3 Star Tigers Take Ulster Scalp

A breath taking 20 minutes which saw Tigers score three tries was just enough to seal a crucial 25-18 European win against Ulster at Welford Road.

Tigers coped with losing talisman Manu Tuilagi on 14 minutes brilliantly by scoring tries from Owen Williams, Graham Kitchener and Freddie Burns in the next 20 minutes whilst Ulster crumbled from a solid 3-0 lead to trail 19-3 at the break.

And it could have been more had Tigers not started the day with the indifferent Burns attempting the kicks to the posts.

Ulster opened the scoring with a Paddy Jackson penalty on 8 minutes after Tigers had infringed at the ruck, and Tigers were lucky that the red haired Irishman was off target with an earlier kick or it could have been 6-0 down in almost as many minutes.

Tigers responded immediately as Blaine Scully leaped like a salmon to claim Burns' restart and power into the heart of the Ulster defence.  Eventually scragged down Ulster's last man looked to have deliberately knocked on in the following move but referee Poite was unmoved, not the only time Ulster were lucky to escape censure from the Frenchman.

Ben Youngs wasted two good opportunities in the 22 through a chip to no one and a floated pass that was intercepted but Tigers were not to be denied.  Julian Salvi broke down the right hand side before play was switched to Tuilagi rampaging down the left, drawing a penalty from Ulster on the 5m line; Manu re-injured his groin in the move though and was swiftly withdrawn as Tigers kicked for the corner.

From the lineout Tigers drove and were denied, the pack heaved again and were denied, before Owen Williams, warming to his role as a crash ball centre, took the ball at pace and with intent.  The Welshman slammed into three Ulster bodies and fought to successfully ground the ball.

There was no mistake with the conversion but Burns was off target with a later penalty skewing it badly wide right.  Again Ulster rode their luck with Mr Poite as Tommy Bowe's ugly challenge on Miles Benjamin in the air was punished with only a penalty.

Ulster challenged again but were unable to convert any possession to points; Tigers slowly won the kicking battle to gain good territory in the Ulster 22.  The conservative kicking strategy was vindicated when Youngs picked off an innocuous pass from the base of an Ulster maul setting Graham Kitchener up for the second try before the half hour mark.

Tigers extended the lead just 5 minutes later when Burns, now relieved of the goal kicking duties, dummied his way over bamboozaling four Ulster defenders in the process.  

Ulster were down to 14 men at this point following a yellow card to Craig Gilroy for yet another tackle on the man in the air.  Ulster were very fortunate that referee Poite did not produce a red card.  With these two incidents and the one last year against Saracens you have to ask is this a deliberate tactic from Ulster designed to intimidate opposition players?

Tigers looked to have taken full advantage from the extra man and the wave of momentum when Leonardo Ghiraldini twisted, worked, wrestled and squirmed his way over in the Crumbie corner on the stroke of half time but he was correctly denied by the TV ref; Ben Youngs foot just barely grazing the line before the final pass was completed.

Tigers won the lineout but were unable to finish the job off, forgetting how effective running hard, straight and flat to the gainline had been for Owen Williams' try instead we went wide and deep attempting to take advantage of the missing winger.  It did not work.

With the break for half time the momentum Tigers had built was lost and never to be regained.  The second half was almost all Ulsters.  The kicking game that was so effective in the first half was not so much over done as done much much worse.  Playing territory and forcing another mistake was a good strategy but badly employed.

For me much of the blame must go to Burns.  His kicking for territory was poor and when he did successfully earn us possession in their half he flippantly wasted it with his selfish and immature chips to nowhere and no one.  It was a real slap in the face when this alleged England contender was replaced by scrum half David Mele to see out the match.

But Tigers did start the half well extending their lead to 22-3 when Owen Williams converted a straight forward scrum penalty.  Ulster were a totally different team in the second half running the ball with vigour and verve, causing us all sorts of problems to our defence.  First they cut the gap with a penalty following Tigers collapsing an attacking maul.

Then they scored the try of the day, the first of two outstanding efforts; Ulster won 30 yards from a kicking duel between the back threes ending with a lineout on half way.  Sweeping a rare clean catching off the top they went through the hands, taking advantage of Miles Benjamin's poor decision to step in they raced into the 22 and smart running lines and sharp passing helped them evade the Tigers scramble defence for the try.

