"Myself and Matt Williams spoke to the players in the changing room, but those conversations will stay in the changing room. I don't need to tell you that no one was happy, none of our team play to lose and everyone takes it personally when we lose whether or not they have had a good game.

"It was unacceptable to lose this match and we have had enough of being the 'nearly' men. If this can act as an eye opener and we perform the way we believe we can on Friday night against the Dragons, then we will be able to take it.

"We are determined to bounce back and get a win on Friday night. Matt Williams was angry after the game in Cardiff. He knows we aren't a poor side and that we threw our lead away. We don't want to let that happen again," added the Ireland hooker.

ULSTER Squad (v Newport Gwent Dragons): Backs (11) - Niall O'Connor, Bryn Cunningham, Paddy Wallace, Timoci Nagusa, Rob Dewey, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Clinton Schifcofske, Cillian Willis, Isaac Boss, Paul Steinmetz.

Forwards (13) - Justin Fitzpatrick, Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Rory Best, BJ Botha, Carlo Del Fava, Ed O'Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, Matt McCullough, Kieron Dawson, Robbie Diack, Thomas Anderson.