STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Yes we got the bonus point. Yes we’re still seven points clear at the top of the table. But to put it simply: that performance was only marginally better than last weekend’s defeat. And against any other side we could have been beaten for the second week running.

Certainly if Ulster replicate that performance against Glasgow next week then they will be humiliated. It was dire, it was lethargic, and above all it was riddled with errors. At this level that just isn’t acceptable and the longer Ulster repeat those performances, the longer they will continue to repeat them.

Five points, but a lot of work to be done…

Finding the positives

It’s easy to be negative after the game, but there are a lot of positives that can come from a win like that. Mark Anscombe talked after the game about the enthusiasm that the players showed, and that is something that cannot be faulted. From Luke Marshall’s charge down inside the first minute, to Andrew Trimble’s kick chase in overtime, you could not criticise their dedication to the cause. Unfortunately dedication is only one side of the coin, and you have to have the ability to match it in order to be successful.

Maybe I am being a bit over-critical – Ulster did manage to get the four tries, and that’s all that was needed. They could have had two more actually, if TMO Peter Ferguson had ruled that Chris Cochrane didn’t put a foot in touch and Iain Henderson had managed to ground the ball at the base of the post-protector. From the start you could see that was the aim as Ruan Pienaar turned down a very kickable penalty in the first few minutes, and they achieved that aim. Job done, even if the manner which they did it in wasn’t so good.

In a complete reversal to last week, Rob Herring’s line-outs were solid and found their target each time (bar one), and once Niall Annett replaced him this continued. In the second half, Ulster’s scrums were also very strong after the introduction of John Afoa at half-time, which gave them the crucial field positions to score their tries from.

There were plenty of strong individual performances too – most notably back rows Iain Henderson and Robbie Diack, who appear to be the two players fighting it out for the 6 shirt in Stephen Ferris’ absence. Both made their presences known on the field, flying into rucks and making barrelling runs forward, Diack scoring two tries himself.

At full-back Ricky Andrew continued to improve with another composed performance which he capped off with Ulster’s bonus point try. The Ballymena man is slowly becoming an established back-up for Jared Payne. Andrew Trimble also put in another committed effort in an attempt to prove to Declan Kidney that he should be the one who replaces the injured Simon Zebo.

So it wasn’t all bad for Ulster.

Someone call the paramedics…

It wasn’t so good to see several players limp off injured though – especially since they are all big players for Ulster.

First was Luke Marshall who suffered two dead legs near the end of the first half. Yes, not one, but two! Not too bad a loss for Ulster since he will be away with Ireland this week anyway, but it is a disappointment for the man himself who was looking to put in a good performance to show the Ireland selectors that he can be the one to replace the injured Gordon D’Arcy.

Next to fall was another man who would have been away with Ireland – Chris Henry. And I say would because after being ruled out for four weeks, he will miss the remainder of the Six Nations. Luckily for Ulster he will be back in time for the Heineken Cup quarter-final so this injury may be a blessing rather than a curse.

Last to limp off was Johann Muller, with a groin strain. And unfortunately, it has resulted in another lengthy spell on the sidelines – he will be out for up to six weeks. Out of all of the injuries, this one should be the one that hurts Ulster the most. His influence and leadership skills are crucial for the Ulstermen and if he misses the Heineken Cup quarter-final then it will be considerably harder for them to win.

In all, Ulster will be missing 25 players for Friday’s match vs. Glasgow…