LES KISS HAS called on his Ulster side to deliver five points against Oyonnax in the final round of the Champions Cup next weekend.
Ulster were outclassed by a powerful Saracens outfit at Allianz Park to leave their quarter-final qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Clermont and Stade Francais are ahead of Ulster on 14 points while Northampton and Toulon could sneak ahead in the race for the three second-placed finishing spots following their home ties on Sunday.
Ulster will head into their final pool match with 13 points but a bonus-point victory against their French opponents can put them right in the mix for a place in the knockout stages.
“The truth is now we have to get five points and we also have to sit and wait for a couple of other results,” said the Australian.
“We don’t control our destiny completely. It’s the not ideal situation to be in but it’s a weird competition. Every year it does something different so we’ll see what happens.
“We’re first off the rank next week. The first game, so if we do our job then other people have to react to that.”
Luke Marshall’s superb early try gave Ulster the perfect start in north London but the power and efficiency of Saracens eventually told as Billy Vunipola, Duncan Taylor, Maro Itoje and Schalk Brits all crossed in a bonus-point victory that secured top spot in Pool 1, with a game to spare.
For a young Ulster outfit, it was a tough experience but one that will stand to the likes of Stuart McCloskey and Kyle McCall in the long-term.
Certainly, Ulster can learn from Saracens’ “ruthless efficiency” ahead of next Saturday’s crunch clash with Oyonnax.
“We’re extremely disappointed , to tell you the truth,” said Kiss. “They teach you a lesson every time you play them, in this game and the last game. It’s not good enough just to sit back and let those things happen to you in the second-half.
“That ruthless efficiency came to the fore. We reacted rather then held our composure.
“We had minutes that were good, but we didn’t have 80 minutes that were good. We have to take that hurt and transition that into a reaction next week.”
It was McCloskey’s early scything break that provided the platform for Marshall’s early score.
The powerful Ulster centre once again caught the eye and has been earmarked for a place in Joe Schmidt’s Six Nations squad in the coming weeks.
“Stuart was called into the camp a few weeks ago so he’s obviously in their sights,” added Kiss.
“It’s not for me to say whether he’s going to get there or not, but he’s certainly playing very well. He’s developing all the elements of his game. If he’s selected, well done. That’s what Joe and the other coaches will decide over the next day or two.”
Couldn’t realistically see Ulster beating Saracens in London anyway. Sarries are definitely contenders for this competition. Not over for Ulster though, they’re still in with a shout for the quarters. SUFTUM
Ulster are weak in the back row especially next season they could really do with a couple of Leinster transfers who have 7 or more top class back rowers. Arnold is a great young 12 stuck behind mccloskey and Marshall a transfer move to either Connacht or Munster could ignite his international prospects fast. I don’t see the IRFU implementing the transfer of backlogged talent.
They’re supposed to be announcing the signing of a big budget kiwi backrow in the coming weeks that might go some way to rectifying that!
Doak said on TV that they would be promoting from within.
Saracens set a standard and by one of Ulster’s own. Time the Ulster branch encouraged the amateurs at Ulster rugby to prove themselves overseas and made Mark McCall CEO if he would take it.
IRFU need to get the player system balanced across the four provinces. Leinster should send up an international tighthead like Moore (assuming doesn’t go to Wasps) , Ross (assuming he’s not retired) sor Furlong up to Ulster next season with a back-row or two. In return for a fullback / wing i.e Payne , Gilroy or Piteau . Sad to see Ulster loss but Saracens are the best team in Europe at the moment their set-piece is second to none and have the most inform 10 in the northern hemisphere at place kicking and kick chase but score could’ve been closer.