The score rattled Tigers.  They looked panicked.  Trying random 50m drop goals and retreating further into our shell.  A scrum penalty successfully converted by Williams helped calm the nerves, and of course eventually was the match winning score.

Ulster's second score had two parts, first was the delicious inside ball to British Lion Tommy Bowe who scythed his way forward, only stopped by a crunching Blaine Scully tackle.  Second was the finish by Franco van der Merwe, a huge swinging dummy was bought by all before the lumbering 6'6" beast dove over the ruck like an NFL running back diving over a pile of bodies.  In this game of course you've got to get back to ground the ball and the South African just about did despite the attentions of Ben Youngs.

Crucially Paddy Jackson was unsuccessful from the simple conversion.  Did the young man get a case of the yips and skew his kick you wonder?  No, the growing force of Jamie Gibson was sharp on the uptake and using all of his 6'5" frame, all of his wingspan and all of his vertical leap he managed to charge down the conversion!  I can't remember ever seeing that in a top level game before.

That left the gap at 7 points and Tigers in a bit of a quandary when a chance for 3 points came.  Are we battling with Ulster or Toulon in this group?  Do we take 3 points and deny Ulster the losing bonus, or are we challenging Toulon, do we go for the try and damn the risk of Ulster's point or possible draw?

We went for the ambitious.  We went for the try.  We went for Toulon.

We messed it up.  Twice.  Then again sort of a third time.  Well, you can't fault the ambition.   First line out was taken cleanly and the maul set up, but Ulster resisted and emboldened by Tigers spurning the kick infringed again.  This time we tried a trick line out.  Why?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Ulster cleared but only to the 22.  We tried another trick line out.  Why?  According to ESPN's stats these were 2 of only 3 line outs we lost all game, the other was a not straight call.

Ulster tried for the draw but Tigers defence was stout and held out.  Before the match I'd have taken a win, any win, 2 weeks ago I'd probably have taken a close defeat; but today and last night I'm gutted we didn't kill them off with the 4th try.

Know your Enemy: Champions Cup Pool Stage 2014-15

Ulster

Founded: 1879
Ground: Kingspan Stadium (a.k.a. Ravenhill; Capacity: 18,196)
Star Man: Ruan Pienaar

Transfers:

In: Wiehahn Herbst (Natal Sharks), Ruaidhri Murphy (ACT Brumbies), Dave Ryan (Zebre), Franco van der Merwe (Gauteng Lions), Sean Reidy (Counties Manukau), Ian Humphreys (London Irish), Louis Ludik (Agen) 

Out: John Afoa (Gloucester), Tom Court (London Irish), Paddy McAllister (Aurillac), Adam Macklin (Rotherham), James McKinney (Rotherham), David McIlwaine (Leeds), Niall Annett (Worcester), Johann Muller (Retirement), Sean Doyle (ACT Brumbies), Stephen Ferris (Retirement), Ian Porter (Connacht), Paddy Wallace (Retirement), Chris Farrell (Grenoble) 

Ins: 7

Outs: 13

We meet again.  For the third time in four seasons we will be making a trip to Belfast to meet what has become our European nemesis.  Embarrassed in 2004, humbled in 2012 we were at least close in Belfast in 2013.  Some were happy when we settled for a bonus point defeat.

But the home leg.  Oh the home leg.  A win and Welford Road would've hosted its first European knock out game since 2007.  We were ten points up, 25 minutes to play.  Ruan Pienaar, that genius, that bloody minded never-say-die Afrikaner, inspired a huge comeback.  He scored all the points.  He charged down Flood.  He nailed his kicks.  Nobody was happy with that losing bonus point.

Their European campaign ended at the quarter finals after defeat to Saracens and a red card to full back Jared Payne.

Ravenhill opened in 1923; all 4 stands have been redeveloped in recent years.  It also bears a new name after a sponsorship deal with local building materials firm Kingspan.

Ulster have lost two southern hemisphere powerhouses from their pack as Johan Muller retires and John Afoa moves to Gloucester. Irish international prop Tom Court also moves on as does long serving centre Paddy Wallace.  

Ulster's recruitment for this season is headed by a trio of South Africans; prop Wiehahn Herbst, one cap wonder lock Franco van der Merwe and full back Louis Ludik all join from the rainbow nation.

The most telling loss might not be on the field.  Long serving Director of Rugby David Humphreys has left to join Gloucester, like Dean Richards he left the day to day coaching to others but his experience will be missed.

