Natalie and Zinay still smiling despite the match!
I was accompanied to this game by visiting South African Ladies player Zenay Jordaan and Ulster Women’s Team Manager Natalie Bryant, both sampling senior men’s match at Ravers for the first time.
Looking through the eyes of other’s I’m afraid The Ravenhill Experience leaves a lot to be desired on a damp and wintry December afternoon with area’s of warmth, shelter and, on this occasion, toilets being in short supply. But hey, I thought, a sell out crowd and a determined and gritty Ulster performance would soon provide an inner glow of warmth for the girls as the magic of the match kicks in.
Unfortunately Ulster decided to hand out a few belated Christmas presents and the game became a bit of a turkey shoot with, unfortunately, Ulster the turkeys! Team didn’t turn up and the girls spent most of the time watching the back of the heads in front of them and I spent most of the time worrying about my next call of nature! Well it’s not as if there was much happening on, what I could see off, the pitch to distract me! Poor girls, there have been worse conditions and worse performances but seldom do we get both together!
It was a poor Ulster performance no matter how well, or more correctly, how determinedly Leinster played. There had been talk during the build up that the match might be shifted to Tuesday and it seemed that the Ulster players were in that time frame as they were so far off the early pace. Granted our play hasn’t been exceptional this season but it was sad to see such little cohesion.
Hopefully it’s just one of those matches and it’s not a time for hysterical overreaction or the singling out of individual players. This was a poor team effort and Ulster struggled to find any any connection. Leinster had more to prove individually, were more up for the contest, and had a better game plan with Isaac Boss and Sean O’Brien excellent in their execution.
O’Brien dominated the back row battle and Old Bossy certainly won the battle of the scrum half but his opportunities to excel were so outnumbered Pienaar’s that it wasn’t a fair competition. Bossy’s team mates stepped up to the mark and Pienaar’s didn’t – simple as that. Good luck to Bossy and I hope the game enhances his international chances but I still cling to the hope that in the long run we’re better off with Ruan.
At least Leinster continue to bring a good travelling support but considering we’ve only won one of the last 13 matches we’ve played it must be the closest away game they have to a banker. Good to see that relations between the Gringos and the Mexicans is still cordial with Bill “Studley Dudley” Penny still doing his bit for Queen and country!
Bill and Phil look afer South of the Border relations!
I’m putting this game down as a one match aberration – ok coupled with the performance against Munster, the second in a two match series of one match aberrations – and hopefully Ulster will have bigger fish to fry if the season pans out as planned. However, the players and managers owe the supporters more than the crap they served up last night whatever the circumstances. I’m fairly sure the players will look to themselves to improve but equally the team managers must now start and ask themselves if they are up to job.
Four out of four in January is now becoming a minimum requirement and, note to the CEO – so are adequate toilets and an actual view of the pitch.
Bring on Munster – time to make amends!
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