Instead I refer you to the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday night.
Ignoring the highly irregular Saturday night kick off time, there wasn’t much
to talk about following the game as normal order was once again resumed in the
Pro12 with Ulster emerging comfortable winners over the Newport-Gwent Dragons.
Yet not for the first time this season the crowd left the Ravenhill area with
an overwhelming sense of disappointment after the game.
Maybe the torrid weather had something to do with it, but in an
increasingly annoying pattern Ulster made heavy going of a straightforward fixture,
and they finished without the fourth try that would have given them a bonus
point that may be crucial in the grand scheme of things. The most annoying
thing about the game, however, is that this isn’t something that is foreign to
Ulster fans.
During international periods Ulster make a habit of struggling through
games. Last night was a classic example of the status quo as mistakes aplenty
and an embarrassing number of handling errors culminated in Declan
Fitzpatrick’s final play try counting for naught and an underwhelming
seventeen-point victory. You’ll be waiting for a long time before you get
another one of those.
And yet you had the sense it was coming.
True with many players reporting for duty to the Ireland camp there
were to be changes expected, but the inconsistency in team selections continued
with another seven changes to the starting XV. Stuart Olding (who, to his
credit was outstanding) and Louis Ludik both made their first starts of the
season at full-back and wing respectively, the centre lottery continued with
Darren Cave and Stuart McCloskey’s numbers coming up, and Sean Reidy was making
his debut in the back row. A settled team that was not.
Now as I say, with international call-ups there’s not much Neil Doak
could do about that and I don’t blame him for it for one second, however it
just emphasised how too many changes can impact a side. The Dragons were just
as impacted by injuries and were down to fielding 17-year old debutant Barney
Nightingale on the bench – put simply it was a game that was begging to have five
points taken from it.
And yet, like so many times before, Ulster could not find the extra
gear required during the international period to put in that top class
performance. Granted no side is going to be perfect with their front line
players missing, but a coach is determined to see his team put in a coherent
and fluid performance even when depleted, and for the past few years Ulster
haven’t been able to do that, whether it’s been under Brian McLaughlin or Mark
Anscombe or so far under Les Kiss and Neil Doak.
It’s a problem that’s plagued Ulster for years and it’s one that is
seemingly persisting as the seasons go by. Winning games is one thing, but
making sure that they get the maximum haul from games that are there for the
taking, like Saturday night, is another. Even if we are only seven games into
the season, that fourth try would have lifted Ulster above Glasgow into second
place and it’s always nice to be up there regardless of what stage of the year
we’re at.
What needs to be done to amend these shortcomings is beyond me and my
lack of rugby coaching knowledge. However what is obvious is that it needs
addressed quickly ahead of the visit of the high-flying Ospreys in a few weeks.
Already the clash at the Kingspan Stadium is looking like it will go a long way
to deciding the final pecking order in the Pro12, and unless Doak can spark his
side into action then the Ospreys will punish them.
There’s a two week break before the Welsh side roll into town though,
so that gives the coaching staff a bit of time to recuperate and prepare
adequately for the challenge the top side will pose. Still, minus their
international stars the Ospreys lose a considerable edge to their game, as
exhibited against Connacht last week, and that game will surely be a glorious
opportunity to take a few points off a rival. But that’s not for another couple
of weeks so no point worrying just yet.
As for me, I’m off on international duty on Saturday. Well I need
something to pass the time when Ulster aren’t around…
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