ULSTER NUMBER EIGHT Sean Reidy has said that the team are bitterly disappointed with their 38-19 Champions Cup loss to Clermont Auvergne.
After last week’s thrilling 39-32 classic at the Kingspan Stadium, this one would prove not to be such a memorable one for Ulster, who were three tries and 21-0 down at the break.
Although they scored three tries in the second half, Ulster could not find a fourth for a valuable bonus point and return to Belfast with nothing after a late Clermont revival took the result beyond seven points.
“To be honest we’re pretty disappointed,” Reidy admitted after the game. “We can’t give away that many points in the first half and expect to win these kind of games.
“Their home crowd really got in behind them. They came out really physical in the first 15/20 minutes and that set the tone for the rest of the match.”
Nevertheless, the New Zealand-born back-rower says their second half performance proves that they can mix it with the best in Europe when they play at their best.
“We know we can play some great footy, we just have to hold onto that ball and do the little things,” Reidy claimed.
If we do that we know we can score some great tries, we have a really talented team and we know we can play right up there with the best in Europe.
“They had a little blip in the second half and we started to get a bit of ball together and hold onto it, which we didn’t do in the first half, we gave away too many knock ons and stuff.
“Just goes to show if we keep the ball in hand we can score points against teams like this.”
Ulster now have a five day turnaround before they take on Connacht in what will be an intriguing inter-provincial clash in Belfast on Friday night, meaning there’s very little time for recovery.
Reidy, however, says that they have to put today’s result behind them and concentrate on the challenge ahead in the Guinness PRO12.
“It’s a pretty short turnaround next Friday against Connacht and we know they played well this week,” the Ireland flanker warns.
There’s no rest here, we have to put today behind us and move on to next week.
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Ruddock Leavy Heaslip O Brien Van der Flier Murphy Fardy Conan Deegan Leinster back row strength is unreal If carlsberg did backrows they would probably not be as good as Leinsters
Rare to see two players joining straight from school in Aungier and O’Sullivan.
I just don’t know how Leinster are going to keep all these backrows happy but I hope they do.
The talent level being brought through is amazing.
@Gustave H: the great thing is the talent is flowing to the first team and beyond so they must know the way to keep them all happy.
@Gustave H: Let Ulster sign them to let them get game time.
@Christiaan Theron: I don’t think it’s a case of letting them. They want to stay and fight for their place.
From what I heard Ulster went in heavily for Jack Conan and he’d no interest.
@Gustave H: True. There’s one or two that would want to do a serious bit of thinking though. It’s admirable wanting to earn the starting spot here, but playing week in week out and in Champions Cup games in Ravenhill would stand to them more than a few Pro12 games during the Six Nations. It’s a short career, and waiting in line didn’t work out for Ryan or Madigan.
Some of these kids should go on loan to Ulster and London Irish
@Aidan O: They don’t want to.
@Lf: Shows how ambitious they are. Every player knows they have to play regular on the 23 for a province to get capped.
@Christiaan Theron: You’re right Christian, it does show how ambitious they are. Instead of moving to another lesser side backing yourself to get into a team packed full of talent that’s more likely to challenge for trophies shows serious ambition and confidence.
@Christiaan Theron: Heaslip, O’Brien, Leavy, Murphy, Van der Flier, Conan and Ruddock. All Irish internationals
@Oval Digest: You mean like Marty Moore and Ian Madigan now presently lost to the Irish national side.
@Christiaan Theron: did James Ryan not get capped for Ireland before playing for Leinster?
@Christiaan Theron: Haha those support my point! Both stayed and were in the Irish squad, when they left they were found out a bit and left out.
Why would you want to head to Ulster or London Irish if you were an ambitious, talented player from Leinster?
If anything, it would show a lack of ambition to move.
@Christiaan Theron: Ulster should try developing their own players instead of relying on Saffers and other provinces.