Tim Barker puts in another impressive display. Picture by Darren Kidd|Presseye
I don’t know if watching the game back on iPlayer the morning after is a good thing or not, but it did change my view of Ulster’s performance last night.
On first viewing round at the Eagle Bars in Larne last night I didn’t think much of the performance finding it oh too easy to be distracted, enjoying the crack and the company more than the game. This morning I must admit that Ulster, and Aironi, played better than my first impression lead me to believe.
Listless, languid and limp were the words I were lining up as I worked through the write up in my head, but such a description would be unfair as individually the Ulster players worked hard against a committed Aironi but the big disappointment was that it was Ulster’s lack of composure and poise that pumped the commitment into Aironi as the game went on.
It must be hard at the moment for Ulster players to keep their minds on games like this, especially with the Heineken Cup Quarter Final looming ever nearer. This was a game Ulster were expected to win comfortably but with the coaching team taking advantage of the chance to have a prudent look at some of the options at their disposal the game ended up more like a trials match from the Ulster perspective.
Given the above the result was probably fair enough, but what did disappoint was that having got so close to a bonus point with 10 minutes to go that the team failed to raise the game in the dying minutes and, in truth, looked a long way short of getting the forth. The team have definitely improved this season, but not so much where they can be relied on to switch it on and off at will!
Personally, I feel there are two or three big games left in this team and I for one would be happy enough with them being saved for the Heineken. Fighting on two fronts may be just beyond our means this season.
With a view to the Heineken Cup squad come 10th April there were a few winners last night with Andi Kyriacou rocketing out of early season obscurity to front runner at hooker with another robust display. Spence is looking more and more at ease in the centre and his MotM display is going to make it doubly difficult for Darren Cave to force his way back in even though he had a sprightly outing for Quins yesterday in a bit of a romp against Instonians .
Court and McAllister looked a useful combination in the front row and Barker is getting close to being locked in as a partner for Muller. Unfortunately Diack didn’t get enough time to do much so I hope we see a back row of Wannenburg, Faloon and Diack against the Dragons as Ferris’ availability is starting to become a major worry.
The match also showed how much we are relying on a Mr Humphreys at out half to add a bit of flair and unpredictability in attack. When was the last time that happened?
The more things change the more things stay the same!
You can view the full match here thanks to Rooster and the guys on the UAFC.
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13 Responses to “Magners League: Ulster 23 Aironi 10”
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Couldn’t agree more with you on the hooker position.
If ever a guy has grasped his opportunity with everything he could muster, its the Greek Adonis. Clearly, being left in the freezer box for most of this season (and it must be asked why?) has made him more determined to show what he can do when given the opportunity. As we have seen over the last month, he is a class act, and long may it continue.
Really pleased that he has signed up for another two years. Hopefully, UR will use him more effectively and to the benefit of the team in the future.
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After 15 minutes there was the feeling on the terrace we could get a cricket score and then I think over-confidence set in — instead of playing the percentage game into the corners Ulster started to attack from too deep and/or try to kick the ball high to unnerve Aironi only to discover that Aironi had a back three with serious speed and potential. Thus any kick ahead was returned and chased putting the pressure back on Ulster while Aironi’s pace could match any attack launched from deep .
Again in the lineout instead of keeping to a tried an tested script Ulster appeared to be experimenting with long throws.
Aironi having realised that they could worry Ulster built confidence kept Ulster out of their 22 and put the pressure on Ulster to good effect.
The failure to obtain the bonus point was down to an inability to ensure Ulster got the ball quickly into the Aironi 22 before trying to run with it .
It was definitely not to down to any individual poor performances on the Ulster side more a selection of a wrong option at the wrong time.
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Without Humphreys to lead the line in defence and attack we looked lost against a team of journey men. His presence for Ulster cannot be underestimated ,from goal kicking to kicking for position. Something Pienaar was unable to do in the 10 shirt. I would have preferred to have seen young Jackson get the start and kept Pienaar at 9.
Another key point on Friday night was the misfiring of the lineout, particularly in the first half. With this Ulster team you can generally say if the lineout went well the team went well and vice versa.
