The joy and relief was clear to see from the Ulster players, coaches and supporters alike following a fiercely contested win over Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night.
As Director of Rugby Les Kiss admitted after the game, he was delighted to get out of Glasgow with a win:
“The type of game it was, it was quite frustrating at times. I thought our dominance wasn't reflected on the scoreboard after the first half, but that's how good Glasgow are. They just stay in the hunt. The odd call here and there went against us but you have to be bigger than the calls and I think that's a really good space we're growing into that we can handle those setbacks and still stay strong and solid and get the job done.”
The game featured some scintillating attacking play from the likes of Paddy Jackson, Charles Piutau and Louis Ludik, but Kiss was also keen to praise the work of his forwards:
“We were under some serious pressure in the last 10-15 minutes. Our defence around our five metre line was immense, it was tough, it was resilient. I thought our forward pack really led the way for us.”
“I couldn't understand how they were ahead after the dominance we'd had. However, that's the team they are and we know that. To stay strong and stay on track, keep strong at the breakdown, stay tough and hard, all those things came to pay for us in the end. I thought it was a really great result, it was a really great win and I'm very happy with our whole team but the forward pack in particular.”
Ulster now sit joint top of the Guinness PRO12 with 17 points from the opening four games, and Ospreys will be next up a Kingspan Stadium next Saturday 1st October.
“Once again we will be facing a team that got beaten well like Glasgow did last week - the Ospreys got beaten well tonight (Friday) against Leinster - so we're going to have to be on top of our game. You don't score three try bonus points in this league and not be pretty good so we have to be careful.”
As Director of Rugby Les Kiss admitted after the game, he was delighted to get out of Glasgow with a win:
“The type of game it was, it was quite frustrating at times. I thought our dominance wasn't reflected on the scoreboard after the first half, but that's how good Glasgow are. They just stay in the hunt. The odd call here and there went against us but you have to be bigger than the calls and I think that's a really good space we're growing into that we can handle those setbacks and still stay strong and solid and get the job done.”
The game featured some scintillating attacking play from the likes of Paddy Jackson, Charles Piutau and Louis Ludik, but Kiss was also keen to praise the work of his forwards:
“We were under some serious pressure in the last 10-15 minutes. Our defence around our five metre line was immense, it was tough, it was resilient. I thought our forward pack really led the way for us.”
“I couldn't understand how they were ahead after the dominance we'd had. However, that's the team they are and we know that. To stay strong and stay on track, keep strong at the breakdown, stay tough and hard, all those things came to pay for us in the end. I thought it was a really great result, it was a really great win and I'm very happy with our whole team but the forward pack in particular.”
Ulster now sit joint top of the Guinness PRO12 with 17 points from the opening four games, and Ospreys will be next up a Kingspan Stadium next Saturday 1st October.
“Once again we will be facing a team that got beaten well like Glasgow did last week - the Ospreys got beaten well tonight (Friday) against Leinster - so we're going to have to be on top of our game. You don't score three try bonus points in this league and not be pretty good so we have to be careful.”