True, there’s never much you can criticise from a bonus point
performance, and many with more sense than I would simply leave it at five
points gained: move on. However, to ignore the shortcomings of Ulster’s back
line would be a severe case of ignorance is bliss, and coming into a crucial
part of the season that would be criminal for all involved.
While the introduction of Nick Williams and the hard working mind-set
of Rory Best spearheaded Ulster’s charge for their bonus point in the last
twenty minutes, Les Kiss will be less than pleased at how numbers 9-15
performed against one of the more porous defences they’ll face all season, even
when reduced to fourteen men.
Let’s not forget that this is an Edinburgh team that conceded a
mind-boggling 63 points away to the Ospreys, and quite rightly inhabit a lowly
tenth place in the Pro12 with just 7 points and one win from their first five
contests. Yet somehow one of the so-called “best backlines in Europe” struggled
to manage just one clean line break between them with Andrew Trimble’s try in
the first half the only positive aspect for a limp back performance.
Stuart McCloskey and the aforementioned Trimble may well hold their
heads high though. While their counterparts in the back line were struggling to
make any sort of an impact on the game they linked superbly for the opening try
of the evening, McCloskey’s break providing the space for Trimble, who had the
presence of mind to switch the ball to his other hand in order to hand off Tim
Visser to score.
McCloskey, only making his second start of the season after injury,
was probably Ulster’s best player of the night. A constant thorn in the side of
the Scottish visitors, his strong running and ability to seemingly always break
the first tackle made him a handful to deal with, while on the wing Andrew
Trimble was, well, Andrew Trimble. The Ireland winger was eager for the ball
and took his two tries very well proving just why he should be keep his place
as one of the starting wingers for Ireland in the November internationals.
Beyond that, there wasn’t much for anyone to get excited about.
Part of the blame probably does have to be attributed to an
increasingly bizarre policy of rotation which has seen five different centre
partnerships in the past five games, but even so, some players simply look off
the pace. Even the in-form Louis Ludik who has been very impressive since
arriving from Agen, was struggling to impose himself on the game, finding
himself sucked into the mundane kicking contest that went on.
And yes, for those who watched the game at home, the endless kicking
that went on was just as boring for us at the game than it was for you.
Apparently there was no other tactic that could break down the Edinburgh
defence and the Ulster back three resorted to dropping balls from orbit to the
reliable Phil Burleigh – a tactic that not only failed, but put the crowd to
sleep at the same time.
Compare that to the Ospreys game two weeks ago where they sliced
through the hapless Gunners with ease. 63 points speaks for itself – and for
those whose maths is just as good as mine, that’s double what we managed to put
on them – and they all came from a flowing passing game where the Ospreys mercilessly
attacked the line from all over the park, and reaping the rewards at the
full-time whistle. “Them’s the margins”, or so they say, and we’ve got a lot of
work to do to catch up with the men from Swansea, and Glasgow too, whose trip
to Belfast this Friday looks irresistible now.
The Warriors will arrive at the Kingspan unbeaten and in fantastic form,
having seen off Treviso 40-23 on Sunday, scoring six tries in the process.
Gregor Townsend has moulded them into a superb coherent side that look like
they have managed to improve even from last season and if Ulster are to head
into the Champions’ Cup with some positive reinforcement then those backs will
have to start firing on all cylinders.
Otherwise you can forget about beating Glasgow, Leicester or Toulon
right now.
And as a final sign-off, a special mention has to go to Alan O’Connor.
The 22-year old former Leinsterman has had to bide his time over the
last two years since his move north, however the injuries to Dan Tuohy and Iain
Henderson gifted him the chance to impress on Friday night. And, while I won’t
declare him to be the answer to our injury worries just yet, he certainly gave
a good account of himself, regardless of how poor the opposition were. Another
start against Glasgow this week may
beckon…
No comments:
Post a Comment