With Ulster losing to Glasgow on Friday night and weekend wins for Leinster, Munster and Ospreys, the province remain in third position in the RaboDirect PRO12 but now face two tough matches to secure a play off spot.
Fourth placed Glasgow are a point behind, but have a game on hand, while table toppers, Leinster, are up next Mark Anscombe’s side before a challenging trip to Thomond Park to face Munster.
While the defeat to Glasgow was obviously disappointing for Ulster Captain Joahnn Muller, he is keen to stress the positives from the loss at Scotstoun:
“Chatting to the Glasgow team after the match, they said that it was their biggest test of the season and they were obviously over the moon with the result. However, I think the score-line didn't tell the whole story of the game,” says Muller.
“I actually thought that in the first half of the match we played some good rugby. We built some nice phases but we gave away a try just before half time that was completely against the run of play.
“In the second half we had some good periods, but to play with 14 guys for 30 minutes killed us. We had a try which wasn't allowed, they had a try which was allowed and that was a 14 point swing which was the difference between winning and losing.”
However, with that defeat now put to bed, the captain and the squad are now focusing on the two massive matches at the end of the regular RaboDirect PRO12 season:
“We have got a bit of a break now. We have got a week and we have to recover mentally and physically.
“We are playing two finals now because basically if we lose one of them there wont be any play off chances. The pressure is on and we have to react.”
Fourth placed Glasgow are a point behind, but have a game on hand, while table toppers, Leinster, are up next Mark Anscombe’s side before a challenging trip to Thomond Park to face Munster.
While the defeat to Glasgow was obviously disappointing for Ulster Captain Joahnn Muller, he is keen to stress the positives from the loss at Scotstoun:
“Chatting to the Glasgow team after the match, they said that it was their biggest test of the season and they were obviously over the moon with the result. However, I think the score-line didn't tell the whole story of the game,” says Muller.
“I actually thought that in the first half of the match we played some good rugby. We built some nice phases but we gave away a try just before half time that was completely against the run of play.
“In the second half we had some good periods, but to play with 14 guys for 30 minutes killed us. We had a try which wasn't allowed, they had a try which was allowed and that was a 14 point swing which was the difference between winning and losing.”
However, with that defeat now put to bed, the captain and the squad are now focusing on the two massive matches at the end of the regular RaboDirect PRO12 season:
“We have got a bit of a break now. We have got a week and we have to recover mentally and physically.
“We are playing two finals now because basically if we lose one of them there wont be any play off chances. The pressure is on and we have to react.”