Hopefully teacher will have learned a few lessons on his selections.
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Agree with all the above comments
Andi K SHOULD have started – his line out throwing is far superior to either RB or NB. In the 1st half 3 lineouts went astray from Nigel and only 1 from Andi in the 2nd half.
The wrong options at times were taken eg Marshall taking the quick tap from about 1/2 way and running into a brick wall just after the 22…..
Spence trying to grubber kick through, when he had men outside him…..
As the mote has said – not down to any individual performances – just not a great team performance overall. However having said that we got a good defensive work out and bar 1 missed tackle / slip by D’Arcy in the 1st half we prevented Aironi crossing the line albeit by a wing and a prayer at times.
9 points from the 2 home games is probably what we could have expected realistically before the cardiff game …. but not to make it 10 points is a disappointment and may cost us later in the season.
It was a game where he could probably have given Jackson another run out and kept Pienaar at 9 but hindsight is a wonderful thing and hopefully as RR has said teacher will have learnt from this.
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Ragin
Buy glasses quickly the performance had nothing to do with IH’s absence
The scoreline was missed kicks and bad decisions
I suppose you also think Spence is the best outside centre in Ulster because it would be par for the course
He has scored two trys and I have yet to see a wing scxore from a pass from him
He is a promising player who has a bad dose of the “Earls” at the moment runs well ball in hand but it frequently comes to nothing he has to learn to time his pass and make room for his wing.
Jackson while a promising player iisnot in the ERC squad and the management are looking at those options which are until after the game with Saints at least.
Plus the Scarlets game would have been one where Ulster were not expected to win (ie it was the first win away to the Scarlets ) thus the experiment with Jackson
You should never gamble on a banker win at home and Aironi are not a side to treat with contempt as Biarritz found out .
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@Mote
Try and get over your own well recorded bias against Humphreys we are all bored with it on this site.
The performance had EVERYTHING to do with Humpheys absence he has been kicking his kicks and making good decisions.
I don’t think I have ever mentioned young Spence in a post but god help him if he is next on the Mote hate list.
As they say, in the land of the cyclops the one eyed man is king . Wake up and smell the coffee.
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I am king.
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@Johnny King: You are indeed king of all you survey!
At least you didin’t point out to Raging Raven that the expression is,”In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is King!” Maybe you are being held back by the thought of further threats of BMW road rage!
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Ragin
Humphreys does not lead the line in defence you can;t lead the defence on the wing
Pienaar has kicked kicks too but it was not just the fact we missed kicks denied us the bonus you don;t get bonus points for penalties.
The fact being in the second half Ulster were pushed back into their own half because Aiironi
targeted Gilroy with kicks and the ball bounced badly for Ulster.
And I don’t have a bias against Humphreys I have a dislike of the over estimation of his contribution to the Ulster team which is an entirely different thing
I also recognise that for every spark of genius he creates there is the equally negative lapses and failures he is very much a swings and roundabouts player sometimes you win sometimes you lose.
But one thing is certain playing on friday night I doubt if he would have provided the bonus point
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Mote
Yawn…………………………. put on another record.
Or better still post your posts on the UAFC site.
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Mr Mote,
As a recent convert to this delightful site I find your scurrilous comments concerning Mr Humphreys rather tedious.
It’s ne’er-do-wells like yourself that are turning the vibrant game of attacking rugby into the bore fest prevalent in the Aviva Premiership.
The sublimely talented Mr Humphreys Junior is indeed a gift that should be cherished, not castigated by small minded individuals like yourself!
Yours
Cap’n Patrick Fitzgerald (Ret.)
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Bit of Paddy whackery there, I’m sure Mote is feeling the pain of that kick in the numpties following on from RR’s blow to the guts. For my money we missed harumph’s attacking force.
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In full agreement with Planet Ulster, RR and Junty on the hooker front.
Kyri has been playing out of his skin over recent weeks and fully deserves an HEC start.
This just proves what can happen when a player is given a chance and he grabs it.
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