As well as talisman Pienaar Ulster posses British Lion Tommy Bowe on the wing and emerging Irish fly half Paddy Jackson.  Darren Cave is a classy centre with Ian Henderson a growing force in the pack.

Toulon

Founded: 1908
Ground: Stade Mayol (Capacity:15,400)
Star Man: Take your pick

Transfers:

In: Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Simone Ferrari (Mogliano), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), Romain Taofifenua (Perpignan), Andy Cramond (Edinburgh), Gerhard Vosloo (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Grenod (Aix-en-Provence), Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier), Eric Escande (Montpellier), Nicolas Durand (Perpignan), Jimmy Yobo (Aurillac), James O'Connor (London Irish), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff)

Out: Emmanuel Felsina (Lyon), Benjamin Noirot (Biarritz), Sébastien Bruno (Retirement), Pierrick Gunther (Lyon), Joe van Niekerk (Retirement), Jérémy Lenaerts (Narbonne), Jonny Wilkinson (Retirement), Quentin Lenfant (Albi), Alexis Palisson (Toulouse), Vincent Martin (Lyon), Dannie Russow (Retirement)

Ins: 13

Outs: 11

So you've just won back to back European Cups.  Your star full back, Delon Armitage, impresses again and signs new deal.  What's an aspirant club to do?

Obviously you sign Leigh Halfpenny.  Then James O'Conner.  Why have just one world class full back when you can have three?

Not content in the backrow with World Champion Juan Smith, All Black powerhouse Chris Masoe, Argentinean captain Juan Fernandez Lobbe and English Exile Steffon Armitage you go out and sign Mamuka Gorgodze, the Georgian Goliath.

They've lost Wilko though.

Toulon are funded by comic book magnate Mourad Boudjellal, though he claims the side is now self funding.  A scary prospect.  Boudjellal took over the side in May 2006 and promptly led them to relegation.  Promoted to the Top 14 on the second attempt the side only really started to hit the heights with the signing of Wilkinson.

It took 3 attempts to become French champions; losing finals in 2012 & 2013 before claiming the Bouclier de Brennus this year.  They were last champions in 1992; a 19 year old Yann Delaigue landed 2 drop goals to beat Biarritz in Serge Blanco's final game.

Tigers are no strangers to Toulon after visiting for the 2013 European Cup quarter final, a close 6 point defeat.  The Stade Mayol has a mythic property for the Toulonnais and the atmosphere can be electric, but is old and dangerous at times.  The stadium is an accident waiting to happen, two stands are accessed from a tiny side street with no room to move for hours before kick off.

Named for local music hall star Felix Mayol and opened in 1920 it is built entirely into the local city environment giving the ground its unique charm, atmosphere and making improvement all but impossible.  Mayol also gifted the club its emblem the Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis).

Toulon are coached by former French national team manager Bernard Laporte and have a galaxy of stars available to them.  Hayman, Castro, Bakkies Botha, Ali Williams, the back row mentioned above, Giteau, Bastareaud, Mermoz, Drew Mitchell, Habana.  Surely they have to get old sooner or later?

Llanelli Scarlets

Founded: 1875
Ground: Parc Y Scarlets (Capacity: 14,870)
Star Man: Rhys Priestland

Transfer:

In: Peter Edwards (London Welsh), Chris Hala'ufia (London Irish), Rory Pitman (Wasps), Regan King (Clermont), Harry Robinson (Cardiff)

Out: Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Deacon Manu (Retirement), Sione Timani (Tarbes), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff), Aled Thomas (Gloucester), Olly Barkley (London Welsh), Jonathan Davies (Clermont), Nic Reynolds (London Welsh)

Ins: 5

Outs:8

Another familiar rival.  Leicester have faced Llanelli 71 times stretching back to October 1896.  Tigers have taken 29 victories to the Welshmen's 37 with 5 draws.  In the professional era Tigers have won 6 to Llanelli's 3, the last two meetings in the LV Cup going the way of Llanelli.

The politics of Welsh rugby require Llanelli to go by the name "Scarlets" alone and pretend to be formed in 2003.  But the roots of this club go back to Victorian era and include celebrated victories over touring international sides including the 1972 All Blacks and against World Champions Australia in 1992.

The club opened its new home Parc Y Scarlets in 2008, the modern stadium is built on an out of town retail park.  It boasts modern facilities but the home club struggles to fill its 14,870 capacity regularly in the Pro12.  

