Zebre 14
Ulster 57
ULSTER TOOK THEIR winning start to this season through a sixth game as Marcell Coetzee grabbed four of Ulster’s nine tries in a bonus point win over Zebre in Stadio Lanfranchi.
The northern province carried themselves with a confidence befitting their now six-game streak and built their advantage around an attacking maul that was the basis of their early scores.
Ethan McIlroy added to the winning tally with a fine finish late on his first start. 21-year-old Stewart Moore showed some flashes of his potential too, claiming a try for himself and carrying effectively outside Bill Johnston.
Ulster set the tone early, a fine early cross-field kick to McIlroy was backed up by series of pick and drives by the visitors’ big hitters before Coetzee barged his way over for a sixth-minute score.
McIlroy wasn’t able to take a high ball cleanly in the 10th minute on his own line, but it took a miraculous finish from Pierre Bruno to complete the score.
Pick up 🙌
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) November 16, 2020
Pirouette ➰
Put down 👇
Perfect from Pierre Bruno as @ZebreRugby hit back instantly 👏
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Enrico Lucchin beat the wing in the aerial challenge to bat a scrappy ball backwards. The bounce didn’t favour Bruno, but he managed to plant his hand on the ball and pin it against his backside while spinning.
And he somehow maintained that control all the way to grounding.
Ulster completely controlled the match when it was level at seven apiece, though they had to maintain faith in their 22 attack after twice passing up kickable penalties in favour of a line-out and twice being forced back.
Their third time lucky came after 24 minutes, when Coetzee grabbed his and his team’s second try on the end of a rolling maul.
Ulster’s third was far less conventional, coming on the back of compounding errors from Antonio Rizzi. The out-half’s 28th minute kick from his own half was charged down by Mike Lowry. The fullback collected the loose ball, got his hands beyond a covering tackle but Rizzi appeared to be in place to intercept running towards his own line.
Instead, the young 10 felt the ball slip between his fingers and into the path of a grateful Moore.
The smallest player on the pitch with a charge down 😳🙌
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) November 16, 2020
Great pressure from Mike Lowry and a defensive fumble allows @stewartmoore88 to extend @UlsterRugby’s lead 👏
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With a 12 point lead, Ulster did increase their attacking tempo as they pushed for a bonus point, but with Zebre spoiling it was again a five-metre line-out that provided the platform. The finisher was familiar too as Coetzee bull-dozed his way over to complete a hat-trick and seal a bonus point five minutes before half-time.
Entering the second half with a 7-26 lead, Dan McFarland’s side picked up where they left off and opened their account for the second half through another maul in the opposition 22. This time it wasn’t the pack who reaped the spoils, Alby Mathewson took the ball to attack the short side and Bill Johnston completed the overlap in the right corner.
McFarland will find areas to critique in next week’s review as the scoreboard advantage lulled Ulster into switching off before Niccolo Casilio’s quick-tapped a penalty and crossed. But by then Luke Marshall and Coetzee’s fourth had brought Ulster’s try tally to seven.
McIlroy’s excellent footwork in the closing minutes rang up the half century and the rout was completed by a scorching trail run from Dave Shanahan.
In Belfast, next Sunday, Scarlets will be the next side to have a crack at Ulster’s perfect start to the season.
Scorers
Zebre
Tries: P Bruno, N Casilio
Conversions: A Rizzi (1/1) P Pescetto (1/1)
Penalties: A Rizzi (0/1)
Ulster
Tries: M Coetzee (4), S Moore, B Johnston, L Marshall, E McIlroy, D Shanahan
Conversions: B Johnston (6/9)
Carty out there playing to prove a point! Should be 1st choice IRE No.10 on this form.
@Paraic Faherty: himself and Billy burns are playing great stuff
@Paraic Faherty: agreed billy burns and jack carthy should be ireland’s no 10.sextons days looked numbered.he don’t influence matches anymore and he needs to step aside for the better of the irish team
@reginald: he will step aside when they prove they are better than him and take it from him.. but as of now he is the best – end of !
