Ospreys 24
Ulster 10
ULSTER’S HOPES OF making it three Irish provinces in the Guinness PRO12 play-offs are all but over after they failed to take anything from their trip to the fourth-placed Ospreys.
A one point gap between themselves and the play-off places grew to three ahead of the Scarlets’ game in Galway against Connacht. The win for the Ospreys moved them five ahead of Ulster.
The four-time champions took their chances in the first half and then relied on some water-tight defence in the second to do more than enough to frustrate their visitors. A burst of two tries, one for each side, in the final few minutes added an ironic twist in the tail.
“It looks like that is it for us,” admitted Ulster skipper Andre Trimble, “although it is an Inter-Pro game against Leinster next week and that will give us plenty to play for.”
Ulster arrived at the ground at which they clinched the title way back in 2006 knowing they had to pick up points to stay in the hunt for a top four finish and they got off to the worst possible start. Iain Henderson conceded a needless penalty at a ruck and, after kicking to the corner, the Ospreys won a scrum five metres out.
Ruan Pienaar disrupted Rhys Webb’s pass to the blindside, but Ashley Beck picked up, passed out of the tackle and sent wing Tom Habberfield over unopposed in the left corner. Dan Biggar added the extras and the home side were off to a flyer.
With only a point advantage over their visitors, and coming into the game on the back of a four match losing streak, the Welsh region knew they could ill afford to lose a third home game against Irish opposition after falling to Munster and Leinster.
Paddy Jackson got Ulster on the board with an 18th minute penalty and then they lost Pienaar with a back injury. Everyone in Belfast will be hoping that it doesn’t stop him from making a final home appearance against Leinster next weekend before heading to France next season.
Biggar was quick to respond to Jackson’s penalty with one of his own moments after Pienaar departed and a poor first half from the visitors, in which they lost three line-outs and made seven handling errors, ended calamitously when Dan Evans ran back a Jackson kick downfield.
The home full-back gathered on his 10-metre line, sprinted past Rory Best and Paul Marshall, and into the Ulster 22. He passed outside to Habberfield, who then returned inside to lock Tyler Ardron who crossed at the posts.
Biggar couldn’t miss with the conversion from there and it meant the Ospreys went into the break 17-3 ahead. The air must have been blue in the Ulster dressing room at half time because they came out and controlled most of the second half in terms of both territory and possession, but they found points hard to come by against some stern Ospreys defence.
Stuart McCloskey broke through, Kieran Treadwell galloped all over the field and Jacob Stockdale almost made the line, but time kept ticking away. It didn’t help Ulster’s cause that they lost Stuart Olding moments after he came onto the field with what looked like a serious injury to his left ankle and then Stockdale just failed to control a desperate kick and chase over the home line.
A Kieron Fonotia break then paved the way for a try for replacement scrum half Brendon Leonard a minute from time and Biggar added a quick conversion. The Ospreys sniffed a bonus point, but quick as a flash Stockdale cut through for a try as the game moved into the 80th minute.
Jackson drop kicked the conversion, but there was no more last-gasp drama and the Ospreys ended their losing run and did enough to virtually book themselves a semi-final spot.
It has also been confirmed that Pienaar has a back spasm and Olding’s ankle injury is season-ending.
Ospreys scorers:
Tries: Habberfield ’8, Ardron ’40, Leonard ’79
Conversions: Biggar ’9, ’41, ’79
Penalties: Biggar ’25
Ulster scorers:
Try: Stockdale ’80
Conversion: Jackson ’80
Penalty: Jackson ’19
OSPREYS: Evans; Giles, Fonotia, Beck (Matavesi ’65), Habberfield (Davies ’74); Biggar, Webb (captain) (Leonard ’76); Smith (James ’65), Baldwin, Mujati (Jones 54), Davies (Ashley ’62), Ardron, Underhill (Baker ’67), Tipuric (Baker ’37-40), King
Replacement not used: Otten
ULSTER: Gilroy; Trimble (captain), L Marshall, McCloskey (Olding ’53 (Stockdale ’55)), Piutau; Jackson, Pienaar (P Marshall ’23); Warwick (Black ’55), Best (Herring ’65), Herbst (Ah You ’44), Treadwell, O’Connor (Van der Merwe ’77), Henderson, Reidy, Diack (Timoney ’62)
Attendance: 8,168
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Jacob Stockdale. What an exciting prospect for Ulster and Ireland.
