Ulster served up another poor league performance last night at Parc-y-Scarlets where the sum of the whole was so much less than the sum of the individual players.
It was a poor performance in team work, made all the worse by the fact that they were outplayed, with embarrassing ease, by a second string Scarlets side, quite possibly the worst Welsh side in the Magners League.
Ulster’s form in the league, were they have won only one out of the last six, is all the more worrying in that during that sequence they managed to win three out of four Heineken Cup games, the only loss being the farcical re-arranged fixture against Stade Francais in Brussels, no Paris!
It would be easy to say that the slump is down to the disappointment of missing out in qualification for the Challenge Cup, especially when they were told that they were through, but in truth the league form was in trouble before that as the abysmal display against Glasgow at home and the poor performance against a 2nd/3rd string Munster at home can testify.
The simple option would be to blame the players, and I see that a few knives are out already on the newly restored UAFC message board with Pollock and Caldwell bearing the brunt. However their offences where more systematic of a team playing on the back foot rather than individual errors and Pollock in particular was very unfortunate to be carded.
If Ulster had been hitting the rucks in a controlled manner and driving their opponents back many of Pollock’s offences would have been reversed.
Ulster’s problems are in the heads of the players. They are going out and trying, they are just not going out and finding that little bit extra and in this respect the coaching staff have to take the blame.
That little bit extra makes all the difference, rucks are driven back, penalties go your way, opponents are knocked back in the tackle and passes go to hand. Everything Ulster didn’t achieve last night, and haven’t achieved over the last six league games.
Putting two and two together and making five, the slump in form appears to correspond with the start of contract talks and transfer rumours and maybe the coaching team has taken it’s eye off the ball, or maybe it’s all got a bit too personal. Pure, speculation on my part, but whatever the reason it’s time to sort it out now rather than wait for our ‘big name’ signings joining next season.
Quite simply, not enough of our players are finding their ‘A’ game often enough, perhaps an indication that the coaching is becoming stale. At this level, any competent coach can set out defensive patterns, attacking patterns and make sure the team is fit, but a good coach makes sure enough of the players bring their ‘A’ game for most of the matches, not just the show-pieces.
With six games left I reckon four wins would see Ulster into the play off’s and if this were to happen we could all say that Ulster have definitely improved and are well on their way to world domination!
Fun Fact.
On 31st December 2005 Ulster, guided by Mark McCall and Allen Clarke, embarked on an eleven match unbeaten run that took them to the Celtic League title.
Some more of that would do nicely – let’s start with doing the Ospreys in a fortnights time.
Those of you in the UK will be able to view the ScrumV coverage on BBC iPlayer until 8:59pm Friday 12th March 2010. Click here to view.
Ulster Rugby report and match stats. Click here to view.
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7 Responses to “Scarlets 25 Ulster 8”
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Yes, very poor effort from so called “supporters” I counted 3 others that had bothered to travel from Norn Iron.
As Delia Smith might say “Come on lets be having you!”
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Raven I’m sure you will agree that despite the poor attendance from our fellow ‘supporters’ there was no need for one of our number to buy two flights, and then almost miss both…that story is just going to get more bizarre the more I tell it…William (two Flights), wonder did he get to see West ham in the end
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RR – there were quite a few more than 3 travelling suport (although one wouldn’t have suspected it at the ground) I was talking to a couple over from Enniskillen and a few more fans – not many granted – but a few !!
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There were about 40 of us in the Rosie for the game and the atmosphere was great – for the opening 3 minutes! After that the shoulders began to drop as the comedy of errors (forward passes, knock-ons, crossing, obstructions) unfolded. More what you’d expect from a pre-season game. Ironic that Boss was one of the shining lights – perhaps because his new contract has been sorted!
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Yes good point “hockey boy” Isaac has been my man of the season so far. I am starting to be concerned by the performance of the “management team” not only in team selection and tactics but man management. Like all bad school teachers McLaughlin definately has his favourites. It would appear Boss and O’Donoghue are leaving because of matters other than rugby. McLaughlin has got to realize he is dealing with professional sportsmen not schoolboys .
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Dewi – I agree with your analysis of the game, we had some good individual performances but not a team performance. Our forwards lacked drive at the scrum and even though Issac was delivering quicker ball for a change we failed to break through the Scarlets line. Some very poor marking made their scrumhalf look far better than he was. Too many fumbles/knock ons and failure to take the high ball under the lights !! I’m going to do a ‘Fergie’ and question the fitness of the ref – Mr. Peter Allen – every time he managed to keep up with play the puffs and pants of him was a disgrace – probably why he failed to see the indiscretions of both sets of forwards playing the ball on the deck. Pollocks card was unfortunate – Caldwells was deserved as despite the warnings from the ref he carried on – no surprise there. On a positive note there was a good picture of Ragin Raven in ‘full flow’ – good job the touch judge didnt hear it or he would have been penalised ! Flattop & Surrey red hand also featured !
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Junty – apparently the camera puts on 10kgs I’m surprised you recognised me!
If you thought it was bad on the pitch you should have been in the crowd a couple of sheep shaggers very mouthy until they were asked outside by a couple of 50 somethings.
Needless to say the sheep shaggers hadn’t got the balls for it.
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