ULSTER DIRECTOR OF rugby Less Kiss says the province have signed an overseas out-half to replace Christian Lealiifano, with an official announcement set to follow.
Wallabies international Lealiifano joined the province from the Brumbies in August but his short-term deal expires after this month’s Champions Cup fixtures against La Rochelle and Wasps.
With Paddy Jackson unavailable, there have been concerns about the state of Ulster’s out-half options after Lealiifano’s return to Australia, but Kiss says a new arrival is on the way.
“We have got a new person to replace Christian and we will announce that in due course,” said the Ulster boss after last night’s 38-7 defeat to Leinster at the RDS. “It’s an overseas player and all that has been cleared, so no problems.
“Christian has two more games, and he’s done a really good job. There’s no doubting what he’s done for Pete Nelson, Brett Herron and Johnny McPhillips, who had a good impact [against Leinster].
“He’s been a good influence on those young guys. We’ve said all along that we want someone in there with a bit of experience and that’ll be announced in due course.”
Confirmation of a new signing is likely to be welcomed by Ulster supporters but it won’t go too far in raising their spirits after a resounding defeat to Leinster last night in which Kiss’ side conceded six tries.
Adding to the sense of dejection was an injury to 33-year-old Tommy Bowe, who came off the bench for the Ulstermen. Kiss explained that the outlook is not good and Bowe may even be ruled out for two months.
“It looks like it’s around the sternum but we’re doing more tests,” said Kiss. “The doc said weeks, so that could be anything getting up to eight. That’s a shame for him.”
Ulster’s dire performance at the RDS won’t give their fanbase too much confidence ahead of the visit of La Rochelle in the Champions Cup next weekend, with the French side having torn the northern province apart in their first tie back in October.
But Kiss doesn’t believe that the margin of Leinster’s victory last night was a reflection of a major gulf in quality.
“I don’t think they’re that much better than us,” said Kiss. “It’s a reflection of the inconsistency that we showed that gave the opposition a chance to hurt us. We defended well for periods but then they turn us over and have scored three phases later.
“It’s a spiral. It’s not ideal and it’s hurting us. To be that inconsistent, it’s not ideal, that’s for sure. That’s the nature of what we’re looking at at the minute. That inconsistency, we don’t have a constant dependable style of rugby that we can rely on.
“We have a chance next week to respond.”
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Slippy G knowns how to win a league. Oh wait
Get in, love it. Making a contest of it Rangers, Stevie making a cracking start to management.
@Marty Morrisey: Rangers are rank rotten ,Terrible side ,Celtic will pump them next week.
@Midland Celt: And yet they lie 1 point off the Pumpers.
@Marty Morrisey: BTW With a game in Hand ,
@Midland Celt: like literally pump them?
@Marty Morrisey: you are a sad sad troll .
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: Cheers for the glorious input shorty.
@Marty Morrisey: thanks you sad man . Not sure what the shorty comment is about but f**k me I hope you are under 18 because if not it makes the way you act on the 42 even sadder . Grow up !
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: Glorious input cheers shortie.
@Marty Morrisey: you had the spelling of ‘shorty’ correct the first time. Trolling with illiteracy, Marty, is only a step above fingering a badger.
@Ian Michael O’Carroll: 1 in the stink 2 in the pink like ?
@Ian Michael O’Carroll: fingering a badger. Lol.
Steven Gerard’s Rangers were awful from start to finish. A team completely devoid of ideas. It was great to watch them toil. Morelos gets into great positions and pulled them out of a hole.
I’d imagine Celtic can’t wait for the game on the 29th.
@Ciaran Rice: 3 points all the same.
@Mark Glynn: of course but that doesn’t mask how poor Steven Gerard’s Rangers are.
@Ciaran Rice: To be fair though, they are a growing side..have had to start all over again and are making progress
@Mark Glynn: eh, the side has been getting worse every week. They are now making very few chances and scoring hardly any goals. There also have around the same points total after this round of games as they did last season.
@Ciaran Rice: If celtic win their game in hand it puts 4 points between the teams. A couple weeks back you were giving out that the Premiership has no competition when City were 3 points clear haha
@Turkish: I said the SPFL is more competitive than the EPL this season (and last season), which it is. Celtic are a point ahead. There have been 5 changes for first place in December alone. There are currently only 11 points separating 1st to 8th and 6 different sides have led the league so far this season.
Liverpool have played almost an entire round of games and are still unbeaten. Not much competition there.
@Ciaran Rice: so there not making progress, from having to start in bottom division with a new crop of players-now there in the premiership..
@Mark Glynn: if you think finishing 3rd every season, spending more than any other side whilst winning nothing is progressing then that’s up to you.
@Ciaran Rice: How much more than Celtic did they spend this season?
@Ciaran Rice: what do you mean winning nothing. Rangers secured promotion back to the Premiership having won three promotions in four years.
@The Bloody Nine: think they spent 2-3 million more than Celtic. That is going on the reported £9 million Celtic spent on Edouard, which I don’t believe is the case. The Rangers also spent more than Celtic last summer also.
@Mark Glynn: back to the premiership? They had never been there in the first place.
@Ciaran Rice: you sure mate, pretty sure it’s called the Scottish Premiership. Do your research.
Who is this Rangers you speak of? Are they anything to Steven Gerrards Rangers??
Doing well on a shoe string budget hopefully rangers pull of a shock with this squad and win it
@Colgate: oh god he’s got yet another account
@Colgate: spent most in the league . Your trolling is poor and creating new accounts so often is pathetic . Grow up !
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: 2 people on this article, just article alone you have attacked. Glorious input as per shorty.
@Marty Morrisey: 2 people? You mean you and you!! You are as bad as Andy Gorum!!!
@Marty Morrisey: what a sad sad person.. people like u that sit in there room all day and have 1 friend that’s your 8 year old sister!!
@Jay Murphy: I have 6 sister’s all older than me. Hugs n X’s JJ
@Marty Morrisey: haha shortie . I like the way that’s sticking for you because it makes no sense . Are you trolling yourself ? I’ve no idea what you are talking about but you are a very sad man .