The club is also famed for the song Sosban Fach (Little Saucepan), a tribute to the traditional tin plating industry in the town.  The club also celebrates the industrial heritage of the town with saucepans adorning the top of the goal posts.

Llanelli are coached by Simon Easterby, husband of TV presenter Sara Elgan, the former Harrogate, Leeds and Ireland flanker represented the club 180 times.  

The top name of his current charges is Rhys Priestland, the Wales international fly half.  He will be reunited with centre Regan King who rejoins the Scarlets from Clermont.

Winger Jordan Williams, small and agile, had a breakout season in 2013/14 as did lock Jake Ball.  Much like Ed Slater Ball is English, ignored by the academy system and spotted playing rugby in Australia.

Llanelli beat Harlequins at the Stoop last season with an exhillerating counter attacking game, so will be as dangerous opponent as ever.  Question marks will however linger over the pack.

Gutted

Well that was gutting.  25 minutes to go and 10 points up.  A win and we get a home quarter final with all the benefits to the club that brings.  I turned to my mate and said “Just don’t fuck it up” that was all we needed to do.

Ulster are a good side, no question, but the All Blacks they ain’t.  They never really looked like breaking us down in phase play and their only chances had come from Tigers back three failing to deal with garryowens.  Feeding off your opponents mistakes is a classic tactic and one our best teams were more than capable of executing but when you have a 10 point lead against teams like that you just have to not fuck it up.

Nigel Owens interesting interpretation of the ruck and maul gave Tigers nightmares as Ulster seemed much more used to the interpretations of the Pro12 official.  Neutral referees should be the bed rock of professional sport.  Neutral in all aspects.  Obviously partisan supporters cannot ref their own side, and former players should not ref their old teams.

But more subtle is the different nationality referee from the same league such as Welshman Owens refereeing Ulster.  I’m not suggesting that Owens favoured Ulster out of some Celto conspiracy, even I’m not that mental (after the match), but as a referee in their domestic league he will be more exposed to their tactics and Ulster will be more attuned to his idiosyncrasies.  It could also work the other way as he may be more aware of their player’s reputations for certain offences.  This is clearly not a level playing field.

Every time Ulster attacked Tigers gave away a penalty of one type or another, yet when it was our turn with ball in hand getting a penalty was like getting blood from a stone.  They were obviously magnificently disciplined, especially with the off side which they certainly did not transgress at all.  Especially from kicks.  Paragons of virtue.

But at the end of the day we fucked it up.  In the first half Graham Kitchener latched on to Steve Mafi’s pass and sprinted into a chasm in the Ulster defence.  We had to score.  We didn’t.  Kitchener was bundled into touch by the Ulster full back.  We managed to get that 10 point lead principally through three scrum penalties and a hard worked try. 

Ironically it was our own garryown that sculpted the try.  After Flood’s highball was not dealt with Tom Youngs and Anthony Allen made strong yards.  The province never regained their shape and Flood probed a gap with a delicious grubber kick.  Morris grounded for the try despite the illegal attentions of Paddy Jackson’s early tackle.

A ten point lead.  At home.  I can’t remember many collapses that bad full stop, let alone in such a crucial game.  The gap was cut when Tom Youngs was pinged in a ruck.  It was erased when Pienaar charged down Flood and converted his own grounding.  Pienaar charged from Flood’s blindside and caught him unawares after yet another Ulster garryowen.  It was pure sloppiness from Flood combined with terrific workrate from Pienaar.

To rub salt into the deepest wound it was a penalty for offside that cost us the game.  It was clearly offside but to pick that ruck, amongst the several hundred in the game to enforce the law but no others was laughable really.  Ulster had an exact replica off the retreating defender never being on side in the previous Tigers attack.

But we still had chances.  Flood booted a rare penalty awarded to the Tigers in open play a full 70 yards to gain terrific position from a line out with only 5 minutes to go.  We attacked powerfully.  The defence was holding but only just.  Mele was on by now and firing the passes out like a man possessed.  With the line begging Flood steamed onto a Mele pass but could not hold on. 

Tigers had a series of scrums in mid field roughly 30 meters out with only 3 minutes remaining.  A draw was no good so surely Tigers would look to play the ball?  They chose to drive.  Ulster collapsed but Owens only awarded the re-set.  Again we drove; again we powered forward as Ulster went round the side.  Again Owens re-set.  We went again.  We lost the scrum. 

