LAST NIGHT’S DEFEAT against Leinster at the RDS marked Ulster’s 11th match of their regular season Pro12 fixtures. That means we’re halfway through, folks.
Here’s how we think the northern province have fared with (hopefully) 18 games still to play.
Overall record
Won 11 lost 4. All four defeats have come in the league and the latest has shoved Ulster to fifth place in the Pro12. A home quarter-final hasn’t exactly been secured yet, but being top of their pool with 18 points from a possible 20 is just rewards for four fine European performances.
High point
The significance of the Heineken Cup win in Montpellier should not be understated. The southern French side are tough opponents in any sense of the word and Mark Anscombe sent a side with only one win ever in France to do a job on them.
From Tom Court’s ball-carrying to Paddy Jackson’s last-ditch tackles, this was a display that will long be remembered by those who traveled with a red hand on their chest.
Low point
The home defeat to Glasgow was (including the Pro12 final) a third consecutive defeat for the northern province and one all of their own making.
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Both Luke Marshall and Michael Allen spilled early chances over the try-line and, just when it looked like they’d scrape home with a win’ they allowed 14-man Glasgow to break and turn 12 – 6 into 12 -13.
Try of the season so far
Ulster had taken one of three try-scoring opportunities when Dan Tuohy pounced on a loose ball in his own half. The rest was Ulster at their free-flowing best.
While Pienaar and Payne have shown flashes of world class ability needed to open games up, it’s the third P of their back-line pillars, Paddy Jackson, who has kept the northern province on the up.
In his second season as Ulster’s senior (yet 21-year-old) out-half, Jackson ensured that Ruan Pienaar’s prowess off the kicking tee was not missed during the international window. And, with or without the South African, he continues to conduct a truly exciting back-line.
Breakthrough talent
Michael Allen is the latest in a long line of ultra impressive Ulster wingers. While we expected this to be a season for Rory Scholes to break through or for Craig Gilroy to stamp his authority on the side, Allen’s raw pace and eye for a gap has made sure the internationals have been pushed every step of the way for the left wing berth.
In his second year in charge, Mark Anscombe’s men have displayed more of the same formula which gave last season so many highlights. On form, they play with real aggression and the handling skill (for the most part) of their back-line is central to opening teams up with nippy trail-runners coming on to ever braver off-loads.
The pack will need an overhaul in the first half of 2014 with Tom Court, John Afoa and Johann Muller ready to move on. However, in their current guise they have been providing an excellent set-piece base for that blossoming back-line and Anscombe will look forward to the massive influence of Chris Henry, Nick Williams and Iain Henderson to come back in and reinforce his quest for silverware.
One thing to work on in 2014
Killer instinct. In that disappointing one-point, home defeat to Glasgow two certain try opportunities were spurned by early chances being coughed up over the whitewash rather than dotted down.
By no means are we scapegoating two of Ulster’s brightest young talents. The inability to put straightforward chances away has shown itself as a problem in games that ended in victory too and it chiefly seems to come in the early stages of games when perhaps a cooler head could negate cool limbs.
Marks out of 10
Eight – still plenty of work to get over the line in the Heineken Cup and now 10 points behind Munster in the Pro12 lead, but Ulster have laid the foundation work for all possibilities this season.
Half-term report: Ulster still with plenty to prove
LAST NIGHT’S DEFEAT against Leinster at the RDS marked Ulster’s 11th match of their regular season Pro12 fixtures. That means we’re halfway through, folks.
Here’s how we think the northern province have fared with (hopefully) 18 games still to play.
Overall record
Won 11 lost 4. All four defeats have come in the league and the latest has shoved Ulster to fifth place in the Pro12. A home quarter-final hasn’t exactly been secured yet, but being top of their pool with 18 points from a possible 20 is just rewards for four fine European performances.
High point
The significance of the Heineken Cup win in Montpellier should not be understated. The southern French side are tough opponents in any sense of the word and Mark Anscombe sent a side with only one win ever in France to do a job on them.
From Tom Court’s ball-carrying to Paddy Jackson’s last-ditch tackles, this was a display that will long be remembered by those who traveled with a red hand on their chest.
Low point
The home defeat to Glasgow was (including the Pro12 final) a third consecutive defeat for the northern province and one all of their own making.
Both Luke Marshall and Michael Allen spilled early chances over the try-line and, just when it looked like they’d scrape home with a win’ they allowed 14-man Glasgow to break and turn 12 – 6 into 12 -13.
Try of the season so far
Ulster had taken one of three try-scoring opportunities when Dan Tuohy pounced on a loose ball in his own half. The rest was Ulster at their free-flowing best.
YouTube credit: TheUAFC
Player of the season so far
While Pienaar and Payne have shown flashes of world class ability needed to open games up, it’s the third P of their back-line pillars, Paddy Jackson, who has kept the northern province on the up.
In his second season as Ulster’s senior (yet 21-year-old) out-half, Jackson ensured that Ruan Pienaar’s prowess off the kicking tee was not missed during the international window. And, with or without the South African, he continues to conduct a truly exciting back-line.
Breakthrough talent
Michael Allen is the latest in a long line of ultra impressive Ulster wingers. While we expected this to be a season for Rory Scholes to break through or for Craig Gilroy to stamp his authority on the side, Allen’s raw pace and eye for a gap has made sure the internationals have been pushed every step of the way for the left wing berth.
Playing style
In his second year in charge, Mark Anscombe’s men have displayed more of the same formula which gave last season so many highlights. On form, they play with real aggression and the handling skill (for the most part) of their back-line is central to opening teams up with nippy trail-runners coming on to ever braver off-loads.
The pack will need an overhaul in the first half of 2014 with Tom Court, John Afoa and Johann Muller ready to move on. However, in their current guise they have been providing an excellent set-piece base for that blossoming back-line and Anscombe will look forward to the massive influence of Chris Henry, Nick Williams and Iain Henderson to come back in and reinforce his quest for silverware.
One thing to work on in 2014
Killer instinct. In that disappointing one-point, home defeat to Glasgow two certain try opportunities were spurned by early chances being coughed up over the whitewash rather than dotted down.
By no means are we scapegoating two of Ulster’s brightest young talents. The inability to put straightforward chances away has shown itself as a problem in games that ended in victory too and it chiefly seems to come in the early stages of games when perhaps a cooler head could negate cool limbs.
Marks out of 10
Eight – still plenty of work to get over the line in the Heineken Cup and now 10 points behind Munster in the Pro12 lead, but Ulster have laid the foundation work for all possibilities this season.
Instinctive Luke Marshall doing his talking on the pitch
Explainer: What your province needs to escape their Heineken Cup pool
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European Rugby Champions Cup grades Pro12 Provincial suftum Ulster