Ulster’s impressive start to the URC season continued with a bonus point 28-7 win over the Bulls in Belfast.
United Rugby Championship, Affidea Stadium
Ulster 28 (7)
Tries: McCloskey, Augustus, Herring, Izuchukwu Cons: Doak 4
Bulls 7 (7)
Tries: Louw Con: Pollard
Ulster’s impressive start to the URC season continued with a bonus point 28-7 win over the Bulls in Belfast.
Stuart McCloskey's first-half try was cancelled out by Wilco Louw in an error-strewn opening period.
However, the game was won by Ulster in the early stages of the second half.
After a yellow card to Bulls number eight Jeandre Rudolph, the home side scored three tries in the 10 minutes he sat on the touchline.
Juarno Augustus scored on his first start for Ulster with Rob Herring and Cormac Izuchukwu also on the scoresheet.
Nathan Doak converted all four tries.
With two wins from two to begin the new season, Ulster will now make the trip to South Africa for their next two game against the Sharks and Lions.
Ulster’s first half defence turns to attack after break
The only analysis to be done in the first half was on the number of errors by both sides, highlighted by Ulster’s opening try.
When a Bulls pass along the back line found only empty (artificial) turf, it allowed McCloskey to kick ahead and score.
Ulster’s maul defence was well organised, stopping the Bulls twice.
However, the visitors were guilty of butchering a number of scoring opportunities, eventually getting over the Ulster line through Springbok tight-head Wilco Louw, moments after Ulster hooker Rob Herring was yellow-carded for repeated infringements as the Bulls scrum began to get on top.
After holding the Bulls out in the first half, Ulster turned to attack at the start of the second 40 minutes and their early pressure led to a sin-binning for Bulls number eight Jeandre Rudolph.
Never in their widest dreams, however, could Ulster have thought they would take such advantage with 21 unanswered points in the 10 minutes the South African was sitting on the sideline.
The tries from Augustus and Herring were the result of knocking at the door against a stretched defence, while Izuchukwu finished another move that began with a Bulls turnover.
A disappointing performance from the visitors meant they never looked like mounting a comeback, but Ulster had put them to the sword with some direct rugby and capitalising on the man advantage.
With the Ireland squad for the November Series being named on Wednesday, it remains to be seen if two games are enough to see many of this squad named.
Jacob Stockdale was lively at full-back and he has started there for Ireland before, if only once, in October 2020 against France and with Hugo Keenan missing for the autumn, might he force his way back into the international reckoning?
Izuchukwu is another who impressed in this game but in the process of scoring his try he appeared to twist his knee and was quickly replaced as a precaution. Injury has robbed him before of a potential Ireland call-up. Let’s hope that isn’t the case this time.
Line-ups
Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring, O'Toole; Henderson (capt), Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus
Replacements: Stewart, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Sheridan, Reffell, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.
Bulls: Devon Williams; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Handre Pollard, Zak Burger; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar (capt), Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Nicolas Janse v Rensburg, Marco van Staden, Mpilo Gumede, Jeandre Rudolph.
Replacements: Juann Else, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nama Xaba, Paul de Wet, David Kriel, Willie le Roux.
Category: General Sports
