Timely URC upset as noisy neighbours Connacht scalp unbeaten Ulster
A decent match and a very decent outcome for the complexion of this revamped United Rugby Championship. The off-season promise had been that a more intense tournament was in the pipeline only for the opening rounds to insist otherwise.
Watching four-in-a-row champions Leinster blazing a familiar trail – with only similarly unbeaten neighbours Ulster and Munster in their slipstream as the rest, including Connacht, struggled to keep pace – wasn’t a good look for those who claim this expanded five-nation URC product is superior to anything that has gone before it.
However, now we have some tangible evidence that there can indeed be appetising upset results to get excited about and it was only fair that it was Connacht who were responsible for this 36-11, five tries to one ambush. They had come within a whisker of upsetting Munster last weekend, a last-gasp try the only reason why they were denied that precious scalp.
But in their temporary Aviva Stadium home in Dublin, they made up for that late Limerick steal by being full value for their comprehensive win over Ulster. As soon as there was a fifth-minute dust-up under the posts, you knew you were in for an enticing derby affair and that needle continued to give the 9,875 in attendance every reason to be very boisterous about what they were seeing.
Aside from last week’s painful denouement at Thomond Park, Connacht were handed further incentive to be a bruising nuisance when Andy Farrell’s latest Ireland squad was unveiled in midweek.
Things you love to see ?
John Porch finishes off a sublime @connachtrugby team move against @UlsterRugby ?#URC | #CONULS pic.twitter.com/g8iURqSlTS
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 23, 2021
That selection score read Ulster 7 Connacht 3 by way of representation and with Bundee Aki being monitored for a knee injury and reducing the western province to just two Test squad members for this URC fixture, it took quite a ferocious effort led by tackle king Conor Oliver and prominent ball carrier Paul Boyle to have them deservedly leading the unbeaten northerners 17-6 at the break.
The opening stanza initially suggested the force would be with Ulster but they didn’t possess the composure or the tact to make good their regular visits to the Connacht 22. Instead, it was Andy Friend’s upstarts who twice got over the whitewash and got people up from their seats in enthusiastic salute.
Niall Murray led the way, blasting onto a sweet ball on the 22 to just about make it to the line on twelve minutes, and there were further sprint heroics 13 minutes later when Mack Hansen said thank you very much to an ill-advised Billy Burns pass and away went the unstoppable Connacht winger.
In reply, Nathan Doak was two from three from the penalty kicking tee, with Jack Carty landing one in reply before the first half ended in a card show from referee Andy Brace, Alan O’Connor dispatched for a fight-causing cheap shot on Dave Heffernan before Connacht cheaply coughed up that numerical advantage just four minutes later when Ultan Dillane was penalised.
Ultimately, there were 27 penalties in this match, 15 against Connacht, yet the breakdown was a mostly enjoyably contestable area and some reversed penalties only added to the fun of a fair that continued to play out at a healthy tempo in the second period, although without any scores occurring for quite a considerable time. Connacht were the team with the most regret as they were primarily doing the pressing in the right areas.
They eventually came good, though, on 62 minutes in a pure training ground fashion off the set-piece. There were five passes off scrum ball, a pair of defence-distracting decoy runners and it all ended sweetly with winger John Porch getting enough of an edge to make it in at the corner for the unconverted try.
Three minutes later, Burns had his pocket picked again with a telegraphed pass, replacement Diarmuid Kilgallen racing away from halfway for the converted score that netted Connacht their bonus and left them a whopping 29-6 clear.
Only now did Ulster muster a response, sub hooker Brad Roberts going over from a 68th-minute maul, but it was a tiny consolation and this URC upset had its correct final say with Hansen profiting off ruck turnover ball on halfway to add a clock in the red converted try to leave the margin at 25 points. Five-try Connacht, take a well-deserved bow!
'Unfortunately, he [Erasmus] maybe has changed things & not for the better. He definitely questioned the whole respect the referee conversation that we are so proud of as a rugby community.' @BrianODriscoll talks to @heagneyl ??? #Springboks #urc #lionshttps://t.co/yJ7EyaZvXj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 26, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments