1:38:15 > 1:38:21Stewart. We'll have to see if his opposite number is going to put the

1:38:21 > 1:38:29ball in. Law student at Queens University. Good squeeze by Ulster.

1:38:29 > 1:38:35Maguire, the try scorer. Byrne, that's a clever quick. It might go

1:38:35 > 1:38:41dead and Buet how will be happy about that. In fact it's going very

1:38:41 > 1:38:46dead and Ulster get the scrum back. Rare mistake.You can see what

1:38:46 > 1:38:50Ulster are trying to do, only 20 minutes left. They will be happy

1:38:50 > 1:38:55just to play territory in the second half. Squeeze Ulster into their own

1:38:55 > 1:39:0422.Treadwell has slipped down for Ulster. Alan O'Connor is the man who

1:39:04 > 1:39:10makes way. Treadwell and Henderson, both included in the November squad

1:39:10 > 1:39:16of Joe Schmidt for the Guinness series. South Africa first, then

1:39:16 > 1:39:31Fiji and Argentina.We seek Murphy there.John Lacey not happy with the

1:39:31 > 1:39:32scrummage.

1:39:37 > 1:39:42The only surviving member of the respective front rows, James Tracy.

1:39:42 > 1:39:50Fichardt Strauss -- Richardt Strauss is on the front bench.

1:39:54 > 1:40:04Jonny Stewart who has played in two games, starting one and coming off

1:40:04 > 1:40:08the bench for the other.

1:40:11 > 1:40:17Little chip by Tommy Bowe. He has put the foot on the gas and that's

1:40:17 > 1:40:26good chasing by him. Still a fair bit of zip left in Tommy Bowe.

1:40:26 > 1:40:31Ulster need to get back in the game. At the moment they are in danger of

1:40:31 > 1:40:36not getting a point. For a home fixture that would be pretty

1:40:36 > 1:40:44calamitous. Leinster have protected the ball well. Luke McGrath.Quality

1:40:44 > 1:40:50scrum-half played by Luke McGrath. Tommy Bowe taking the ball, getting

1:40:50 > 1:40:56it almost in one motion. The graph, the traditional scrum-half screen

1:40:56 > 1:41:05defence -- McGrath. Five metres off his own line. Textbook.Andrew

1:41:05 > 1:41:12Warwick is having a word with his hooker and line-out thrower. Jonny

1:41:12 > 1:41:15Stewart has gone to the front. Sean Reidy is taking up scrum-half

1:41:15 > 1:41:25position.Off 17 first.It came off Healy, which was the unfortunate for

1:41:25 > 1:41:31Leinster and fortunate for unstuffed. They haven't won a single

1:41:31 > 1:41:37put in in the second half -- for Ulster.You would think they would

1:41:37 > 1:41:46have learned from the previous one. A bit of a lob. It is verging on

1:41:46 > 1:41:50shambolic to be honest.

1:42:10 > 1:42:19Reidy controlling. McCloskey. Crossing the 22. Ulster not it

1:42:19 > 1:42:27forward. -- knock it. Almost a comedy of errors, even a tragedy of

1:42:27 > 1:42:32errors.You can see what they are trying to do: McCloskey, taking two

1:42:32 > 1:42:37defenders, going to ground. It is the presentation side of things,

1:42:37 > 1:42:45individual errors starting to mount. When you are chasing the game...

1:42:45 > 1:42:53Dave Kearney is back on the field again. When he was off, Leinster

1:42:53 > 1:42:58scored a try in stead of Ulster. That is the difference, Leinster's

1:42:58 > 1:43:02game management has been tighter and more professional.21-year-old tight

1:43:02 > 1:43:12head prop is tipped for great things. Also named in the autumn

1:43:12 > 1:43:22squad. Good work by Andrew Warwick. Good scrum by Ulster. Rob Kearney on

1:43:22 > 1:43:28his favoured left foot which has served him so well down the years.

1:43:28 > 1:43:3531 years old, 76 Irish caps, Rob Kearney.You mentioned Andrew

1:43:35 > 1:43:43Porter, he's moved across from the loosehead side of the scrum. For

1:43:43 > 1:43:47anyone who hasn't had the pleasure, that's a very difficult thing to do.

1:43:47 > 1:43:52It takes time because you have to earn your stripes and experience in

1:43:52 > 1:43:59there.Off goes Christian Lealiifano and Peter Nelson has come on and

1:43:59 > 1:44:07Louis Ludik wants to come on as well. Ulster using all the bench.

1:44:07 > 1:44:17Got that one right. McCloskey has been pretty well shackled by the

1:44:17 > 1:44:23Leinster midfield. That's better.

1:44:37 > 1:44:41Again, blue shirts seem to be swarming everywhere. Well taken by

1:44:41 > 1:44:45Andrew Warwick and he did the right thing by moving it forward.

1:44:58 > 1:45:04Henderson bouncing Healy, that doesn't happen very often.

1:45:16 > 1:45:24Don't play the line, thank you.Good refereeing by John Lacey. Warwick in

1:45:24 > 1:45:27the outside position. Stewart looking for the runner. Getting it

1:45:27 > 1:45:30from Marshall.

1:45:33 > 1:45:37Ulster keeping the ball but Leinster keeping them close to the halfway

1:45:37 > 1:45:43line.Not competing either, just happy to make the tackle and

1:45:43 > 1:45:50stand-off.Leinster committing one or two men at the breakdown. Devin

1:45:50 > 1:46:02Toner making the initial tackle again. Porter had a look forward.

1:46:06 > 1:46:11Leinster making it difficult for Ulster and the breakdown. The

1:46:11 > 1:46:19Riddell, oh! He nearly got away. -- Piutau. For a spit second it looked

1:46:19 > 1:46:30as if Piutau was going to cause chaos.

1:46:32 > 1:46:37Leinster for me are really starting to show their professionalism.

1:46:37 > 1:46:41Understanding what they are trying to do. Ulster for ten, 12 daisies

1:46:41 > 1:46:47couldn't cross the halfway line. It took a bit of magic from Piutau --

1:46:47 > 1:46:53ten, 12 phases. Leinster going through the gears and Ulster need to

1:46:53 > 1:46:58be careful they don't let it slip away. Anything can happen. My

1:46:58 > 1:47:03concern is, where is Ulster going to break them down? Leinster quite

1:47:03 > 1:47:12happy to defend.Ludik has come on. McCloskey has left the field. Number

1:47:12 > 1:47:1712 replacing number 23. Just over ten minutes remaining and Ulster at

1:47:17 > 1:47:25the moment, outside losing bonus point territory. Leinster

1:47:25 > 1:47:28temporarily would be top of the conference with the Scarlets, they

1:47:28 > 1:47:37should be up and running at the moment. Luke McGrath, scorer of

1:47:37 > 1:47:44Leinster's second try, and a crucial one it was. McGrath is trying to

1:47:44 > 1:47:48keep a lid on it and that is a clever kick knowing that the

1:47:48 > 1:47:54line-out is the Ulster Achilles' heel in the second half.Having to

1:47:54 > 1:48:00let the ball land at the number eight's feet. Two steps,

1:48:00 > 1:48:06magnificent, and over end, sucking the life out of that Ulster team.

1:48:06 > 1:48:13The forwards going 40 yard bag, a real hammer blow.Luke McGrath vying

1:48:13 > 1:48:20with Marmion to become number two in the Irish squad. Ulster close to

1:48:20 > 1:48:26their own line. Oh, no, that has gone loose and that may be a

1:48:26 > 1:48:31Leinster try. It was knocked on. Murphy with the line at his mercy

1:48:31 > 1:48:36couldn't pull it in. Comedy of errors from Ulster, they are better

1:48:36 > 1:48:41not having the line-out. Overthrow again. Murphy trying to pick up the

1:48:41 > 1:48:51ball on the half volley.Jono Gibbes won't be a happy coach.Always

1:48:51 > 1:48:56difficult when you are throwing numbers up but a number of things

1:48:56 > 1:49:03there. They lack of the mini cage and, April left, the overthrow.

1:49:06 > 1:49:14The extra inch or two of heights may help them get the ball.Eight points

1:49:14 > 1:49:26between them. Leinster leading as they were at the interval. A crucial

1:49:26 > 1:49:30try by Luke McGrath, the difference between the sides but in terms of

1:49:30 > 1:49:39possession and territory.Ulster are going to have to dig in, big effort

1:49:39 > 1:49:46required from the back row. You can be sure that they will go for a

1:49:46 > 1:49:51second surge, Leinster. Pressure on Jonny Stewart and Sean Reidy at the

1:49:51 > 1:50:02back to make sure that Ulster clear their lines.Henderson getting the

1:50:02 > 1:50:12squeeze on Ulster. Luke Marshall has carried pretty well. Stewart is

1:50:12 > 1:50:17going to have to deal with it himself. He has kicked it in field

1:50:17 > 1:50:20slightly.

1:50:23 > 1:50:26The tackle by Rob Herring.

1:50:35 > 1:50:45Sean O'Brien pushing off a couple of would-be tacklers. That's clever. It

1:50:45 > 1:50:50hasn't really gone to hand for Leinster. Keeping Ulster where

1:50:50 > 1:50:56Leicester wants them, well inside their own 22.Exactly, shackled

1:50:56 > 1:51:01inside their own 22. Leinster look so comfortable. The ball up

1:51:01 > 1:51:05midfield, two, three men very cleanly, simple ball from Luke

1:51:05 > 1:51:11McGrath. They all look so comfortable. Rob Kearney with his

1:51:11 > 1:51:17first game this season, his pedigree internationally, still oozing class.

1:51:17 > 1:51:29Rodney Ah You replaced by Kane at tight head prop. There's no

1:51:29 > 1:51:35scrum-half because Jonny Stewart had to tidy at that. Can he get back

1:51:35 > 1:51:40into position? Yes, he can. What a night for him and the man he

1:51:40 > 1:51:47replaced, Karen Cairns. Leinster ball and they will be happy with

1:51:47 > 1:51:54that.Stewart has been composed since it came on, not flustered, not

1:51:54 > 1:52:03washing himself. Couple of nice clearance kicks. -- not rushing

1:52:03 > 1:52:12himself.19 years of age too. Richardt Strauss is on for Leicester

1:52:12 > 1:52:19with the throw. Leinster's line-out has not been troubled all evening.

1:52:19 > 1:52:25The referee has his hand out for a penalty I think for the men in blue.

1:52:25 > 1:52:30Byrne looking for his namesake. Into touch. John Lacey brings it back for

1:52:30 > 1:52:35the penalty and from that range and given the time involved, Ross Byrne

1:52:35 > 1:52:42may go for the Ulster posts. Wouldn't surprise you. If you pull

1:52:42 > 1:52:50down the opposition from the line-out, wasn't quick enough today.

1:52:50 > 1:52:54Two Leo Cullen's right, the former inlet head coach, Stuart Lancaster,

1:52:54 > 1:52:59who has been is to meddle in a lot of the cleverness of Leinster's

1:52:59 > 1:53:05backplate -- who has been instrumental in the cleverness.

1:53:10 > 1:53:17That's into touch by Leinster who are going to go, I don't know if

1:53:17 > 1:53:21they have time for two tries but if they can get another one it may make

1:53:21 > 1:53:25a difference at the end of the season. They have the game in the

1:53:25 > 1:53:30bag, they have four points and Ulster don't have any.

1:53:33 > 1:53:42Leinster's line-out has worked like bulk work. -- like clockwork. That's

1:53:42 > 1:53:49a good concerted drive by the big blue blanket. Ulster have held them

1:53:49 > 1:53:55off, good defending. Here they come again. They've squeezed

1:53:57 > 1:54:04Luke McGrath looking for the runner. Taken on by the Loney.

1:54:10 > 1:54:14Healey, who scored two last week against Glasgow.

