ULSTER 19
CONNACHT 26
Connacht delivered the most timely boost to their seasonal ambitions with an emphatic victory over Ulster in Belfast.
After a host of losses to their interprovincial rivals, Stuart Lancaster’s men rose to the occasion in an absorbing contest from start to finish, and delivered a massive win, and made a statement of their BKT URC intentions.
“ A great win for us,” says coach Stuart Lancaster. “I felt during the season we have been making progress. I know we have had near victories and last-minute defeats, and you are thinking ‘oh my god, are we ever going to break the glass ceiling?’.
“Rugby is such a weird game sometimes - it’s never an upward curve, so we still have to keep our feet on the ground, but certainly the last four games, and this game in particular, is a huge win for us.
“To come to such a difficult place, a team that is playing so well, hasn’t lost at home for such a long time, and we have lost some 10 interpros on the go, so it’s a great win.”
The big question for Connacht heading to Belfast was would Connacht have what it takes to topple an Ulster side sitting pretty in third spot on the BKT URC table - Connacht in ninth and knocking on the door of the cherished top-eight. With eight wins from 12, and unbeaten at Affidea Stadium, Ulster at home were obvious favourites, boasting experienced returning internationals in Jacob Stockdale, Tom Stewart, Tom O'Toole, Nathan Doak, in addition to Angus Bell, and the 81-capped Iain Henderson.
Ulster’s last loss to Connacht in Belfast was the URC quarter-final in 2023 - thus Connacht boss Stuart Lancaster needed a litmus test of Connacht’s progress this season, Ulster was always going to provide it, and Connacht delivered.
“We have worked hard on our defence, and we needed to,” says Lancaster, “but also our attack. Our four tries were well constructed, lots of good ball off the ball, good skill. In the second half we really played well, and it’s a shame it got so tight at the end, because at one point we were looking for a comfortable win, but it was a bit edgy at the end.”
The sides were level at the break - one try each - in an absorbing encounter with both defences on top. Ulster may have edged the possession stakes and enjoyed more territorial control, but Connacht were not found wanting in their defensive endeavours, while their line-out continued to deliver.
That defence was necessary in the early stages when Ulster had their visitors under pressure following an Ulster penalty kicked to touch, but Connacht survived in a high-octane opening 15 minutes. Instead Lancaster’s men delivered the opening try after 19 minutes through Sean Jansen, but Jack Carty, Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham all played their parts, with Carty adding the extras to lead 0-7 after 20 minutes.
It fuelled Ulster’s response and within minutes their scrumhalf Nathan Doak had replied - a turnover at the other end of the pitch provided the opportunity and with Zac Ward and Ethan McElroy playing their part, the hosts had drawn level.
Ulster’s strong counterattack kept Connacht on their toes, Colm Reilly doing well to stem the tide, but a yellow card to Finlay Bealham gave the home side the momentum until Bundee Aki produced the necessary turnover at the breakdown to sees the sides level at the break, 7-7.
The home side continued where it left off at half-time and was again denied a certain try when Stockdale, Verner Kok and Ben Carson all broke through. But for a forward pass, they would certainly have scored. However, it was Connacht who delivered next. Putting the ball through the hands, replacement scrumhalf Ben Murphy was a key player before Finlay Bealham delivered, helped by Joe Joyce, with fullback Sean Naughton adding the extras.
Replacements added impetus to Ulster, but once again Aki, who was at his best, provided the necessary cover to halt their ambitions before Finn Treacy finished a super try in the 68th minute. Dave Heffernan made the initial surge, Josh Ioane delivered to Cathal Forde, who broke for the line, and the supporting Treacy dived over, giving Connacht a 7-19 lead.
As expected the home side responded, and it was Zac Ward, who sold a dummy to race down the left wing for a necessary Ulster score, while Stockdale was alert to the threat of Jennings who nearly added another. However, with Connacht in the ascendency and revelling in their attacking prowess, it was not long before they put the game to bed. It was a super try, created by Treacy, who crowned the deserved victory over Ulster, while the defensive stand by Connacht prevented Ulster from scoring when a late try was held up - a try that could have left the sides level.
While Ulster suffered their first home loss of the season, Connacht deservedly celebrated their sixth win, and a move into the top eight. They now prepare for a key game against Ospreys in Dexcom on Saturday March 28.
Ulster: M Lowry, W Kok, J Stockdale, B Carson, Z Ward, J Murphy, Doak; A Bell, T Stewart, S Wilson, I Henderson, J Hopes, D McCann, M Rea, J Augustus. Replacements: R Herring for Stewart (57 ), S Crean for Bell (57 ), Bell for Crean (72 ), T O’Toole for Wilson (50 ), M Dalton for Henderson (54 ), B Ward for Rea (21-31, 50 ), C McKee for Doak (61 ), J Scott for McIlroy (61 ), E McIlroy for Lowry (4 ).
Connacht: S Naughton, S Jennings, C Forde, B Aki, F Treacy, J Carty, C Reilly; B Bohan, D Heffernan, F Bealham, J Joyce, D Murray, J Murphy, C Prendergast, S Jansen. Replacements: M Victory for Heffernan (61 ), P Dooley for Bohan (61 ), S Illo for Jansen (41-47 ), P Boyle for Murphy, B Murphy for Reilly (50 ), J Ioane for Carty (50 ), J Devine for Aki (76 ).
Referee: M Adamson (SRU ).
