Match Report: Biarritz 35 Ulster 15

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Following the success of their opening Heineken Cup match against Aironi last weekend, Ulster were looking to build on their winning momentum. However, a spirited Biarritz side put on a magnificent display to bring home a 35 – 15 win at the Parc des Sports Aguilera, as Ulster fell to their first defeat of the season.

Ulster were hoping to make history this afternoon with their first win on French soil, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be as Biarritz ran in four tries to seal a bonus point win.

Ulster put pressure on the French squad from the very beginning and had the first chance to take the lead ten minutes into the match, when Biarritz were penalised for not rolling away. Ruan Pienaar opted to kick for goal but his kick went wide of the posts. They were awarded another penalty four minutes later, when Biarritz once again failed to roll away and Pienaar’s attempt was on target, to take his side . . .

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3 responses to “Match Report: Biarritz 35 Ulster 15”

  1. the mote

    Basically in my opinion the following facts lie behind the five trys

    In the second half the Biarritz backline lined out deep to counter the rush defence .Ulster lacked a secondery defence due the nature of the back row ( all three are players who get stuck-in and nobody was lying loose ) and the backrow were having to chase back to defend

    The absence of Cave at outside centre

    Diacks injury at the end of the first half made him less mobile

    The Ulster forwards had to defend going backwards which is something they had avoid before this match and therefore the defence was less organised than normal.

    And some players didn’t play as well as some think in the second half

  2. the mote

    As you are aware I don’t report I analyse and assess .I said before the game that to come away with a point Ulster would have to defend . I can’t comment on the first half because I only saw the last 15-20 mins . When Biarritz came out in the second half it was obvious they were going to use the low sun behind them to to put the game in Ulsters half.

    Not naming names but the Ulster defence was a shambles Someone was rushing quicker than everybody else leaving a deep attacking 4 facing 3 in no mans land which meant they the defenders couldn’t herd the Biarritz backline to the touch line. the other factor being the Ulster backline was make do ie three inexperience players ( Whitten normally plays 12 not 13)

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