1:54:17 > 1:54:28Once again, Leinster. Watch a minister go and the referee has

1:54:28 > 1:54:34given another penalty against Ulster. Healy looking to push home

1:54:34 > 1:54:41the advantage. -- four minutes to go. Having a go himself, John Lacey

1:54:41 > 1:54:48has a good look. May go upstairs. They are coming back. The ball was

1:54:48 > 1:54:52held up, there is no five metre scrum and he's given the penalty for

1:54:52 > 1:54:59the no arms tackle against Ulster. Go to your left. Come out about

1:54:59 > 1:55:04three metres further out.The television match official Lee Hodges

1:55:04 > 1:55:09is actually directing John Lacey to the exact point where the penalty

1:55:09 > 1:55:15was.Leinster just turning the screw, aren't they? Very

1:55:15 > 1:55:19professional, simple options. Luke McGrath is happy to let the big

1:55:19 > 1:55:25forwards pick and trundle over the corner. The

1:55:26 > 1:55:33could be in trouble here for the no arms tackle.That would be a

1:55:33 > 1:55:40penalty. Marshall has come on for Leinster. We will have another look

1:55:40 > 1:55:48at that, it is a no arms tackle. Leinster were penned in during the

1:55:48 > 1:56:01first half. Should be a penalty rather than the scrum. Leinster will

1:56:01 > 1:56:06be happy to send the ball back, maybe get the angle. Saving

1:56:06 > 1:56:12themselves a bit of space.Good scrum.

1:56:18 > 1:56:22Healy will be in the starting team against South Africa also Mac.

1:56:28 > 1:56:31Good defending by Ulster. Determined that the line is not going to be

1:56:31 > 1:56:40crossed. It has been crossed, I think John Lacey has given the try.

1:56:40 > 1:56:46Luke McGrath has got his second, I'm pretty sure.Classy from Leinster,

1:56:46 > 1:56:49the composure is superb. Nobody panicking, they know where they are

1:56:49 > 1:56:57going. Ulster having to commit. And then the space comes to Luke

1:56:57 > 1:57:03McGrath, the sniping scrum-half, able to squeeze himself over.We

1:57:03 > 1:57:08will just get the footage for you. Looks like Healy may have touched

1:57:08 > 1:57:12down. I thought Luke McGrath was in the middle of that but can you

1:57:12 > 1:57:21believe it, the prop forward, two tries -- three tries in two games.

1:57:21 > 1:57:27The referee is going to have another looking in case there was a double

1:57:27 > 1:57:31movement. He is asking the television match official, is it a

1:57:31 > 1:57:39try? There is Luke McGrath, wearing number 21 and Healy, 17, behind him.

1:57:39 > 1:57:45Here he goes, he was tackled there. He is over the line. Why they think

1:57:45 > 1:57:53Healy scored that, I've no idea. Maybe the way that lemongrass --

1:57:53 > 1:57:59Luke McGrath picks up the ball.He is over the line and the try is

1:57:59 > 1:58:04good, the conversion is good. Marsh with the conversion so it's seven

1:58:04 > 1:58:10more points for Leinster.Joe Schmidt will be happy with Luke

1:58:10 > 1:58:15McGrath's performance, his cameo in the second half. Lending composure

1:58:15 > 1:58:19to the Leinster performance, some good kicking from the base of the

1:58:19 > 1:58:23scrum and the organisation around the fringes has been second to none.

1:58:23 > 1:58:29Ulster, 15 points adrift. Nelson with the restart. Ludik was in

1:58:29 > 1:58:36there. The referee said it was knocked backwards. Devin Toner has

1:58:36 > 1:58:41tackled well in the middle of the field all evening. Good support play

1:58:41 > 1:58:44by Pete Nelson.

1:58:59 > 1:59:02We've hardly seen Stockdale mentioned in the second half, such

1:59:02 > 1:59:09is the Leinster grip on things.

1:59:13 > 1:59:16The last few seconds. Ulster desperately trying to get something

1:59:16 > 1:59:22from this. Piutau, if anybody can conjure up something, it might be

1:59:22 > 1:59:30the All Black. The turnover goodbye blue, says the referee. Ulster have

1:59:30 > 1:59:34lost the ball at the death and Leinster just need to hang on for a

1:59:34 > 1:59:39half second and pop it into touch. A victory that's no more than they

1:59:39 > 1:59:42deserve. They have been in control for just about all this game and

1:59:42 > 1:59:48they can have another go. Can make ambush Ulster at the end? Good pace

1:59:48 > 1:59:53from David Kearney. Support from McGrath, looking for a hat-trick.

1:59:53 > 1:59:58Don't think it will happen. The ball into touch and the referee says that

1:59:58 > 2:00:04the end of what has been a fantastic game of rugby at Ravenhill. It be a

2:00:04 > 2:00:07disappointing game for Ulster because they have lost at home,

2:00:07 > 2:00:12losing by a considerable margin, and they haven't got a single point.

2:00:12 > 2:00:17Ulster now losing three of their last four games, not satisfactory.

2:00:17 > 2:00:22Not the night for Rory Best in terms of celebrating his 200th Ulster

2:00:22 > 2:00:26appearance. There will be more, better nights and victories, but not

2:00:26 > 2:00:34tonight for Ulster's Rory Best. Leinster were good value. Really

2:00:34 > 2:00:37impressed, especially after 12 changes on the back of the European

2:00:37 > 2:00:44performance last time out. Leinster dominated territory and possession.

2:00:44 > 2:00:52The introduction of the bench, front row, Cian Healy, Straus and Porter.

2:00:52 > 2:00:58McGrath at scrum-half. The boys they gave the team, moving the ball

2:00:58 > 2:01:02around beautifully. When Leinster were clear it was only going to be a

2:01:02 > 2:01:10question of how many rather than how few.Ulster have his set off on

2:01:10 > 2:01:13Monday to London, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth for next week's game

2:01:13 > 2:01:21against the Southern Kings. They will be minus quite a few players.

2:01:21 > 2:01:24Charles Piutau limping. He gave nothing less than his best as

2:01:24 > 2:01:28always, but even his best wasn't good enough because all round it

2:01:28 > 2:01:33wasn't Ulster's best performance of the season, when they needed a big

2:01:33 > 2:01:36performance. Ulster well and truly beaten by Leinster. The first time

2:01:36 > 2:01:40they have lost at home in four years to Leinster.

2:01:43 > 2:01:49Andy Ward and Ryan Constable have been watching what was a very

2:01:49 > 2:01:53composed, clinical and comprehensive Leinster performance. A victory at

2:01:53 > 2:01:58the Kingspan Stadium tonight.They really ratcheted up the second half.

2:01:58 > 2:02:01Game management allied with what they could unleash from the bench to

2:02:01 > 2:02:06give them direction. They applied themselves, taking on the messages

2:02:06 > 2:02:09given at half-time. They came out and gave a demonstration of why they

2:02:09 > 2:02:13are one of the best teams in Europe by having composure and game

2:02:13 > 2:02:20management. They sucked the life out of this Ulster side.In the

2:02:20 > 2:02:23second-half Leinster simply put a stranglehold on the game and

2:02:23 > 2:02:28controlled it from start to finish. Capitalising on Ulster's mistakes.

2:02:28 > 2:02:34Talk about half-time, being composed, being clinical at certain

2:02:34 > 2:02:40times. It goes to show why Leinster are one of the top teams in Europe.

2:02:40 > 2:02:43They always there or thereabouts at the end of the day because they are

2:02:43 > 2:02:49so clinical.Lots to discuss. We will be on air for another half an

2:02:49 > 2:02:54hour or so. Analysing the Leinster interprovincial win. Here is man of

2:02:54 > 2:03:00the match Sean O'Brien.Wins in Belfast are hard to come by. How

2:03:00 > 2:03:05satisfying was that?Pretty pleased. It was a slow start, but to get the

2:03:05 > 2:03:10win here is brilliant up here. We haven't won here in a few years. We

2:03:10 > 2:03:14knew what was at stake. Pleased with the performance, the defence was

2:03:14 > 2:03:18good and we worked hard to get into the game.What was the key to moving

2:03:18 > 2:03:23on and putting the squeeze on in the second half?I think we possibly try

2:03:23 > 2:03:27to overplay in the first half against the strong breeze. Just

2:03:27 > 2:03:31being smarter in the second half and putting pressure on them.How

2:03:31 > 2:03:35difficult are the games when you're playing against players you know so

2:03:35 > 2:03:40well?It is because they know you inside out well. They are good

2:03:40 > 2:03:45physical games. Good game to be involved in.Lots of changes from

2:03:45 > 2:03:50the game in Europe last week. How does that show your strength across

2:03:50 > 2:03:54the board?At Leinster we have strength in depth across the field.

2:03:54 > 2:03:58That's what we want, and we are trying to keep a clean bill of

2:03:58 > 2:04:03health, that's the main thing, and to keep improving.Fighting on all

2:04:03 > 2:04:06fronts, you need to bring in young players. A big squad in this day and

2:04:06 > 2:04:12age.Every year we break up for the November internationals and Six

2:04:12 > 2:04:15Nations. That's where you finally put yourself in a good position for

2:04:15 > 2:04:18the rest of the year. In previous years we have done it well so

2:04:18 > 2:04:22hopefully we can keep going.Some young stars appearing in the blue

2:04:22 > 2:04:28shirt.Some great young lads. All this experience is good for them to

2:04:28 > 2:04:32learn from and move forward.How significant a win is this for your

2:04:32 > 2:04:36season when you are going on your international break?It's important

2:04:36 > 2:04:40with the table and the conference we are in. It puts us back in a good

2:04:40 > 2:04:46position. Every game is important. Jonathan McWhinnie, on behalf of

2:04:46 > 2:04:50Guinness, presents you with your man of the match award.Sean O'Brien, a

2:04:50 > 2:04:57deserved man of the match award. Leinster in a good position in the

2:04:57 > 2:05:02table. We can take a look at that, no bonus point for Ulster. Another

2:05:02 > 2:05:06big disappointment of the evening.

2:05:10 > 2:05:15Scarlets still have a game to play. In the overall context of the

2:05:15 > 2:05:21season, it's going to be a result Ulster look back on, Ryan, when I

2:05:21 > 2:05:25haven't perhaps finished first or second in the league, and they will

2:05:25 > 2:05:29kick themselves.Those home games are non-negotiable. Particularly

2:05:29 > 2:05:34against teams who you know will be in the mix at the end of the season.

2:05:34 > 2:05:38Most people would acknowledge that the likes of Leinster and Ulster and

2:05:38 > 2:05:42Scarlets in this pool is where the action is. One of the other teams

2:05:42 > 2:05:49below could force their way up, but you feel those three are jockeying

2:05:49 > 2:05:52for position. Ulster on the back foot now and they will have to pick

2:05:52 > 2:05:55up points away from home to get into the top two positions, which is

2:05:55 > 2:05:59where you need to be to win the competition.Ulster made a lot of

2:05:59 > 2:06:04errors in the second half. Was the big difference strength in depth?I

2:06:04 > 2:06:11think so. Cian Healy can come on. My gosh, this guy is world class and

2:06:11 > 2:06:16has been for ten years. When you see somebody of that calibre coming off

2:06:16 > 2:06:24the bench, as the opposition! It's seamless. The whole Leinster machine

2:06:24 > 2:06:30is seamless, very professional. You heard Sean O'Brien talking about it.

2:06:30 > 2:06:34They made a few mistakes in trying to overplay it. They didn't get

2:06:34 > 2:06:38their hair out of line and kept going, they understand and know what

2:06:38 > 2:06:42they are trying to achieve at all times.I think the management

2:06:42 > 2:06:46coaches need to take credit for how they manage this Leinster team in

2:06:46 > 2:06:50this crucial period. Looking at that block of five fixtures, they are

2:06:50 > 2:06:54away to Glasgow next week. Looking at the teams they play in that

2:06:54 > 2:06:58five-week period, they have had to utilise the whole squad depth to

2:06:58 > 2:07:04utilise performances. They have got four out of five wins so far with

2:07:04 > 2:07:07the last one to come. If they can get five wins that significant given

2:07:07 > 2:07:11the quality of opposition.Ulster only have themselves to blame with

2:07:11 > 2:07:16what went wrong in the second half, is possession they had at the time

2:07:16 > 2:07:22and they gave it away with simple errors.Is that period between 55