We win two scrums with no reward yet Ulster wins one and gains the crucial penalty.

This was unbelievably frustrating from the stands.  A penalty only gained us a few yards, and our try had come from outside the 22 at any rate.  Why not get the ball in play and take our chances?  What were we seeking to gain?  Or are Gibson and Mele actually bereft of the skill to clear the ball from a retreating scrum?

With one final, final chance we had the ball deep in our own half but thoughtlessly went wide, for a change, and were forced into touch.  I just don’t understand what our players are thinking some times.  The pass to Morris wasn’t going to put him clear so why throw it?  We seemed obsessed by getting it wide rather than committing defenders and running straight.

A fourth home game without victory this season is grim reading, especially with an Anglo-Welsh game and Saracens still to come.

The other results dictate that we head to Clermont, on a run of 71 successive home wins, in the quarter finals.  They have to lose sometime.  Might as well be us.

Tigers accept defeat

Tigers opened their European campaign with a defeat to Ulster at Ravenhill.  The final score of 22-16 meant Tigers left the province with a potentially valuable Losing Bonus Point.  With Montpellier winning without a Try Bonus in Treviso that could be the point that wins the group.

But.  But but but.  That attitude is fine in the wash afterwards but at the time to meekly take the loss as "good enough" is simply not the Tigers Way.  We'd have never beaten the Ospreys away in 2006 with that attitude.  We got a home quarter final that year.  We have now had only 1 in the last 7 seasons.  Coincidence?

To get a home quarterfinal you need 5 wins, most years.  To tamely surrender the chance of a vital away win is so so disappointing.  It is no way to act if you are truly trying to win the competition and it disrespects the fans that spent their hard earned money to follow the side.

If you don't know what happened yet an Owen Williams penalty had just got Tigers back within a try of the win.  We got a penalty with the clock ticking into the red.  And we waited.  And we kicked it out, to end the game.  Accepted we couldn't beat Ulster.  Gave up.

Its not that a Losing Bonus Point is a bad result, indeed it is our best from three trips there, but Ulster aren't some unbeatable colossus.  Northampton won there last season.  So could we.

It had started so brightly for the visitors, a great spell of possession and territory deep in the Ulster 22 was  finished off when Dan Bowden's exquisite long pass was collected by a rampaging Logovi'i Mulipola who stormed over the opening try.  Flood converted for a 7-0 lead.

Matters were leveled after a quarter of an hour when Ulster took a page from the Pat Howard play book scoring from a pinpoint cross kick by Paddy Jackosn.  Tommy Bowe, ever the Tigers nemesis, out leaped fellow Irishman Niall Morris for an immaculate reception.  The ginger magician Jackson slotted the conversion.  

Flood put the Tigers ahead after a lineout drive was pulled down but two Jackson penalties saw Ulster in the lead 13-10 at half time.  

The crucial moment in the game came shortly after half time.  Tigers had started the second half like they had the first.  Terrific ball retention and trademark phase play had driven the Tigers up to the 5m line.  Tom Youngs then spotted the overlap in the ragged Ulster defence.  But Paddy Jackson's interception stopped the move dead.

He raced the length to rapturous applause but Poite had spotted he was offside.  On the replay all could see not only was he offside but at no point had he ever got back on side.  This begs the question of what about the yellow card or the penalty try?

There can be no doubt that if Jackson's cheating had not occurred a try would have been scored.

So this crucial moment that could have made the score 20-10 or 13-17 instead ended up with the scores level.  

What made the lack of yellow card even more galling was Poite's decision to sin bin Jordan Crane some 15 minutes later.  The crowd was now riled up after Poite disallowed another try, this time for an obvious forward pass, and Poite was feeling the heat from the fantastically vociferous partisan crowd.

Crane's legs tangled with Pienaar's as he rolled away.  It was not a cynical move, and scarcely deliberate but the crowd, as a Welford Road one would, roared away in disgust anyway.  Poite under severe pressure produced the yellow card.

It was the tipping point as Tigers lost the period 6-0 and this was when Ulster really got away from us.  The second penalty was from a scrum on our own put in.  Missing Jordan Crane and with Deacon just replaced by Kitchener the 7 man Tigers pack was bolstered by Miles Benjamin.  I'm fairly certain this is not a role Benjamin has ever filed before; why?  Well he proceeded to pack down with his shoulder on the lock rather than on the prop, like an utility number 8. 

