Mclaughlin contemplates the referee's performance!
Ulster can hold their heads up after suffering a narrow defeat at Stade Marcel Michelin, beaten largely by the incompetence of referee Dave Pearson who awarded Clermont their match winning try after a series of ilegal moves by the home team.
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There could have been no more obvious infringement than Clermont’s Nathan Hines taking out Chris Henry before Paulo went over for the only try of the game but, appearing intimidated by the home crowd, Pearson looked to bottle it in the ten minutes leading up to the try giving the home crowd the result they wanted. The score was a double whammy of incompetence as Hines should not have been on the pitch, if only Pearson had the courage to yellow card him for an earlier infringement.
However, despite Pearson’s incompetence, Ulster had the opportunities to win this game, edging the first half, and really they should have taken a lead into the break, squandering two try scoring opportunities.
Even as the minutes counted down in the second period Ulster still had opportunities only for Muller to give Pearson the opportunity to switch an Ulster attacking scrum to a penalty against with his extravagant gesticulations regarding a Clermont knock on giving Pearson no option but to reverse the call. This coupled with some poor darts from Rory Best at an Ulster attacking lineout, 8 yards out. allowed Clermont to clear Ulster’s two best attacking opportunities of the second half.
It was an extraordinary outburst from Muller, no doubt due to his extreme frustration at the referee’s performance, but an unfortunate roll back to previous seasons for Rory who needs to get this lineout monkey of his back if he is going to take his rightful place as one of the World’s best hookers!
While these two flashes of indiscipline may have been frustrating it must be remembered that Ulster actually did enough in this game to get the away bonus point and confirm Heineken Cup qualification in their own right, a feat which few have achieved in the cauldron of Stade Marcel. While today’s performance was a definite step down in intensity from the dismantling of Leicester it was a performance that will leave Ulster as the least favoured of opponents for the top four sides.
| Scorers and Teams. |
Clermont: Parra 1, Con, 4 Pen; Pearson 1 Try.
Ulster: Pienaar 5 Pen.
Ulster (15-9): Stefan Terblanche, Andrew Trimble, Ian Whitten, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy, Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar. (1-8): Tom Court, Rory Best, John Afoa, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg. (16-23): Andi Kyriacou, Callum Black, Adam Macklin, Lewis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Nevin Spence, Adam D’Arcy
Clermont (15-9): Lee Byrne, Sitiventi Sivivatu, Aurelien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana, Julien Malzeiu, David Skrela Morgan Parra. (1-8): Lionel Faure, Ben Kayser, Clement Ric, Julien Pierre, Natahn Hines, Gerhard Vosloo, Julien Bards, Julien Bonnaire. (16-23): Tii Paulo, Vincent Dbaty, Daniel Kotze, Jamie Cudmore, Alexandre Lepandry, Kevin Senio, Brock James, Regan King.
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21 Responses to “Heineken Cup: Clermont 19 Ulster 15”
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At least the officials wont be from Ireland. Given a strong neutral referee who wont be intimidated by the turnip crowd we are in with a chance.
ulster can hold their heads high – definitely
bur hey – it was so close , if only Ruan kicked the two kicks ! and they could finish it off with the last 2 lineouts ……next season I hope they will remember – it is getting closer and closer …
what are the chances of beating munster really – what team will they field this time?
Hi Rekinek. I think that Ulster can beat Munster, they are now a better team than last year.
As I see you follow your favourite player here, saw you on sharksworld and by your nickname we come from the same country…
I’ve become an Ulster fan for Ruan as well. I love watching him taking those kicks even if not all go over.
Welcome to the site Anna, hope you enjoy your time here following a few ex Sharks players to glory!
Have you heard anything of the rumour that we might be pinching Plumtree next season?
Hello John, thanks. I,ve got no info source at Sharks , just followed their site. sorry.
But who for the hell deceided to play HC quaterfinals on Easter ?! I wonder if I will be able to watch them due to family commitments.
If you don’t see the game give me a shout. I’m sure well be able to lay our hands on a copy.
czesc, sorry for late reaction
getting a lot of flack here lately
because I think Sharks would benefit from a good scrummy – not much abundance in this position lately – something we are definitely not used to.
You almost got my favourite right
BTW are you following Sharks as well ??
Czesc Rekinek, nice to hear from you. Yes I follow Sharks as well and I ,m not impressed by McLeod at alI ( I mean his game not mention that he is not the prettiest of the boys
I hear that some sharksfans even longing for Koccot ..
We’re pretty confident up here Rekinek, it’ll be full strength squads and Munster aren’t the force they once were. Of course we also have experience of giving them a sound beating at Thomond!
let me just say that at any knock out stages being away team is just this bit more difficult – not not-doable and especially considering that Ulster willl not need to travel too far, but hey you guys do such cool atmosphere at Ravenshill – all I’m saying more difficult…
Hi John, Thanks for the offer ! ( the game copy if needed) . .
I actually always liked McLeod and felt he was not getting enough chances and it was nice seeing him step up in 2010 cc, but it was rather downhill since then. He can be a great backup but for super rugby I reckon one needs a worldclass scrummy.
Kockott – a big fan but not because of his game (he’s bit selfish) but the entertainment value
hehehe
Rekinek this is Ulster blog not a Sharks one , they,ll remove us for that , he, he
Kockott must have had some issues with Plum , they keep much worse players than him. He combined well with Ruan at 10 as I remember- a game against Stormers 2010 e.g.though “who wouldn’t enjoy his game alongside Ruan Pienaar” to cite the words of Sky Sport commentator.
Kockott does well in France he suits the French style of scrumhalf an irritating small goal kicking guy like M.Parra
Don’t worry Anna we think of the Sharks as our feeder team!
Are you based in Ireland?
No, in Poland actually.
hehehe – it should be so obvious that I haven’t even thought about it.
So where does the interest in rugby coming from. It is not that big in Poland.
You needn’t live in SA or another rugby country to be keen on rugby in the era of internet and tv. I fell in love watching WC 1995 and then after a long break WC 2007 . Now I’ve betrayed even my first love football..