Fired-Up Ulster Claim Famous Win At RDS

Ulster gave their United Rugby Championship challenge a massive boost with a stirring 20-10 win over Leinster at the RDS.

James Hume’s late intercept try sealed Ulster’s first victory at the Ballsbridge venue since March 2013, adding to a coolly-struck 67th-minute penalty from replacement Nathan Doak.

Fit-again Ulster scrum half John Cooney played in Greg Jones for a 16th-minute try, setting up a 7-0 interval lead.

Cooney added a penalty but Robbie Henshaw’s superb pick-up for a try, 10 minutes into the second half, lifted a misfiring Leinster.

A Ross Byrne penalty briefly brought the hosts level, but Doak and Hume combined to ensure Ulster ended a run of six interprovincial derby defeats.

Giving his reaction afterwards, Ulster head coach Dan McFarland said: “We lost a game against Connacht (recently) and people were surprised because at the time Connacht were not playing great up until that point whereas we had won all our games.

“I thought Connacht were magnificent that day. In contrast, physically we did not play to the level we needed and four weeks is a long time to be sitting and thinking that you did not earn the respect you needed.

“That added a spark to the fire. It was a catalyst for our motivation coming into this game. It was probably only one spark among many.

“Playing Leinster in Dublin is the ultimate test in our league – it is as simple as that. If you can’t set your fire for that then what can you set your fire for? I thought the players did a magnificent job.”

The visitors left early points behind them, before Hume’s break outside Jordan Larmour took him up to five metres out. Cooney’s quick delivery from the ruck was well-finished by the inrushing Jones.

Cooney converted from the right, but Ulster needed more points to show for their dominance of possession (78%) and territory (85%), midway through the half.

A general sloppiness blighted Leinster’s play while Ulster flanker Nick Timoney impressed at the breakdown.

Billy Burns’ sharp break almost created a try for Cooney, before Adam Byrne’s surge into the Ulster 22 was spoiled by the fast-thinking Timoney.

Cooney missed a long-range penalty on the stroke of half-time, but Leinster continued to fall foul of referee Frank Murphy’s whistle.

Although the eleventh penalty against the hosts was turned into three points by Cooney, Leinster soon found some much-needed rhythm.

Despite a loose pass from Luke McGrath, Henshaw picked it up off his bootlaces to evade Eric O’Sullivan and score from a few metres out. Ross Byrne converted.

Ulster knocked on at a maul just a few metres out, before Hume, the eventual URC player-of-the-match, did well to cover a dangerous kick from Larmour.

A strong spell of Leinster carrying teed up Byrne to kick them level, but a confident Doak split the posts with aplomb to punish a Max Deegan maul infringement.

Handling errors continued to frustrate Leinster, and instead, with two minutes remaining, it was Hume who gobbled up a Tommy O’Brien pass on halfway and raced clear for Doak to convert.

It was certainly a night for the back rowers to catch the eye. Timoney, a late call-up to play for Ireland against Argentina last Sunday, was brilliant over the ball.

Marcus Rea and Leinster’s returning flanker Will Connors made an impact off both benches, but Hume’s accuracy in defence and attack saw him singled out as the player-of-the-match.

This tense affair hung in the balance until the 23-year-old centre romped home to banish memories of Ulster’s recent poor display at the Aviva Stadium against Connacht.

The physicality of their forwards – particularly in leading an aggressive defence – was also key. The victory also coincides with Springbok Duane Vermeulen’s arrival in Belfast in the coming days.

Speaking in the aftermath, Leinster boss Leo Cullen said: “Ulster, I thought, played well right from the very start. Kicked off and we found it difficult to get out of this end.

“We were defending a lot, Ulster kept the ball and we weren’t accurate enough with a lot of our exits. Ulster get in for a try and then we lacked a bit of cohesion in terms of chasing the game.

“A little bit frantic at various different stages and gave away too many penalties. So, across the board we unfortunately weren’t good enough today.

“It’s a good kick in the arse for us as well. We know we’ve got a huge block of games now, lots to reflect upon. It’s a short turnaround to Connacht.”