2:07:22 > 2:07:25and 65 minutes. Leinster had a man in the sin-bin. Ulster needed to

2:07:25 > 2:07:29take the game by the scruff of the neck but the opposite happened. A

2:07:29 > 2:07:34couple of errors in that period and it lifted the game for Ulster,

2:07:34 > 2:07:40unforced errors, handling errors, errors in the line-out, albeit in

2:07:40 > 2:07:47difficult conditions. For Leinster to go up, when they were down to 14

2:07:47 > 2:07:52men was crucial.At this level it's small margins. These are critical

2:07:52 > 2:07:56times. The first time in this half we got into the Leinster 22 and we

2:07:56 > 2:08:08coughed it up. Flat-footed. Charles Piutau working magic. It was coming

2:08:08 > 2:08:11down to the pressure Leinster had applied. Not just for that period

2:08:11 > 2:08:18but for the first 40 - 60 minutes of the match, applying pressure at all

2:08:18 > 2:08:22times.It was from an Ulster mistake Leinster capitalised to get the

2:08:22 > 2:08:27all-important score when they were down to 14 men.It's fine margins at

2:08:27 > 2:08:30this level against this level of opposition. If those small

2:08:30 > 2:08:35turnarounds in games, we know Leinster are dangerous on the

2:08:35 > 2:08:39counterattack. They showed that through Sean O'Brien, man of the

2:08:39 > 2:08:43match, instrumental. Off-load, tackle, clever piece of work. You

2:08:43 > 2:08:48need to finish these and it took the game away from Ulster. They probably

2:08:48 > 2:08:52butchered and earlier opportunity to go points up, but it shows how those

2:08:52 > 2:08:58small margins change big games.Sean O'Brien's workrate, he understood

2:08:58 > 2:09:04what he was doing. I cool pass. No pressure, no stressing out. Sean

2:09:04 > 2:09:12O'Brien showing his class and kept composed. That's what you want from

2:09:12 > 2:09:15experience, senior players. Leinster have a good smattering of senior

2:09:15 > 2:09:20players right through the squad from one to 25.You felt when Leinster

2:09:20 > 2:09:23got in front with the second score it would be difficult for Ulster to

2:09:23 > 2:09:27get back into the game.They had their wind at the back, and when

2:09:27 > 2:09:32that happens on the opposition line-outs doesn't function well, you

2:09:32 > 2:09:35play field position. Getting the message out there to do that is one

2:09:35 > 2:09:38thing, but the players on the pitch after implement it. That's what they

2:09:38 > 2:09:43did well through their half-back pairing and key decision makers. You

2:09:43 > 2:09:53could see them squeezing Ulster. They played the game at the in the

2:09:53 > 2:09:56areas they wanted.It was a clinical application of a well thought out

2:09:56 > 2:09:58game plan. We can get more reaction with Gavin.We talked before the

2:09:58 > 2:10:02game about how difficult it is to come to Belfast.We are delighted

2:10:02 > 2:10:07with the outcome, for sure. I thought it was a scrappy game from

2:10:07 > 2:10:11both teams. It's always difficult coming off the European weeks. There

2:10:11 > 2:10:15is a lot of emotional energy going into those performances. I thought

2:10:15 > 2:10:19it was a scrappy game and the conditions were difficult with the

2:10:19 > 2:10:26breeze, a lot of knock bonds and the game was disjointed. Going in with

2:10:26 > 2:10:30our nose in front at half-time, we tried to play the right areas. -- a

2:10:30 > 2:10:39lot of knock-ons. We are happy with the outcome. Performances could be

2:10:39 > 2:10:45better, but we will have settled for that before we came up here.Sean

2:10:45 > 2:10:48O'Brien was man of them at. He talked about the defensive display

2:10:48 > 2:10:51in the second half and how well younger players contributed.

2:10:51 > 2:10:56Definitely. The group is very competitive at the moment. We have

2:10:56 > 2:11:0118 guys going to national camps next week. We still have another Pro 14

2:11:01 > 2:11:05fixture, so we will be skinny in the build-up on Monday. It will be a big

2:11:05 > 2:11:11week for us. A lot of those young guys will have to step up now.The

2:11:11 > 2:11:14guys in the studio talking about the luxury of bringing somebody like

2:11:14 > 2:11:18Cian Healy off the bench.He and Jack are fighting well at the

2:11:18 > 2:11:25moment. We have a couple of younger players who will step into those

2:11:25 > 2:11:28considerable shoes when they are at international camp next week.Tough

2:11:28 > 2:11:34games keep coming. Glasgow next. They are a tough team. I watched

2:11:34 > 2:11:37their game last night against the Kings, and they are very strong,

2:11:37 > 2:11:42particularly at home. I am sure they will be keen to get one back after

2:11:42 > 2:11:47last week.Congratulations and well played.Leo Cullen, he says he's

2:11:47 > 2:11:50happy with the outcome tonight but he will always pick holes in the

2:11:50 > 2:11:55performance. The way Leinster dominated the second half, they kind

2:11:55 > 2:12:00of deserved the score at the end. Turning the screw again.I don't

2:12:00 > 2:12:04think anybody could argue with the outcome. They would have been

2:12:04 > 2:12:08acutely aware that in this conference it could come down to

2:12:08 > 2:12:11bonus points for four tries or not giving opposition bonus points. They

2:12:11 > 2:12:16may joy it was out of Ulster's reach at the end. It was playing in the

2:12:16 > 2:12:22right parts of the pitch. They did that well all evening. Denny getting

2:12:22 > 2:12:31into those positions where it's difficult not to concede. Sheer

2:12:31 > 2:12:34determination after a long build-up to get body position in the right

2:12:34 > 2:12:39place and power to carry players over the line to get there.

