Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Ulster go top of United Rugby Championship with victory over Connacht

By PA
(Photo By John Dickson/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland squad member Robert Baloucoune touched down twice as Ulster climbed to the top of the United Rugby Championship table with a 32-12 bonus-point win against Connacht in Belfast.

ADVERTISEMENT

Greg Jones and hooker Declan Moore – a late addition to the starting XV – also got on the scoresheet before Baloucoune crossed at the end of each half, while Nathan Doak kicked all three conversions and two penalties.

Connacht winger Peter Sullivan was yellow-carded after only two minutes following a shuddering collision with Michael Lowry.

Video Spacer

Le French Rugby Podcast | Episode 15

It’s Coming Home… or Ramenez La Coupe A La Maison as Benji would say! We preview the 2022 Six Nations, discuss how badly Fabien Galthie’s preparations have been affected and what selection headaches he faces but, 12 years on from their last Six Nations triumph, do Johnnie and Benji think it’s going to be France’s year?
Plus, we look at some of the latest goings on in the Top 14, discuss one of the biggest brawls ever seen on a rugby pitch and pick our MEATER Moment Of The Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com

Video Spacer

Le French Rugby Podcast | Episode 15

It’s Coming Home… or Ramenez La Coupe A La Maison as Benji would say! We preview the 2022 Six Nations, discuss how badly Fabien Galthie’s preparations have been affected and what selection headaches he faces but, 12 years on from their last Six Nations triumph, do Johnnie and Benji think it’s going to be France’s year?
Plus, we look at some of the latest goings on in the Top 14, discuss one of the biggest brawls ever seen on a rugby pitch and pick our MEATER Moment Of The Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com

Lowry – another member of Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations squad released back to Ulster for this match – recovered to almost supply Ethan McIlroy with a score, only for Kieran Marmion to put in a last-ditch tackle.

It was full-back Lowry who eventually laid on the hosts’ opener, dancing through the Connacht defence before sending Jones over.

Doak converted the 15th-minute try and delivered again five minutes later when Moore – on loan from Munster but with a permanent switch to Ulster lined up for next season – barged over from a line-out maul for the home team.

Connacht responded 10 minutes later through replacement winger Oran McNulty, though Conor Fitzgerald failed to convert.

ADVERTISEMENT

The half ended with Ulster scoring their third try when Stuart McCloskey and Lowry combined to put Baloucoune in space and the winger did the rest with his searing pace. Doak again converted and Ulster led 21-5 at half-time.

Connacht cut the lead to 21-12 on 46 minutes when Alex Wootton snatched a try, Fitzgerald converting.

Doak then added a 53rd-minute penalty to push Ulster’s lead to 24-12, just after McIlroy had been held up short.

Two further excellent interventions on the Connacht line from Conor Oliver frustrated Ulster as they looked to wrap up the win and, better yet, a bonus point.

ADVERTISEMENT

Doak slotted a 74th-minute penalty before Cian Prendergast was held up over the line. The flanker was then sin-binned at the death and Ulster exploited the extra man when Billy Burns found Baloucoune with a cross-kick to ensure a maximum haul that carried Ulster to the summit.

Burns missed the conversion, but Ulster now sit two points clear of second-placed Edinburgh having played a game more.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
AM 43 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

72 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Rugby fans are about to find out what Robertson's All Blacks are made of Rugby fans are about to find out what Robertson's All Blacks are made of
Search