ULSTER SECURED FOUR points last night against Montpellier, and their line is that a fifth would have made little difference in truth.
In all likelihood, a win for Leicester against Treviso this afternoon will set up a potentially thrilling Pool 5 denouement at Welford Road next weekend. Ulster out-half Paddy Jackson claims that fixture is the type of game professional players long for, but admits his province will need to be much improved to come away with a win.
Ulster’s errors in possession hindered their progress at Ravenhill yesterday evening, as they played into the hands of the aggressive Montpellier defence. Jackson says that although Ulster did attempt to kick over and around the French side’s aggressive line, that was often attempted off scrappy ball.
At times it was a bit frustrating. We were trying to play territory and at times we seemed to be kicking off the back foot a lot, which made it difficult. But a couple of our tries came from kicks. They were out to spoil our party, they didn’t have anything to lose, so we knew it was going to be difficult.
“We knew they were going to come hard, and they had a hard blitz defence, so it’s something we need to deal with a bit better in the future I think.”
Jackson’s superb diagonal kick allowed Robbie Diack to gather without having to completely break stride and open Ulster’s try-scoring account in the 25th minute. That was one of several impressive touches from the 22-year-old’s right boot, a growing feature of his performances this season.
In humble fashion, Jackson pointed out that “the boys made it easy for me” by calling that particular play in from the wing. Regardless, the Ireland international is kicking well out of hand, a skill that will be important against Leicester.
Welford awaits
Welford Road’s crowd can often be intimidating for the away side, but Jackson has a fond memory of the place. The Belfast native made his Heineken Cup debut there in 2011, briefly appearing as a substitute in a 20-9 defeat.
“My first Heineken Cup experience was there. I got five minutes off the bench and I remember coming through the tunnel and there was a lot of noise being made. Everyone’s close to the pitch and it’s one of those places you love to go.
“It’s games like this that you want to play in, so I’m looking forward to it.”
We are in month 4 of the year. Salah has been incredible thus far but Keane is right in the sense that it’s very hard to make a case for any player unless they have major honours behind them. Look back on all the winners and the vast majority have won the big trophies. Of course if they win the CL which is very possible, he becomes a red hot favourite.
@Robert O Farrell: Agreed. The international competitions also usually take precedence over club football in Ballon D’or voting so how Messi, Ronaldo and Salah perform during the World Cup will have a big impact.
@Robert O Farrell: complete b0110cks.
You could theoretically be the best player in the world playing for a team winning bugger all but outperforming your peers except in trophies. And not to be considered?
Guess that means Brian O’Driscoll never should have been mentioned as a world player of the year contender as he (Ireland) bottled world cups and grand slams?
@Mikarlachenko: Shut it fool
@Mikarlachenko: Even after winning a grand slam and a Heineken cup in 2009 BOD still didn’t get player of the year (yup, still bitter about that one and the bould Richie McCaw). Its actually a good reflection of the situation with the balloon d’or, there’s no way Messi and Ronaldo have been the outstanding candidates every one of the last 10 years but yang hasn’t stopped the accolades heading their way
Normally agree with Keane and he usually says it as it is. However, the award is player of the year. Its isn’t an award for the best player in a team that won trophies this year.
It’s an individual, not team award – if salah consistently plays this well through the year and is the best player in the world, then he deserves to win it. This is regardless of whether Liverpool or Egypt win anything.
@Seán C: THANK YOU! Spot on
@Seán C: It’s about the trophies though. Messi outscored Ronaldo last year, but Ronaldo won the trophies. It probably shouldn’t be that way but it’s a team game!
@Shy Tall Knight: It’s an individual award
Rubbish as usual from Keane.. the best player in the world is just that..you don’t need a body of work behind you ..its a seasonal award…if Liverpool win the champions league he has to be on the short list…and that’s from a spurs fan!
@Barry Evans: Is that not basically what Keane said? Win the trophy and then he’s in the conversation!
@Barry Evans: that’s exactly what he said. If he doesn’t win something then he isn’t at that level.
@Barry Evans: betraying your anti Keane bias there.
And since when does he regularly talk rubbish, if anything hes always straight to the point. Especially compared to half the spoofers on football panels
@Jim Demps: He’s already won pfa player of the season. You’re looking for Liverpool as a team to win something as a measure of him deserving an individual reward. It’s beyond stupid. It’s like when Portugal won the euro’s and people said Ronaldo deserved player of the year for it, even though he did sweet feck all the whole tournament. Absolute idiocy
@Barry Evans: obviously didn’t read the article ooopps
@Barry Evans: eh ‘rubbish as usual from Keane’ and then you repeat EXACTLY what he was saying ??? Idiot.
@Barry Evans: it’s a yearly award
@Barry Evans: To be considered a great player you have to be performing consistently well over a period of years. No doubt Sala having great year and is probably player of the year but can he do it next year and the year after, Messi and Ronaldo have so did Keane in his pomp, (probably best ever midfielder in PL, even maybe europe as well). Keane spot on in what he is saying.
I think if the voting was tomorrow he’d win it but still a long way from the voting. If he doesn’t win the champions league or have a good start to next season i feel it will go to someone else. Especially if Ronaldo or Messi have a good world cup.
Ronaldo form this year has been a major reason why Madrid are where they are in la liga. His form was really poor for the first half of the season. Yes he has been unreal in the champions league but no better than salah . He has 15 goals , 3 of which are penalties . For me to that he has to win the champions league to win the balón is crap . He could score a hat trick if he gets to the final and Madrid could score four, with Ronaldo having a nightmare like last night and it scoring . Would Ronaldo still deserve it then ? For me. It’s salah number 1 , messi number 2 and Ronaldo number three at present . Salah is about to have the greatest season in English football history surely it deserves to be recognized ,
Andy cole is a strange example considering the striking talent Keane played with, one goal internationally and I can’t remember him ever scoring in a cup final. Yorke, sheringham, RVN, solskaer, Rooney and ronaldo would all spring to mind ahead of him
@Sean Lawlor: He’s talking about amounts scored , not most important and boy did Andy Cole score some amount of goals.
@Sean Lawlor: Internationally he had Shearer, Sheringham, Owen and Fowler to contend with too.
@Hardly Normal: And Keane never played with him internationally. in fairness to Keane he was only talking about strikers he played with at club level so not unreasonable to include Cole.
Where the hell is all this coming from. He has had a very good season and they want to erect a shrine to him. Give him a few more seasons and if he still doing what he has done this season then consider it. Gods aren’t made in one season.