2:12:39 > 2:12:43Desperation to get points in a composed manner.Their management at

2:12:43 > 2:12:48this point, they knew what they were striving to do. It went to the

2:12:48 > 2:12:53biggest man on the pitch, you say power! Not! They were drawing out

2:12:53 > 2:12:59players left, right and centre from Ulster's perspective. In fairness, I

2:12:59 > 2:13:03thought Ulster defended well all night on their try line, but in this

2:13:03 > 2:13:08situation fatigue started to kick in with the way the game had been

2:13:08 > 2:13:13progressing. You can see boys almost over committing to defence to get it

2:13:13 > 2:13:17done, but Leinster were so proposed. When Ulster sit down to analyse this

2:13:17 > 2:13:21game and look back at the video highlights and look at their

2:13:21 > 2:13:24line-out performance, they will simply know it wasn't an area of the

2:13:24 > 2:13:30game that was good enough to win tonight.Absolutely not. A lot of

2:13:30 > 2:13:33credit to Leinster. Defensively Leinster have a tremendous defensive

2:13:33 > 2:13:41line-out. It puts pressure on. One of our successes. I thought John

2:13:41 > 2:13:45Lacey had a particularly good game for both sides, fairly consistent at

2:13:45 > 2:13:49the line-out. More often than not we are in the 22 and attacking

2:13:49 > 2:13:53positions.You simply can't win a game when you will lose your set

2:13:53 > 2:13:57piece like that.Absolutely not. When Ulster were still in the game

2:13:57 > 2:14:00they have the opportunity to kick for three points. They turned it

2:14:00 > 2:14:04down because it might not have been in range. You have to kick to the

2:14:04 > 2:14:08corner and win the line-out. The pressure keeps mounting if you can't

2:14:08 > 2:14:13execute.Looking at the line-outs, it looks like a combination of not

2:14:13 > 2:14:16jacking the player up to give the full extension he needs at the top

2:14:16 > 2:14:20of the throw. And the throwers were overcooking it. Leinster were not

2:14:20 > 2:14:25competing at the top of the throw, but we were still missing by three

2:14:25 > 2:14:28or four inches and that's crucial especially in pressure situations.

2:14:28 > 2:14:33All you are doing is applying pressure to yourself.Three or four

2:14:33 > 2:14:37phases later they pay the price. Conditions not ideal, but you have

2:14:37 > 2:14:42to come up with some way to try to secure the ball.Without possession,

2:14:42 > 2:14:47playing into the wind is really difficult.Given Leinster's

2:14:47 > 2:14:50defensive line-out, I was surprised they didn't go to a shorter line-out

2:14:50 > 2:14:54earlier in the game. That's when Leinster are at their strongest.

2:14:54 > 2:14:57They are active on the ground. They are under pressure to get that mark

2:14:57 > 2:15:02from the hooker.With some Ulster reaction. Captain Iain Henderson is

2:15:02 > 2:15:06with Gavin.The topic of conversation in the studio was the

2:15:06 > 2:15:11line-out. Was that a big issue tonight?That among other things did

2:15:11 > 2:15:15not go well. We thoroughly underperformed in those aspects. In

2:15:15 > 2:15:18between that and not nullifying their counter threats, that killed

2:15:18 > 2:15:24us.We talked to some of the Leinster players about playing guys

2:15:24 > 2:15:28you know well and guys you play alongside with Ireland. How

2:15:28 > 2:15:32difficult is it?It can be difficult because you know them but they know

2:15:32 > 2:15:37you at the same time. Those bits and pieces you can read from them, they

2:15:37 > 2:15:40do it to you as well. You know each other well when you play and train

2:15:40 > 2:15:44with each other for periods before. I think they have the upper hand

2:15:44 > 2:15:48today and we didn't nullify their line as much as we would like to.

2:15:48 > 2:15:53You are just out of the dressing room, chatting to the coaches. What

2:15:53 > 2:15:56has the message being?We are moving to a different continent next week

2:15:56 > 2:16:02to play a game of rugby for the first time. We have two move on and

2:16:02 > 2:16:05build on that performance.We will not ignore that performance but make

2:16:05 > 2:16:10sure we learn from the errors. If we rectify those mistakes we know we

2:16:10 > 2:16:16can put things right for the long season ahead.Rory Best making his

2:16:16 > 2:16:19200th appearance tonight. You retained the captaincy. How much of

2:16:19 > 2:16:23help he been to you in your up appearances with the captaincy

2:16:23 > 2:16:30armband?Having somebody like that, he's a massive reassurance to have

2:16:30 > 2:16:34him alongside you when you are captain ahead of him. Not only

2:16:34 > 2:16:38physically, but in terms of leading the team as well. We wanted to put a

2:16:38 > 2:16:43performance in for him tonight. But massive congratulations to him.

2:16:43 > 2:16:47Reaching an absolute milestone in his career.All credit to Leinster

2:16:47 > 2:16:52tonight, what were their strengths that held you back?As you mention,

2:16:52 > 2:16:59their line-out. They stopped the flow of our game. It denied as field

2:16:59 > 2:17:03possession. I think those are probably the two aspects that

2:17:03 > 2:17:08stopped our attack and stopped us getting into their 22.Looking for

2:17:08 > 2:17:12positives, how do you feel some of the younger guys making their first

2:17:12 > 2:17:19start, Aaron Cairns in particular? Cairns has been performing well and

2:17:19 > 2:17:21looking good, in games and in training. He has been pushing the

2:17:21 > 2:17:27other number nines at the club. Fantastic for him and Johnny Stewart

2:17:27 > 2:17:31getting in there. Those boys can build on this experience. Hopefully

2:17:31 > 2:17:36they will and hopefully they will be involved in the next few weeks.That

2:17:36 > 2:17:41King 's test next week. Our imported to go there and get the result?It

2:17:41 > 2:17:45will not be a big empty stadium, I'm sure it'll be a bit more atmosphere

2:17:45 > 2:17:51about the place. I think they are going to come at it. They have a

2:17:51 > 2:17:55point to prove to their home fans. We have to make sure we are on top

2:17:55 > 2:17:59of our game and do simple things right. Line-out, exits, hold onto

2:17:59 > 2:18:03the ball. If we do those things well then we should do well.Frustration

2:18:03 > 2:18:10for you, can you start to look ahead to the autumn internationals with

2:18:10 > 2:18:15your Leinster team mates?We will be in a hotel with them in 24 hours.

2:18:15 > 2:18:21Never a nice place to be when you're sitting across the table from them

2:18:21 > 2:18:26when they have defeated you. But you have to move on and put them behind.

