Ulster secured their second succssive victory in the URC with a professional 26-19 performance against a powerful Vodacom Bulls side, who had put 63 points past Scarlets in their Round 1 fixture. In the dying minutes, Ulster's defence held firm to see out their seven point buffer to take home the win.
As the pressure cranked up towards the end, Ulster's Defence Coach, Jonny Bell, told reporters at the post-match media conference that the win was well-earned by the team.
On Bulls win
"We are delighted with the win, they are a very good, powerful side, who are clinical when they get their opportunities, to come away with a win tonight is great.
We needed to dig in at the end of last week and we did it again tonight. Against a big, physical side who put Scarlets to the sword last week. We won't give up, we'll always fight and in front of the home crowd we wanted to make a statement for our fans. Delighted to get two wins, we have to keep going, get better and we haven’t hit our peak."
On the new pitch
"To play the first competitive match on the new pitch, the crowd looking forward to getting back to Kingspan with the new pitch, it does change it, it makes the game quicker and I thought the guys adapted well, it was a good game of rugby and we are happy to be on the winning side."
On the defensive display to secure the win
"We didn’t want them to get too much of a foothold in our third so it wasn't the exact way we wanted to finish the game defending on our line but we forced the turnover through Dave McCann jumping on a loose ball and we got it away. There are some things to work on but it’s a good win against a very, very good side."
On kicking in the second half to extend lead
"It is always a decision by the players, we don’t radio down forcing them into anything so when they feel they have momentum and pressure on the opposition, or if the the kick is better, they are assessing what is happening in the moment and what's on the scoreboard.
Nathan Doak is a top class kicker and I would back him to score anywhere, it's making a decision to keep ticking the scoreboard over. The leaders make those calls in the game."
Ulster's Ireland international prop, Tom O'Toole, was back in action after being a part of Ireland's Rugby World Cup squad during the tournament. The tighthead prop was back with a Player of the Match performance, as he helped Ulster wave off Bulls pressure to take the win. Tom told the media after the game that he was delighted to be back for Ulster.
On coming back to the team
"The last few months I haven’t played as much rugby as I would have liked so it was getting a conversation about coming back in and I was able to do that. The last few weeks in France I kept motivated, kept myself fit so I was in a good headspace to come back.
At the start of the week, I was getting my head around certain calls and getting back to the system here. I was coming from two different environments, I was away with the Ireland group, who became like a small family group spending a lot of time together and you are coming into a new group who have been working through the summer and after a long pre season, they have built relationships and added a few new guys.
So this week I've not been too hard on myself, just focusing on getting back in and not rush anything or put too much pressure on myself. The boys made it easy for me."
On a great assist for Jacob Stockdale
"It was more a case of acting before you think, I saw the opportunity and didn’t really think! I heard Jacob shouting for it, so playing with these guys helps, I knew by him shouting that he would be on so he made a dodgy pass look good by finishing it! He gathered it and finished it off the way he does.
Playing on the new 3G Pitch
"I'd only trained on it this week, the lads had a couple of weeks on it and got a good feel for it. It was good, it held up really well and especially with the conditions. When it started raining it held well around your foot and for set pieces, so it takes a while to get used to. It’s a faster game, more free-flowing game but I enjoy it."
On Ireland's Quarter Final exit
"Everybody deal with it differently, if I came back a week ago it could have been too soon, mentally you are adjusting to things, you question is it too soon to come back but you build the energy and excitement to play rugby again.
Physically I feel in pretty good shape and was happy to get myself mentally back, because I was bored at home! I was mentally losing my marbles a bit, so getting back playing, getting back in to a schedule and focusing on a routine was great for me."
On his RWC experience
"Looking back it was one of the best few weeks of my life, the result was disappointing but I think the relationships and connections we made as a group, you become like a family. It was nice having Hendy, Stu and Rob there and we came a lot closer as a four.
It was an honour to be part of the group and I think it helped me with my development, maturity as a player but that’s life and you don’t win everything, it was a great experience."