Even when back to 15 Tigers were now unable to stem the tide of the Ulster attack.  Wave after wave crashed down on the Leicester defence but they held firm, just.  The win seemed inevitable when a final crowd inspired penalty from Poite was slotted by Jackson.

With Owen Williams now on for a disheveled Flood and Mele long on for an out of sorts Ben Youngs Tigers attacked again looking for the losing bonus point at least, at most as it turned out.  From a lineout Williams tried an ambitious 40 yard drop goal which just drifted to kiss the wrong side of the upright.  

An offside in front of the posts but well away from any danger handed Tigers the chance to get within 7 and Williams continued his 100% record from the kicking tee in Tigers colours.

Then the disappointing admission of defeat as a final chance was spurned.

Tigers name team for Titanic Task

Tigers start their European voyage tomorrow night when they travel to a re-developed Ravenhill to face Ulster.  Tigers fans will need no reminding of the humiliating reverses suffered in the previous two visits to the Northern Irish fortress. 

Tigers make 3 changes to the side that could only draw with Northampton.  Anthony Allen and Blaine Scully are ruled out through injury whilst Geoff Parling has recovered from the rib injury that made him sit out the derby draw.

That means a dream debut for winger Miles Benjamin, 13 months on from the broken neck he suffered in an A League game.  While vastly experienced with Worcester the Birmingham native has never played a Heineken Cup game; his most recent first team start of any kind was against Northampton for Worcester back on May 5th 2012, 17 months ago.

The other change to the backline sees Dan Bowden come into the centres for Anthony Allen.  Bowden was particularly impressive coming off the bench last week, playing a key part of the late late comeback.  Bowden offers more kicking, a wider range of passes and a greater attacking spirit but is less solid defensively and there are question marks over whether he can make the team tick in the same way as Allen.  So often described as the glue in the Tigers midfield will Allen's absence mean we come unstuck or will it unclog the midfield channels?

In the second row Graham Kitchener moves to the bench as British Lion Geoff Parling takes his starting place alongside Louis Deacon.

On the bench Terrence Hepetema is in line for his debut should he come on.  Hepetema is a New Zealand utility back who has spent time with Randwick and the Waratahs in Australia.

Ulster also make 3 changes from their most recent match, an 18-12 victory away to the Ospreys.  Former Northampton player Roger Wilson takes over from Robbie Diack in the backrow whilst Jared Payne and Tommy Bowe start in the back three.

Ulster finished last season top of the table in the Pro 12 before losing out to Leinster in the final and won their Heineken Cup group before losing to Saracens in the Quarter Finals.

Both sides are without their Rugby Championship stars as Ruan Pienaar is only named on the bench for Ulster whilst Tigers trio of Ayerza, Camacho and Matera are missing for personal reasons, injury and being unregistered respectively.  Ayerza is in Argentina with his wife awaiting the birth of their first child, I'm sure we all wish her good luck and to get on with it!

Ulster main missing man is John Afoa.  The New Zealand tighthead is out with a calf injury which will delight Tigers fans as he was a key player in their our last demolition at Ravenhill.

Leicester Tigers
15 Niall Morris
14 Miles Benjamin
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Dan Bowden
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 Geoff Parling
6 Ed Slater
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Terrence Hepetema

Ulster
15 Jared Payne
14 Andrew Trimble
13 Darren Cave
12 Luke Marshall
11 Tommy Bowe
10 Paddy Jackson
9 Paul Marshall
1 Tom Court
2 Rory Best
3 Declan Fitzpatrick
4 Johann Muller (c)
5 Dan Tuohy
6 Roger Wilson
7 Chris Henry
8 Nick Williams
Replacements
16 Rob Herring
17 Callum Black
18 Ricky Lutton
19 Iain Henderson
20 Robbie Diack
21 Ruan Pienaar
22 Stuart Olding
23 Michael Allen

Flood injuries mars Tigers win

It’s an interesting exercise trying to describe foul play that you missed and have only heard second hand reports of.  Especially when there is no big screen to get slow-mo replays or even an on hand recording to verify other’s events.

The facts are that Ulster lock Dan Tuohy broke through the line carrying the ball on about halfway; the referee immediately blew his whistle for a foul and sin binned him.  Toby Flood was immobile on the pitch for over 10 minutes and was taken by stretcher straight into the pitchside ambulance.  From the terrace I could not see him moving at all.

