PRO12: Ulster 24 Scarlets 17

Ulster’s 24 – 17 win over the Scarlets may indicate a more significant  improvement to the season than the meagre seven point win would indicate.

The home side left another 20+ points on the field, in a game they dominated for 60 minutes, but the difficulty of their journey to realise their full potential was highlighted as they almost let their fourteen point lead slip in the closing minutes.

With the players suffering a crisis of confidence in the proceeding weeks the team had been instructed to, “Go out and play rugby. Go out and enjoy yourselves and don’t try and force it.” during this weeks build up and in fairness the team looked a lot more relaxed and inventive throughout, playing what was in front of them rather than their previous stilted play.

Unfortunately they were a bit too relaxed in the opening minutes as they gifted Scarlets the opening score as they tried to run the ball out of the 22 after fumbling the kick off. A reckless pass from Pedrie Wannenburg was gobbled up by Sean Lamont who trotted over for one of his easiest tries. 0 – 5 to the Scarlets.

Playing into a strong wind Ulster . . .