@Paraic Faherty: he looked flabby and disinterested this evening to be honest.
First time I’ve ever agreed with Toland…. A mystery why Denis Buckley has never got an international cap
Excellent aggression and energy from Connacht so far and exposing the pillars and Luke picking and looking before passing.
This is the kind of rugby you want to be watching – Massively competitive and lots of little cameos asking tons of questions
Cracking game after a frustrating Ulster Munster game
@Mark O’Donohoe: and Connacht were 12/1…
Well Daly was shading myMOTM before try….certainly is now
Some of them leinster backs aren’t up to it at all
Connachts aggressive linespeed is proving really decisive. Under strength Leinster team, but Connacht deservedly well ahead & varying their plays keeping Leinster guessing.
Baird stands out from a great Leinster backrow.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: a great backrow on paper perhaps – need to get their act together
Connacht’s back three are costing them a lot of tries from bad positioning this season. They have been great in attack mind.
I am so so Pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan they totally deserved the win, if anyone was to beat Leinster I am so glad it was them
This is what happens when you have provide for the whole Ireland squad because other teams can’t produce players
@tomas o beag: didn’t seem a problem during international windows at all. Strength in depth is wjat Leinster are all about.
@tomas o beag: or maybe this is what happens when you spend 4 years blowing smoke up players and every academy lad believes he’s the next coming of BOD. Tonight has poured a fair bit of cold water on a Lot of young Leinster backs, destroyed by Connacht
@Dave O Keeffe: bit of an issue when you can’t play majority of your squad
@guineon: or maybe this is what happens when you play an odd mix of a team and give some young lads in Year 1 of academy a shot at an inter pro. Probably weakest Leinster team I’ve seen for a long time especially after HIA on Sexton.
Great experience but clearly didnt work. I’m sure the whole Covid situation at Leinster hasn’t helped prep either.
Great play by Connacht all the same – they can only play what’s in front of them
@guineon: destroyed?? No out half, team of mostly youths and won by 13 points and disallowed try
@guineon: t
@tomas o beag: so there was ~40 players out was there?
@guineon: two academy players in the back line one of them played well the other was quiet I think they got destroyed by having a 13 at out half and throwing terrible passes and taking up the ball a lot Tom daly is also from Leinster Arnold Munster not Connacht and they are the two that destroyed them
@JJ Doyle: Carty from Connacht man of the match stop crying
@Kohn Jeenan: didn’t say he wasn’t man of the match just said the centers played well and really stop crying what age are u really representing your province well and btw come back to me when u win a European cup
@tomas o beag: oh dear JJ.
No out half really showing
@JJ Doyle: have you missed Carty… 2 tries… running the show…
@JJ Doyle: I don’t follow. Do you mean that Carty is having a bad game?
@John Rogers: no he’s been brilliant
@Mark O’Donohoe: Sorry, I was asking the original poster.
@John Rogers: for Leinster having no out half playing when sexton went off
@JJ Doyle: Jack Carty’s 25 points is the most scored by a single player against Leinster in the professional era
I am so so pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan , they totally deserved the win
Fascinating last half hour coming up
Where does this leaves Leinster now in terms of playoff spot?
@Pete McEvoy: have they not won every game up to this point??
@Pete McEvoy: have to beat ulster with bonus point basically
@BMJF: So have Ulster
@tomas o beag: And Maybe make sure Ulster don’t get anything from the game
Now we’re talkin
@John Lowry: Probably got a major bollocking from Cullen & Lancaster in the dressing room. They’re a different team now, should be a crackin second half.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: totally
I am so so Pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan they totally deserved the win, if anyone was to beat Leinster I am so glad it was them
@Jan Nolan: why don’t you post a comment?
I am so so pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan , they totally deserved the win
I am so so pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan , they totally deserved the win
@Jan Nolan: Going out on a limb here Jan. I think you’re pleased for Connacht. Correct me if I’m wrong Jan