Advertisement
Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Coetzee and Cooney to the fore as Ulster sink Clermont

Tries from Jordi Murphy and John Cooney delivered the result for Ulster.

Ulster 18

Clermont 13

THE AFTERNOON DELUGE around Belfast put a tight rein on pre-match expectations. Yet two teams committed to playing attacking, expansive rugby while it was possible ensured the show went on.

From Ulster’s perspective, it went with barely a hitch as they took over top spot in Champions Cup pool 3 with two wins from two with a back-to-back against Harlequins to come in a fortnight.

A game with close calls on the try-line, spurned chances, scuffles, terrific offloads, frustrating spills,  pantomime villains feigning injury and a wealth of attacking kicking variety was ultimately settled by a sensational individual try from John Cooney.

Dan McFarland demanded his side use the ball after they claimed a win with minimal possession in Bath. His side did not disappoint him with Billy Burns bringing a varied threat from out-half.

Still, there was grit required in spades from the northern province to grapple their way to a tight win. Marcell Coetzee was again a force of nature on the ground, Stuart McCloskey tackled himself to a standstill, Rob Herring thoroughly cemented Api Naqalevu and fullback Will Addison produced a vicious hit on second row Paul Jedresiak to thwart one of Clermont’s three incisive first-half attacks that would yield just three points on the board.

ulster-and-asm-clermont-auvergne-players-scuffle-early-in-the-game Tempers flare during the first half. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

The biblical showers that drenched the north-east coast mercifully cleared before kick-off in Ravenhill and Ulster duly set out to make early hay. A minute’s worth of solid pressure forced a breakdown penalty out of Peceli Yato and John Cooney slotted his side into the lead.

The scrum-half, though, was guilty of spurning a gilt-edged chance on their attack. An eighth minute scrum, won through excellent pressure from Louis Ludik on Nick Abendanon under a high ball, set Dan McFarland’s side on a sweeping right-to-left move.  Burns chipped over the advancing line, McCloskey made the catch and set his scrum-half away. It looked for all the world a try, but Cooney shunned the white jerseys to his left and attempted to cut inside Alivereti Raka. A combination of a slip and a decent chase from Sitaleki Timani earned a reprieve for the visitors.

Chances, however, are a positive indicator. And thanks to a superb midfield turnover penalty won by Coetzee Ulster soon had another.

Pulses will have raced moments earlier as Abendanon’s delicate grubber was within a whisker of creating a try for Raka. But the Ravenhill faithful were put at ease by their side’s set-piece efficiency before a maul rumbled over to bring Jordi Murphy the opening try on 17 minutes.

jordi-murphy-scores-a-try Jordi Murphy forces an Ulster try. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Clearly, Clermont’s analysis identified a massive opportunity in attacking behind Louis Ludik as a second grubber from deep caused Ulster all sorts of trouble in the 23rd minute. Jake McIntyre’s kick appeared to be sitting up perfectly for Raka to take in his stride, but there was just enough pressure from the covering Stockdale to force a knock on.

If they were living a charmed life in defence, Ulster maintained a remarkable swagger in attack. A pin-point cross-field kick brought a gorgeous offload from Stockdale to Luke Marshall and the centre was marginally annexed to touch by George Moala.

Laidlaw and Cooney swapped penalties after Addison’s crunching hit on Jedresiak forced the lock to be replaced early. A 13- 3 half-time lead for the hosts was richly deserved and they were glad to defend it with the wind at their backs.

However, as Clermont finally introduced Camille Lopez from the bench, Cooney badly missed two touchfinders. Deteriorating conditions played a part in creating a fractious third quarter and Greig Laidlaw slotted had two chances to make it a one-score game. He got the second.

It was to remain that way only for a minute. The same selfish streak that tempted Cooney into going on his own in the game’s early minutes helped tipped the balance of the second half. The imperious number 9 sniped on the short side of a 62nd minute scrum, chipped over the stranded defender and touched down a brilliant try after nudging the pill along with his shin.

The Ireland international missed his conversion right and, with the rain growing ever thicker, the French pack dug in for trench warfare and the maul forced a 72nd-minute penalty try to set up a grandstand finish with the score at 18-13.

marcell-coetzee-with-isaia-toeava-and-nick-abendanon Coetzee challenges for a high ball. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

All trace of the expansive, flowing first-half rugby was gone as Ulster battled and scrapped for every loose ball and made a mess of the visitors’ attempts to mount late attacks of their line-out as the penalty count threatened to get out of control for McFarland’s side.

The relentless frantic effort was not to be in vain, though. And Kingspan erupted in celebration as that man Coetzee, Iain Henderson and Kyle McCall combined to force a turnover with the clock gone red.

Friday night at Ravenhill, it never disappoints.

Scorers

Ulster

Tries: J Murphy, J Cooney

Conversions: J Cooney (1/2)

Penalties: J Cooney (2/2)

Clermont

Tries: Penalty

Penalties: G Laidlaw (2/3)

 Ulster:  Will Addison,  Louis Ludik, Luke Marshall,  Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns (Bill Johnston ’68), John Cooney: Eric O’Sullivan (Kyle McCall ’66), Rob Herring, Marty Moore (Tom O’Toole ’66); Alan O’Connor (Kieran Treadwell ’57), Iain Henderson; Sean Reidy (Nick Timoney ’61), Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Clermont: Nick Abendanon (Apisai Naqalevu  ’47),  Peter Betham,  Isaiah Toeava,  George Moala, Alivereti Raka, Jake McIntyre (Camille Lopez ’47), Greig Laidlaw (Morgan Parra ’62): Etienne Falgoux (Loni Uhila ’47), John Ulugia ((Mike Tadjer ’47), Rabah Slimani (Davit Zirakashvili ’47); Paul Jedrasiak (Thibault Lanen ’31), Sitaleki Timani
Peceli Yato, Arthur Iturria (Lucas Dessaigne ’73 (Reversed ’76)), Fritz Lee .

Close
42 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute #JUSTICE4NOEL
    Favourite #JUSTICE4NOEL
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:30 PM

    Why is there a Hollywood star in the picture lads?

    175
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute grandslamkbo
    Favourite grandslamkbo
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:48 PM

    @#JUSTICE4NOEL: Didn’t go for glory at the end either, just passed the ball on to COB to put the game away. Israel Folau should take note.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Finnegan
    Favourite William Finnegan
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 9:34 PM

    @#JUSTICE4NOEL: sporting icon

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Demps
    Favourite Jim Demps
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:04 PM

    Fair play to Leinster, it got sticky in a game that should have been straight forward but they hung in there and got the job done and came home with the bonus point win. There were some very average performances in the first half, especially from the all international front row who were all outplayed but the half time chat got them all more focussed. Fardy did well and Deegan put in some big numbers. Thought o brien did well at 12 too and so did Gibson Park. Perfect result for Cullen, maximum points but plenty of work ons for the young lads come Monday morning.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The_Muffin_Man
    Favourite The_Muffin_Man
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:27 PM

    Porter is one of the most overrated players at the moment. Has little to no influence over a game and is average at best. Without bias to munster I would put him below stephen archer

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin Murphy
    Favourite Eoin Murphy
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:32 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: good joke im sure stephen archer is in the ireland squad too

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Murray
    Favourite Michael Murray
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:54 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: well for the bench, Ryan a better all round option maybe.

    11
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiachra Ahern Esq
    Favourite Fiachra Ahern Esq
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:58 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: about time someone called this. Porter is really struggling for form at the moment and it’s a worry if Furlong gets injured. The gulf is massive

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rollander
    Favourite Rollander
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 11:20 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: what absolute shite talk. Porter is still firmly 2 for Ireland.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Rugby Nuts
    Favourite Mike Rugby Nuts
    Report
    Feb 17th 2019, 8:55 AM

    @The_Muffin_Man: I cringe watching him trot around the park. Nothing in open play but excellent in the scrum.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bob Joe
    Favourite Bob Joe
    Report
    Feb 17th 2019, 1:49 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: 1 bad game, he is a class ahead of Ryan. Deluded

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony
    Favourite Anthony
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 7:11 PM

    Carty has to start against Italy

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Demps
    Favourite Jim Demps
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 7:13 PM

    @Anthony: why?

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Verdon
    Favourite Ian Verdon
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 7:46 PM

    @Jim Demps: Because he’s a Connacht player and Anthony is extremely biased towards Connacht players.

    39
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute grandslamkbo
    Favourite grandslamkbo
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 8:38 PM

    @Ian Verdon: had he led with Ultan Dillane, he would have snapped up 50 recs by now. Dillane was outstanding. Looks like he’s really enjoying his rugby.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Verdon
    Favourite Ian Verdon
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 10:00 PM

    @grandslamkbo: Yeah dillane is back to his destructive best, it’s brilliant to see. His carriers were so explosive tonight and I would love him to start against Italy.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony
    Favourite Anthony
    Report
    Feb 17th 2019, 12:02 PM

    @Ian Verdon: haha keep biting lads lol

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute rowan hill
    Favourite rowan hill
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:00 PM

    Lucky lucky boys

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oval Digest
    Favourite Oval Digest
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:04 PM

    @rowan hill: A lucky 16 point, 6 try win away? I’ll take it!

    114
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute grandslamkbo
    Favourite grandslamkbo
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:43 PM

    @Oval Digest: Yep. They really dicked about in those 10 minutes before half time. Lost composure everywhere and the state of that Dave Kearney ‘tackle’ for the 3rd Zebre try!! Their conference is as good as over but some of the players are trying to get back in the national squad. They need to do much better. But, like you, I’ll take it. Plenty of home games left aswell.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mrbryanrussell
    Favourite mrbryanrussell
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 7:14 PM

    10 points from securing 1st place at this stage. The league is brutal at stages (teams not sending teams to win away) tied in with Leinster being very good in others.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Feb 17th 2019, 12:00 PM

    Watched it again, COB , Doris, deagan and moloney where all very good.
    The best player on the pitch was JGP. His box kicks were very good and not for the first time this season set up a box kick and sniped a sneaky pass from the base allowing massive yards

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Santi Charlie Bravo
    Favourite Santi Charlie Bravo
    Report
    Feb 16th 2019, 6:32 PM

    You might aswell have called them “Zebra”

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel