Yes, we are only in late December and Ulster
have defeated all comers, be they Welsh, Italian, Scottish or Irish, racking up
47 league points in the process. Compare that to their points total at this
stage last season, a measly 21, that is incredible.
The latest to fall to the Ulster sword were
interprovincial rivals Leinster, and they fell in pretty dramatic fashion…
Leinster
boys beaten black and blue
In reality, the match only had one winner.
From the first minute, Ulster’s intensity was far superior to that of their
opposition and it showed in the way the match went. The scrum, the breakdown
and the match in general swung in the direction of the Ulstermen and the
victory will do wonders for this side.
Why? Because that’s only Ulster’s second win
in 19 attempts against their neighbouring province. To get that win was crucial
for Mark Anscombe’s side, not only in the league, not only to get back to
winning ways after their first defeat of the season, but to get the Leinster
‘monkey’ off their backs. For years, Ulster have lived in the shadows of
Leinster and Munster, but now they are emerging as a potent threat.
Friday’s victory just proves where they are
as a team – right at the very top. They are firm favourites to finish top of
the regular season league table and they control their Heineken Cup pool. The
win over Leinster is the final monkey off Ulster’s back and now they have free
reign – nobody scares them anymore.
The match itself was one of Ulster’s most
complete performances of the season. They had Leinster wrapped up in every area
of the pitch – especially in the scrum, which was an area that was expected to
be dominated by Leinster considering every single member of their pack had been
capped for Ireland.
But instead, it was Ulster’s international front
row who were the more effective, continually punishing the men in blue for
their lack of discipline and eventually forcing referee George Clancy to award
them a penalty try just before half-time.
That sparked the Ulster train into life. 13-9
up at half-time, the hosts ran in two more tries to lead 27-12 heading into the
last few minutes. But for Rory Best’s sin-binning in the 69th
minute, it may have stayed like that for longer, but as it was, with only 14
men, the Ulstermen couldn’t hold out for the full 80 and Fergus McFadden
crossed late on to make it 27-19 at the end.
Ulster can really push on from this win. With
the pressure firmly off them, it seems likely that they will send down a
weakened team to Thomond Park this weekend in order to rest their players for
the return of the Heineken Cup in January. It may result in a crushing defeat,
but the management won’t mind. Long term gain for short term pain is the
apparent message.
No matter what the result will be on
Saturday, Ulster will head into the New Year in a fantastic position in both
competitions – many points clear in the league and in the running for a home
quarter-final in the Heineken Cup. Who could complain? Only every other Celtic
club…
Merry
Christmas!
Finally, I would like to say ‘Merry
Christmas’ to all my loyal readers. Make sure you keep tuning in throughout
2013 for more Ulster Rugby news and views!
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