Jacob Stockdale's wonder-try illuminated an otherwise lacklustre interpro derby tonight at the Kingspan Stadium, where Ulster did just enough to claim their fifth victory from six and deny visitors Connacht the consolation of a losing bonus point.
After a forgettable first half which yielded only eight points, Stockdale and Charles Piutau combined majestically to score Ulster’s sole try of the evening, topped up by 11 points from the boot of John Cooney. The scrum-half’s performance against his former province was another highlight of the encounter, underlining once again just how crucial a figure he will be in the 2017/18 campaign.
Both sides came into the game with a point to prove; Connacht, with a single win from five games under their belts, desperately needed a result in Belfast to kick-start their season, while Ulster were looking to show that last weekend’s defeat at Zebre was a mere blip in an otherwise strong start to the campaign.
With this in mind Director of Rugby Les Kiss retained just six players from Saturday’s starting XV. Backs Piutau, Luke Marshall, Christian Lealiifano and Cooney all kept their places, with Tommy Bowe and Stockdale selected on the wings, and Stuart McCloskey returning at centre.
In the back row Jean Deysel continued at Number Eight, joined by Iain Henderson in a shift from his berth at lock against Zebre, and captain Chris Henry at openside. An all-new front five lined up with Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst propping either side of hooker Rob Herring, with Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell in the second row.
After a sluggish start distinctly lacking in any traditional interprovincial fireworks from either side, a fantastic turn of pace from Stockdale down the left flank got hearts racing and, although the final ball to Cooney was misplaced, it was a sign that Ulster were clicking into gear.
Patience and persistence were required, however, before the scoreboard was troubled, Cooney eventually slotting over a 45-metre penalty just before the half-hour.
Any further progress was stymied by two successive lineout surrenders, and the visitors were to prove much less wasteful as they seized their first real chance with hooker Tom McCartney bundling over from short range five minutes before the break.
Half-Time Score Ulster 3 Connacht 5
Kiss’s half-time team-talk, which in all likelihood took the form of a dressing down, looked to have had its desired effect as a much higher-tempo Ulster forced a simple penalty for Cooney on 44 minutes.
But another lost lineout handed the momentum back to the Westerners, and when referee Andrew Brace refused to review replays of an apparent late challenge on Piutau, Jack Carty kicked Conacht back into the lead.
Ulster, perhaps spurred by the lack of decisions going their way, pounded their way back upfield where their scrum-half soon added a third penalty to nudge them back in front.
The try, when it came on 56 minutes, was all about the brilliance of Piutau and Stockdale, both individual and collective. The Kiwi, under pressure with a high ball deep in his own half, collected well to turn defence into attack with a swift change of direction. Stockdale picked up and scythed through the heart of the Connacht defence, finishing off under the posts after a slick one-two with that man Piutau once more.
Ulster scrummed and mauled their way out of trouble as Connacht pressed time and again, until a 76th-minute penalty brought the visitors a 10-metre lineout and a yellow card for Deysel. Stout defending kept them out, however, and Cooney wasted no time kicking to touch as soon as the clock hit 80 minutes.
The Guinness Pro14 now takes a two week break as attentions turn to Europe, where Ulster hosts Premiership outfit Wasps on Friday 13th October before a trip to the west coast of France to face La Rochelle on Sunday 22nd.
Full-Time Score Ulster 16 Connacht 8
Ulster (15 – 9) Charles Piutau; Tommy Bowe, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Christian Lealiifano, John Cooney
(1 – 8) Kyle McCall, Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry (c), Jean Deysel
Replacements (16 – 23) John Andrew, Andy Warwick, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson, Louis Ludik
Connacht (15 – 9) Tiernan O’Halloran; Cian Kelleher, Bundee Aki, Thomas Farrell, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion
(1 – 8) Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon (c)
Replacements (16 – 23) Dave Heffernan, Denis Coulson, Conor Carey, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Steve Crosbie, Eoin Griffin
After a forgettable first half which yielded only eight points, Stockdale and Charles Piutau combined majestically to score Ulster’s sole try of the evening, topped up by 11 points from the boot of John Cooney. The scrum-half’s performance against his former province was another highlight of the encounter, underlining once again just how crucial a figure he will be in the 2017/18 campaign.
Both sides came into the game with a point to prove; Connacht, with a single win from five games under their belts, desperately needed a result in Belfast to kick-start their season, while Ulster were looking to show that last weekend’s defeat at Zebre was a mere blip in an otherwise strong start to the campaign.
With this in mind Director of Rugby Les Kiss retained just six players from Saturday’s starting XV. Backs Piutau, Luke Marshall, Christian Lealiifano and Cooney all kept their places, with Tommy Bowe and Stockdale selected on the wings, and Stuart McCloskey returning at centre.
In the back row Jean Deysel continued at Number Eight, joined by Iain Henderson in a shift from his berth at lock against Zebre, and captain Chris Henry at openside. An all-new front five lined up with Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst propping either side of hooker Rob Herring, with Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell in the second row.
After a sluggish start distinctly lacking in any traditional interprovincial fireworks from either side, a fantastic turn of pace from Stockdale down the left flank got hearts racing and, although the final ball to Cooney was misplaced, it was a sign that Ulster were clicking into gear.
Patience and persistence were required, however, before the scoreboard was troubled, Cooney eventually slotting over a 45-metre penalty just before the half-hour.
Any further progress was stymied by two successive lineout surrenders, and the visitors were to prove much less wasteful as they seized their first real chance with hooker Tom McCartney bundling over from short range five minutes before the break.
Half-Time Score Ulster 3 Connacht 5
Kiss’s half-time team-talk, which in all likelihood took the form of a dressing down, looked to have had its desired effect as a much higher-tempo Ulster forced a simple penalty for Cooney on 44 minutes.
But another lost lineout handed the momentum back to the Westerners, and when referee Andrew Brace refused to review replays of an apparent late challenge on Piutau, Jack Carty kicked Conacht back into the lead.
Ulster, perhaps spurred by the lack of decisions going their way, pounded their way back upfield where their scrum-half soon added a third penalty to nudge them back in front.
The try, when it came on 56 minutes, was all about the brilliance of Piutau and Stockdale, both individual and collective. The Kiwi, under pressure with a high ball deep in his own half, collected well to turn defence into attack with a swift change of direction. Stockdale picked up and scythed through the heart of the Connacht defence, finishing off under the posts after a slick one-two with that man Piutau once more.
Ulster scrummed and mauled their way out of trouble as Connacht pressed time and again, until a 76th-minute penalty brought the visitors a 10-metre lineout and a yellow card for Deysel. Stout defending kept them out, however, and Cooney wasted no time kicking to touch as soon as the clock hit 80 minutes.
The Guinness Pro14 now takes a two week break as attentions turn to Europe, where Ulster hosts Premiership outfit Wasps on Friday 13th October before a trip to the west coast of France to face La Rochelle on Sunday 22nd.
Full-Time Score Ulster 16 Connacht 8
Ulster (15 – 9) Charles Piutau; Tommy Bowe, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Christian Lealiifano, John Cooney
(1 – 8) Kyle McCall, Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry (c), Jean Deysel
Replacements (16 – 23) John Andrew, Andy Warwick, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson, Louis Ludik
Connacht (15 – 9) Tiernan O’Halloran; Cian Kelleher, Bundee Aki, Thomas Farrell, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion
(1 – 8) Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon (c)
Replacements (16 – 23) Dave Heffernan, Denis Coulson, Conor Carey, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Steve Crosbie, Eoin Griffin