So it certainly had an ugly outcome; but what exactly did happen?  Reports from those that claim to have seen it is that there was a swinging arm to Flood’s head.  Now taking the risky gamble that referee Tim Wigglesworth was correct in a yellow card what could have happened? 

On one extreme is that it was a stationary but prominent elbow that caught Flood in the head; the other is that after Flood had grasped him in the tackle he swung an elbow at his head to break him off.  One of those isn’t a penalty; the other, even in these days of yellow cards for manslaughter, is a clear red.  So it must have been something in between those two extremes. 

Best guess?  Dan Tuohy had his arm tight to his chest, Martin Corry style, and rather than taking contact then pushing off, which most refs see as legal, he pushed off prematurely swinging into Flood’s head in the process.

That or he’s a dirty Irish thug who deliberately injures opponents.  Probably the accident.

Well that’s 280 words on the injury what about the tries?

It was nil all when Flood came off and Ulster ended the 14 men stretch 3 points up, Tigers had levelled the score after a clumsy/lazy high tackle from former Northampton player Roger Wilson. 

It was a cracker of a try.  We won’t score too many better this season.  A nothing penalty from Ulster on our 22 was tapped quickly by David Mele.  He had spotted Tom Court, hobbling after the last ruck, exposed as the last man on the end of the line.  Mele to Lamb then Allen inside the 22 before Goneva was freed to round the luckiest Lion since Andy Nicol.  Goneva took it up to about half way before Niall Morris was given it sweeping up from full back.  He showed to give it to Hamilton then burst straight, his pace taking straight to the line from halfway.

A not too dissimilar move ended with Goneva chucking it at Thompstone’s ankles about ten minutes later.

The second try was the kind of masterful manipulation of a forward pack and a blindside that was reminiscent of Adel Kardooni in his pomp.  The maul had been going well, driving Ulster back 15m on the previous occasion before Wigglesworth had blown for an Ulster scrum, and Tigers were now within yards of the line.  It had been a back ball so there was a nice large blindside.  Wary of another random scrum to Ulster this time Tigers decided to get it moving then release the ball. 

Mele was le petit general as he bossed flanker Salvi to burst left and draw the man before seeing of an Ulster challenge to dot down in the corner.  C’est magnificent. 

After halftime Tigers quickly scored another beaut as Dan Bowden’s cut out pass to Hamilton tore the Irish defence to shreds; a lovely out the back of the hand flick to Anthony Allen, lurking on the wing, finished the move.

Ulster came back into it with some nice attacks.  Speedster Paddy Marshall went close after a good bit of broken field play following a Neil Briggs charge down.  Jerome Schuster was sin binned for an impossibly thick bit of play on his own goal line.  With the ball already slow and going nowhere he piled into the scrum half through the side of the ruck.  Now a yellow was harsh given it was the first offence by the entire team that half and the ball was nothing anyway but it was a stupid penalty to give away.  Tigers turned the ball over the next phase so it really was for nothing.  Ulster used the space from the missing man for Chris Henry to score under the posts.

That meant we got to see Fraser Balmian though, and he impressed shoring up the wobbly scrum and clearing rucks aggressively.

The scrum.  Ah, the scrum.  Apparently we have solved it.  So the internet nerds and the Telegraph twitchers tell me.  Well it looks like the Emperor’s New Bollocks to me.  I counted 6 free kicks and 3 penalties, with one highly suspicious squirt out of a scrum that looked suspiciously like it came out the tunnel.  Several collapses and re-starts were present and correct but what scrums we did get seemed de-powered and unstable with far more lateral movement than is normal.

Now we had duff games under last year’s rules too so I’m not poo-pooing the new rules just yet, but Richard Cockerill’s allegations of swapping one mess for another seems on the money after that display.

Back to the game and there was one final try as Tigers pushed for the imaginary bonus point.  Always good to train the mind as well as the body.  Perry Humphreys, last year’s title winning Under 18s full back, was fed a superb inside ball by Ryan Lamb and gained some good ground.  He recycled and the ball went left.  A huge cut out pass from Lamb found Waldrom on the charge who went close to the line, off loading for De Chaves who was driven over by Briggs to score in the corner.  Had there been a TMO I’m sure he would have been consulted but there wasn’t so we got a try rather than a wait.

Lamb’s conversion hit the post to round out the score at 30-10.