An eight-try demolition of Oyonnax gave Ulster their best possible chance of reaching the European Champions Cup quarter-finals, with the runaway victory, try-scoring bonus point and final pool points differential of 60 applying intense pressure on their round 6 rivals.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: ULSTER 56 OYONNAX 3
Les Kiss’ side finished second in Pool 1 on 18 points, but must now wait for results from elsewhere before a quarter-final place can be confirmed, with essentially six other teams vying for five remaining slots.
With Saracens, Racing 92 and Leicester Tigers already through to the next round, the Ospreys, Clermont Auvergne, Northampton Saints, Stade Francais, Toulon and Wasps are all still in contention, so Ulster must wait in hope that their 18-point haul and strong points differential will guarantee qualification as one of the best three runners-up.
Oyonnax offered little resistance this afternoon, as scores from Rob Herring, Darren Cave, Rory Scholes and Sean Reidy secured the bonus point before half-time, while Craig Gilroy, Robbie Diack, Ian Humphreys and Jared Payne also dotted down after the break – all the tries being converted, five by Paddy Jackson and three by his replacement Humphreys.
With Ruan Pienaar unavailable for selection due to illness, Stuart McCloskey rested and Rory Best starting on the bench, the Ulster line-up was nonetheless bolstered by the return of Cave, rehabilitated from a shoulder injury sustained in December, and Nick Williams, victim of a concussion in the away game two weeks ago.
Cave teamed with Ireland Six Nations squad member Luke Marshall in the centre, in front of a back three of Payne, Andrew Trimble and Gilroy, with Paul Marshall taking over from Pienaar at scrum half, alongside Jackson at number 10.
Herring – another inclusion in Joe Schmidt’s Six Nations panel – took over the hooker and captaincy duties from Best, propped by Kyle McCall and Ricky Lutton, with Alan O’Connor and Franco van der Merwe continuing in the second row, and Williams joining Diack and Reidy at the back of the scrum.
Ulster wasted no time from the off, Diack charging down an attempted clearance kick in the Oyonnax 22 and as the Frenchmen impeded while scrambling to defend, the rolling maul off the lineout saw Herring bundle over with barely three minutes on the clock.
Jackson’s conversion dispatched, a Rory Clegg penalty got Oyonnax on the scoreboard before Ulster’s next surge, with a high tackle setting up exactly the same scenario as that from which Herring had scored 10 minutes before.
However, ‘crossing’ from Ulster put paid to any prospect of points until the 18th minute when Williams marauded forward with three tacklers hanging off his hulking frame, then fed Payne who supplied Cave for a neat try, converted once again.
With Clegg squandering a 23rd minute penalty, ruthless Ulster gave no quarter, with replacement Scholes bagging try number three with his first touch after coming on as a blood replacement for Trimble. Strong, pacy running from the excellent Payne and Luke Marshall set up the score, with Jackson supplying the final assist before adding the extras.
Williams came close to securing the bonus point as early as the 33rd minute as he barged through from the back of a rolling maul only to be held up over the line, but the breakthrough was not much longer in coming, Reidy touching down a minute before the interval after good ball shielding in the maul from Paul Marshall.
Leading 28-3, it was more of the same from Ulster as the second period opened. Gilroy touched down in the corner in the 47th minute after more enterprising work from Luke Marshall and rapid-fire passing between the backs.
Shortly afterwards, a great take of a difficult low ball by Payne made it possible for try number six to be scored. It was awarded to Diack, who had another impressive outing, after a long consultation between referee Marius Mitrea and the TMO.
Humphreys, who came on for Jackson, put over the conversion and was soon adding another seven individual points, exposing a central gap inside the Oyonnax 22 and grounding the ball under the posts.
Cave and Payne combined on the hour mark for try number eight – which the full-back’s work-rate throughout the match had thoroughly deserved – and with Jackson back in the fray for the final 10 minutes after Humphreys had found himself on the end of a bone-crunching tackle from Maurie Fa’asavalu, Ulster pressed on in the quest to improve their points difference.
It proved not to be – even with newly-appointed Ireland captain Best coming into the ranks for the final minutes to a rapturous ovation – but Kiss must be satisfied that his side have given their absolute best, and will observe the unfolding drama of the final weekend with much interest.
This website uses cookies.
Read More