Piutau’s a bit of a waste of money. They could be giving all his game-time to Stockdale.
It would be a serious oversight by Schmidt not to make room for Stockdale in the touring party for the Summer Tour. He could be tearing it up for Ireland come World Cup time if he’s backed
@clubber lang: Don’t think he’s been a waste of money, he was unbelievable for Wasps last season. It’s hard to look good in a poor team. Ulster’s problem is their pack. I don’t think any opposing teams ever fear coming up against Ulsters pack. Even Rory Best was poor today, missed too many tackles; including the one for the second Ospreys try.
Tough luck, Ulster. It seems Les Kiss just isn’t up to the head coach role.
Some serious changes needed, like with Munster last season.
He has to go. Total embarrassment as coach. He has lost the players and the fans..
I think he’ll get another season. Some major changes in the back room staff next season as well, which will make a difference.
Lads… he’s moving to Director of Rugby next Season with Jono Gibbes coming in as head coach. You might have seen it in the papers?
Kiss comes across as a bit tentative and unsure of himself in interviews, which wouldn’t exactly inspire confidence in players (if this translates to his coaching). His playbook seems quite easy for defences to read, because teams are always rushing up and putting the Ulster receiver under pressure. It’ll be interesting to see what difference Gibbes can make to the forward play and the attack
@Conor Paddington: Kiss is not moving, he has been Director of rugby for nearly 3 years. Gibbs is replacing Neil Doak as head coach.
All I’ve been hearing the last few years is how talented Ulster backline but not one of them has stood up and actually proved their potential or came close to it. Jackson Henderson Best only ones worthy of an Irish shirt. Olding, Mc Closkey, Marshall and Gilroy to hit and miss.
Kiss is believed to be coaching backs. Doak has been sidelined. Rumoured to have been dustup at training between coaches
Jonny Gibbes can’t get there quick enough. He has a big job on his hands.
Tragic effort from Ulster. Frustrating to watch.
Osprey should get hosed by Leinster or Munster. Ulster need have a good look at their plan.
Treadwell can give Henderson lessons on ball carrying and hitting the line at pace while they sit out playoff rugby
Shane Logan continuously laments about Ulster’s bank balance , let’s start spending some of it and bring the best of Irish to Ravenhill. Starting with Mark McCall .
Ulster are in a sorry state…. they are a far better side than the way they are playing at present…. I fear for them against a 2nd string Leinster team which they will more than likely face next week
Just let’s forget this season and start planning for next
It’s understandable that the confidence has gone and the players are already on the beach.
Game plan deficiencies and playing as individuals mimicking headless chickens.
I am not overly delighted about it but there is no doubt that the 3 South Africans in the pack next year , will make a huge difference. If we are to believe all we read, they are all big ball carriers and our brief glimpse of Marcel confirms this in the few games he managed.
Once the pack competes it will take a lot of pressure of the backs
Onward and upward
It’s pretty obvious that the Ulster players have no faith in their coaches;no skill level,no heart,no team.
.
If you think Ulster are poor Connacht are playing absolutely shockingly,31 minutes gone and 22-3 down Scarlets bonus point in the bag.
@Peter Dunne: Yeah, I know Scarlets are in good form and Connacht are just waiting for the Champions Cup play offs but it’s am extremely poor showing in Galway so far.
@Peter Dunne: should have seen the Munster match. they won but, ugh, awful.
@Peter Dunne: Worrying for Irish rugby. Both Ulster and Connacht have looked shocking at the business end of the season.
That Olding fella is finished, never a good player….more time shud hav been given to stockdale who would’nt have featured today only for olding getting injured
@Brian Shaw: ignorant troll.
@Paul McCutcheon: I wouldnt be saying that if I was an Ulster fan because there pathetic to watch these days…a far cry from what they were a few years back….playing a load of “funkers”….poor aul Olding doesnt know which position is best