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Ulster qualify for Champions Cup as Biggar makes history

Fly-half Dan Biggar is set to benefit from Gareth Anscombe's injury (Photo by Getty Images)

Dan Biggar made history in his last game for Ospreys but Craig Gilroy claimed a double as Ulster won 35-17 to seal aĀ European Champions Cup spot on Sunday.

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The Irish province will be back in Europe’s premier cup competition next season after coming out on top in the first ever Pro14 Champions Cup play-off showdown at theĀ Kingspan Stadium.

Gilroy crossed late in the first half and early in the second to put Ulster in front after Ospreys captainĀ Alun Wyn Jones ploughed his way over from close range following a rolling maul 15 minutes in.

Ulster raised their game after the break in the absence of the injured Rory Best,Ā Iain Henderson,Ā Charles Piutau and Ross Kane, with Kieran Treadwell and Jacob StockdaleĀ also touching down andĀ John Cooney scoring 15 points from the tee.

Jeff Hassler scored a five-pointer on the hour mark and Biggar signed off with a try in his last Ospreys match before joining Northampton Saints, becoming the leading points scorer in the history of the competition with 1,585.

It was Ulster, though,Ā who deservedly qualified for the Champions Cup after finishing fourth in Conference B.

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Irelandā€™s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about whatā€™s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about whatā€™s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And letā€™s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. Iā€™ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshmanā€™s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the womenā€™s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; itā€™s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


Thereā€™s so much good we could be reading.


Instead itā€™s unimaginative ā€œcritical for the sake of feigning controversialā€. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. Thatā€™s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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