Ulster Swept Aside In Swansea

Ulster encountered further disappointment on the road in Wales tonight, conceding four tries as a classy Ospreys side won 31-20 to move back to the top of the GUINNESS PRO12 table.

Tries from Rob Herring and Tommy Bowe in a second half revival from Ulster were not quite enough for the visitors to take anything away from the Liberty Stadium, where a scintillating two-try display from Rhys Webb and exemplary kicking from his half-back partner Dan Biggar left the result in little doubt.

Two changes to the Ulster team defeated last week by the Scarlets in the European Champions Cup saw Michael Allen selected on the left wing in place of the rested Craig Gilroy, and Andrew Warwick was picked at loosehead prop, with Callum Black on the bench..

With the prospect of a bonus point win for either side taking the victors to the top of the PRO12 standings, the Ospreys took a second-minute lead courtesy of a Biggar penalty before a slick counter attack – spearheaded by Rory Best – took Ulster well into the Ospreys’ 22 until they knocked on five metres out.

Ian Humphreys drew the sides level on 14 minutes with a penalty from just past halfway, but parity was short-lived as Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones ripped the Ulster rearguard asunder three minutes later, brushing off a handful of tackles to create the space for Biggar to race home under the posts. The out-half also converted.

The Ospreys came close again moments later after good acceleration from Ashley Beck, and Ulster did themselves no favours as both Humphreys and Ruan Pienaar missed touch with penalties kicked from the hand.

The Ospreys continued to dominate past the half hour mark, providing the more expansive rugby and offloading particularly well. Webb duly picked up from lock Rynier Bernardo on 36 minutes to run in his sixth try of the league season, converted again by Biggar.

Ulster had just enough time before the interval to put together their best attack of the match, first through a rolling maul marshalled by Best. After knock-ons from both sides, Humphreys kept a cool head to pick up on the left wing, sidestep a would-be tackler and run over to score behind the posts.

However, multiple replays with input from TMO Tim Hughes, referee Neil Paterson and assistant referee Nigel Owens saw the try disallowed for the double knock-on after several minutes’ deliberation, sending Ulster off at the break 17-3 adrift.

With Paul Marshall replacing the injured Pienaar at half-time, Ulster started the second period with verve, earning a scrum penalty in the 43rd minute which Humphreys sent through the posts.

However, the Ospreys put together another fluent move five minutes later, setting up a second try of the night for Webb after a powerful drive from Josh Matavesi and sharp wing play from Eli Walker.

Biggar converted once more after the TMO had reviewed Walker’s contribution to the try and found no reason to disallow the score.

The Ospreys number 10 kicked a penalty to touch on 53 minutes as the Ospreys pushed for their bonus point score. This came two minutes later, Hanno Dirksen picking up five metres from home and driving over despite the attentions of Humphreys and Allen.

Another conversion sunk by Biggar, multiple personnel changes seemed to reinvigorate Ulster as replacement hooker Herring grabbed his first try of the season off the back of a rolling maul. Humphreys converted for 31-13.

It got even better for the visitors in the 67th minute when Bowe (pictured below) ran a perfect diagonal line to pick up from Paul Marshall and dot down under the posts for his first try against his former team since rejoining Ulster from the Welsh region in 2012.

With the deficit reduced to 11 points thanks to Humphreys’s successful conversion, a lively final 10 minutes saw Ulster chasing a losing bonus point in vain, as the Ospreys’ defence held firm to ensure Neil Doak’s men left empty-handed.

Next up for Ulster are two mouth-watering interprovincial derbies with Connacht the visitors to the Kingspan Stadium on Boxing Day, before Doak’s side face Leinster at the RDS on Saturday, January 3.