2:18:26 > 2:18:29The better teams and good teams learn from their errors and move

2:18:29 > 2:18:36forward. They make sure they rectify and learn from those mistakes.

2:18:36 > 2:18:41Pretty good summation of tonight. Old head on young shoulders.He

2:18:41 > 2:18:48spoke very well. I think he identified the key issues. The

2:18:48 > 2:18:50statistics will demonstrate them, but they are obvious. That's exactly

2:18:50 > 2:18:54the right way to approach it. You have to learn from it, but you have

2:18:54 > 2:18:58to move on from it. Touring in South Africa now, to be together as a

2:18:58 > 2:19:02group after a loss like that will bring the group tighter together.

2:19:02 > 2:19:06They can do all the analysis they want in the first few days and put

2:19:06 > 2:19:09it behind them. That bonding experience of touring rings groups

2:19:09 > 2:19:13closer together and it's the perfect time for that.Ulster have played

2:19:13 > 2:19:17stiff opposition in the last two weeks, but how concerned will they

2:19:17 > 2:19:21be that in two weeks in a row they have been in the game at half-time

2:19:21 > 2:19:29and then not come close to winning in the second half?It's fine lines.

2:19:29 > 2:19:33The second half isn't fine lines, the difference in the scoreline.I

2:19:33 > 2:19:37was about to say that it comes down to small, under pressure decisions

2:19:37 > 2:19:44made by individuals. It's fine lines in that perspective. Last week a

2:19:44 > 2:19:49couple of kicks went against a team that is explosive like La Rochelle.

2:19:49 > 2:19:53Tonight we came up against a clinical team who understood at all

2:19:53 > 2:19:56moments of the game what they were trying to achieve and what the

2:19:56 > 2:20:01outcome were. They knew if they got to the Ulster line-out at any point,

2:20:01 > 2:20:06psychologically that starts to go. They were very strong. Even when

2:20:06 > 2:20:10Ulster had the attacking line-out inside their 22, Leinster were

2:20:10 > 2:20:14composed. Everybody to a tee got down to their job and got down to

2:20:14 > 2:20:19business.We can hear from the man making his 200th appearance tonight,

2:20:19 > 2:20:23Rory Best.How is the cocktail of emotions after that tonight? Coming

2:20:23 > 2:20:29out with the family at the start and then beaten by your better rivals.

2:20:29 > 2:20:32Looking back to the start of your career, somebody saying far soared

2:20:32 > 2:20:3913 years, you get to come out with your 200th cap, three kids, against

2:20:39 > 2:20:42Leinster at home, it's exactly how you want the script to go.

2:20:42 > 2:20:47Unfortunately that was the high point and everything after that, we

2:20:47 > 2:20:51will be disappointed. I have reached a lot of wonderful milestones in my

2:20:51 > 2:20:55career. In hindsight that will go down as one of the lowest points in

2:20:55 > 2:20:58my career. It was a really frustrating night for us. We are a

2:20:58 > 2:21:04team that needs to get flow to our game. We need to get through phases.

2:21:04 > 2:21:10You have to be realistic and look at the team and say, we don't have guys

2:21:10 > 2:21:14like La Rochelle had plastic. We don't have enormous men but we do

2:21:14 > 2:21:18have very smart rugby players. -- had last week. To play to those

2:21:18 > 2:21:24strengths you have to minimise your errors and go through your phases. A

2:21:24 > 2:21:27combination of that tonight, and the line-out is not functioning to the

2:21:27 > 2:21:34standards we set, that was a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately it

2:21:34 > 2:21:38happened against one of the best teams. The flip side is, it happened

2:21:38 > 2:21:43in October. Nothing is won in October, but we are mightily annoyed

2:21:43 > 2:21:47with that.Iain Henderson had the captaincy tonight. You are club

2:21:47 > 2:21:52captain. What was said in the dressing room? What has been

2:21:52 > 2:21:56communicated between each other?We have to take this on the chin. Look

2:21:56 > 2:22:02at the last 20 in La Rochelle and look at the entire 80 of this and

2:22:02 > 2:22:06think what did we do wrong. It's not just a case of what we did wrong

2:22:06 > 2:22:11tonight. I think people that don't understand professional rugby will

2:22:11 > 2:22:16look solely at the 80 minutes. We need to look back, what did we do in

2:22:16 > 2:22:20the week, what was the recovery like with a short turnaround. Did we

2:22:20 > 2:22:24utilise every second on the pitch to make sure we were prepared to play

2:22:24 > 2:22:27tonight? The result is that we didn't, but we have to look at why

2:22:27 > 2:22:31that happened.New adventure coming up in South Africa after the next

2:22:31 > 2:22:38game. How big is that for the Ulster season?It's a big statement to talk

2:22:38 > 2:22:42about seasons now. For ourselves, we have to look back at why this didn't

2:22:42 > 2:22:50work. This plus the week leading into it. We have to do have a lot to

2:22:50 > 2:22:54go through in the next seven days, going to a different continent. We

2:22:54 > 2:23:01will have travel, we will not have the full 32 prepare. -- the full 30

2:23:01 > 2:23:04to prepare. It's a wonderful challenge for our character and to

2:23:04 > 2:23:10see how we bounce back. No doubt we have to just man up. The most

2:23:10 > 2:23:13important thing now is that everybody looks to themselves to

2:23:13 > 2:23:18say, what can I do to improve. If everybody can give a little bit more

2:23:18 > 2:23:21than the collective will flourish. That's what we have relied on. It's

2:23:21 > 2:23:26the strength of our game as a collective that letters down

2:23:26 > 2:23:33tonight.Rory, out in your bare feet tonight, what a man!Rory Best

2:23:33 > 2:23:36hinting perhaps that the Ulster preparation needs looking at.

2:23:36 > 2:23:40Challenging the character of the team. Bold words from the most

2:23:40 > 2:23:44experienced player in the Ulster set up tonight.The disappointment is

2:23:44 > 2:23:48obvious. He has reached a wonderful personal milestone but he has

2:23:48 > 2:23:51glossed over that pretty quickly to get to the court of searching for

2:23:51 > 2:23:58what is wrong. That's so they can improve as individuals and as a

2:23:58 > 2:24:01collective. One thing they have in the team is a strong bond in the

2:24:01 > 2:24:10group. Spirit.Is that enough?It's not, clearly, because tonight. But

2:24:10 > 2:24:15when they were at the 80 tonight, and the months and weeks leading to

2:24:15 > 2:24:19this point, they need to learn to stop repeating those mistakes. The

2:24:19 > 2:24:23season is long, but if they keep repeating mistakes, the scoreline

2:24:23 > 2:24:25will keep being like it was to night.It was obvious what went

2:24:25 > 2:24:30wrong in the 80 minutes, but as he says, it's about going away and

2:24:30 > 2:24:34finding the reasons for that. What do you think those reasons are?They

2:24:34 > 2:24:38need to strip things back and look within themselves. It comes down to

2:24:38 > 2:24:44small tweaks. It's a game from one week to the next way you don't know

2:24:44 > 2:24:49how things will exactly pan out. Leinster could turn up with a

2:24:49 > 2:24:52fantastic... The Leinster line-out could have gone terrible tonight and

2:24:52 > 2:24:56give Ulster a boost because we could have potentially won those

2:24:56 > 2:24:59line-outs, but we didn't. The Leinster line-out turned out again

2:24:59 > 2:25:04and again. We have to stay cool and composed under pressure situations

2:25:04 > 2:25:07and to move forward as a team and club they have to be calm and

2:25:07 > 2:25:12collected at any given time. Understand things go wrong, but it's

2:25:12 > 2:25:15how you deal with those situations in the middle of the match, in the

2:25:15 > 2:25:20heat of the moment, can you turn it around? They need to look at that.

2:25:20 > 2:25:23It's obvious what the result tonight will do it terms of points within

2:25:23 > 2:25:26the table and where Ulster might finish at the end of the season.

2:25:26 > 2:25:30What do you think a result like that backed up with the La Rochelle

2:25:30 > 2:25:35result last week does to the character and confidence of Ulster?

2:25:35 > 2:25:39It will reveal their character. Nothing more certain than that. Off

2:25:39 > 2:25:43the back of two losses, that's a real litmus test for the character

2:25:43 > 2:25:46of the group and composure within the management team. It's up to them

2:25:46 > 2:25:50as a collective. They will be bitterly disappointed in the

2:25:50 > 2:25:55changing room. They have come out to a packed Kingspan against their

2:25:55 > 2:25:58fiercest domestic rivals and have been well and truly stitched up. We

2:25:58 > 2:26:03will find out a lot about the team's performance next week, how they

2:26:03 > 2:26:05handle it, and the prospects moving forward based on what they do next

2:26:05 > 2:26:09week. They will be without some leaders as well, so it will take

2:26:09 > 2:26:13other guys who have maybe been in the background to step forward and

2:26:13 > 2:26:17take ownership and drive it forward. Charles Piutau hobbling off at the

2:26:17 > 2:26:22end. It remains to be seen what his fitness is like. What will they

2:26:22 > 2:26:26expect in the southern hemisphere for Ulster's first visit to South

2:26:26 > 2:26:29Africa next Saturday?Some nice weather for a start. But they are

2:26:29 > 2:26:34not going out for a suntan, let's face it. These guys have to turn up.

2:26:34 > 2:26:39It's just another game, doesn't matter where it is. It's how they

2:26:39 > 2:26:42deal with the travel situation. The world is a small place now. I don't

2:26:42 > 2:26:46want to sit here next week or the week after and say, it was a big

2:26:46 > 2:26:50journey. They know what's coming. They know what they are in for. It's

2:26:50 > 2:26:58the same for the Southern Kings when they travel up here. Conditions

2:26:58 > 2:27:02underfoot will be nicer, potentially firmer, but it's the same sized

2:27:02 > 2:27:07rugby pitch, a different atmosphere, simple.South Africa coming up for

2:27:07 > 2:27:11Ireland in two weeks' time. 16 of the players on show tonight are in

2:27:11 > 2:27:16the Irish squad. It feels like there will be a lot of Leinster players in

2:27:16 > 2:27:21the starting 15 for Ireland. How many Ulster players will make it

2:27:21 > 2:27:27after what we have seen tonight?Joe Schmidt would base his selection on

2:27:27 > 2:27:31one performance. You will look at a lot of games and map out the three

2:27:31 > 2:27:35games and how it impacts on Six Nations, end of tour, World Cups,

2:27:35 > 2:27:43etc. You have to think Rory Best has enough Money in the Bank. Henderson

2:27:43 > 2:27:47has performed particularly well over the last six months, particularly on

2:27:47 > 2:27:51the Lions tour. Some of the fringe selections after that. No doubt

2:27:51 > 2:27:54Leinster players are delivering every week. In recent history they

2:27:54 > 2:28:00have formed the nucleus of the team and there is nothing we saw tonight

2:28:00 > 2:28:04to suggest otherwise.There are individuals in there but Joe will be

2:28:04 > 2:28:09looking at his game plan. It's a different style of rugby between

2:28:09 > 2:28:13Leinster, Ulster and Munster. He will be looking at his game plan,

2:28:13 > 2:28:16and then at the individuals to see what characteristics those

2:28:16 > 2:28:20individuals can bring to his game plan. You have Stuart McCloskey in

2:28:20 > 2:28:24the middle, a strong guy offering something slightly different to the

2:28:24 > 2:28:28other centres. He will look at individuals. He will just think,

2:28:28 > 2:28:33Leinster do well, I will throw them in. That's not how it rolls.Andy

2:28:33 > 2:28:40and Ryan, thank you for your company tonight. Live commentary on radio

2:28:40 > 2:28:43Ulster for those autumn internationals.

2:29:07 > 2:29:12We will be live on Facebook for a while longer straight after this

2:29:12 > 2:29:16programme. But this Halloween, Leinster came to the Kingspan,

2:29:16 > 2:29:20spooked the opposition, and it was a fright night for Ulster. Goodbye

2:29:20 > 2:29:24from all of us.