PRO12: Leinster 19 Ulster 6

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Ulster slipped to 5th in the PRO12 after a perfunctory performance against an emerging Leinster side at the RDS last night. Their only points in the 19 – 6 defeat came from the boot of Paddy Jackson who slotted two first half penalties.

In the pre-match review I’d stated, “whichever pack gets stuck in with the most enthusiasm should carry the day.” And Leinster certainly won the forward battle. There were some individual cameo’s from the Ulster pack with Tuohy, Diack and Herring all impressive in fits and starts but for a team coached by the supposed “King of the Breakdown” they came a poor second to the more intense Leinster side.

The Ulster defence in the red zone should take some credit for keeping the score line relatively tight for so long but it’s a small crumb of comfort after being outplayed for 65 min by a second string Leinster.

Ulster took a first minute 0 – 3 lead through the boot of Paddy Jackson but from then on in the first half was all . . .

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6 responses to “PRO12: Leinster 19 Ulster 6”

  1. Too much respect given to Leinster last night, needed to be in their faces and taking it to them!

  2. Haha! Fair point John. Should have posted from laptop as opposed to phone – then I could’ve switched user. Sorry!

  3. I can take your point and agree with a lot of what you said but ultimately the coach is the one who sets up the team and works with them in training on how to play and what way to approach the game, the decision to allow Afoa Christmas holidays is also baffling to me! You are right in the fact that we were outplayed almost in every position! Im glad I never payed good money to go!

  4. Sorry – can’t agree. Once any player crosses the whitewash, the buck stops right there and then. It’s called personal responsibility – I will maintain discipline and not give away penalties needlessly, I will adopt a lower body position running into contact so that I am not held up over and over again, I will make that tackle, I will make the extra effort to get to that ruck etc etc. Undoubtedly there were selection issues, some forced upon Anscombe through injury, some through player management and some through rotation (hard not to rotate when you have your local inter pro derbies days apart followed by a must win HEC game and home and a pool deciding HEC match away) But that doesn’t excuse the fact that too many players yesterday couldn’t match the physical intensity of their immediate opposition. Few covered themselves in glory last night, some we’re found wanting and some, quite frankly just aren’t good enough and are merely taking up squad numbers. The buck stops with the individual, win your battle, then worry about the rest. Simple? Yes. True? I think so.
    S.

    1. While I am all for personal accountability it is still the role of the coach to instil confidence in the team and to make sure that their heads are in the right place by giving them a game plan that they can follow through on and that they have confidence in being able to deliver. I really struggle to see any instances where Anscombe has delivered on these on a regular basis. Most of those young Leinster players were behind their Ulster counterparts a few seasons ago but they can now move seamlessly into the senior side, fully embrace the Leinster style and don’t look out of place. The Ulster sides – over the last couple of games have looked like strangers playing together.

  5. Said it for a long time I don’t think he has improved Ulster from McLoughlin! Poor decision making from management, with the talent he has at his disposal he should be doing a lot better, yes he’s got injuries to key players and lost key players to international duties but so have a lot of the pro12 teams, no point having fantastic wingers and backs if we don’t get ball for them!! Last night they were poor at best, the buck stops with Anscombe and the management, not the players!

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