ULSTER NUMBER EIGHT Sean Reidy has said that the team are bitterly disappointed with their 38-19 Champions Cup loss to Clermont Auvergne.
After last week’s thrilling 39-32 classic at the Kingspan Stadium, this one would prove not to be such a memorable one for Ulster, who were three tries and 21-0 down at the break.
Although they scored three tries in the second half, Ulster could not find a fourth for a valuable bonus point and return to Belfast with nothing after a late Clermont revival took the result beyond seven points.
“To be honest we’re pretty disappointed,” Reidy admitted after the game. “We can’t give away that many points in the first half and expect to win these kind of games.
“Their home crowd really got in behind them. They came out really physical in the first 15/20 minutes and that set the tone for the rest of the match.”
Nevertheless, the New Zealand-born back-rower says their second half performance proves that they can mix it with the best in Europe when they play at their best.
“We know we can play some great footy, we just have to hold onto that ball and do the little things,” Reidy claimed.
If we do that we know we can score some great tries, we have a really talented team and we know we can play right up there with the best in Europe.
“They had a little blip in the second half and we started to get a bit of ball together and hold onto it, which we didn’t do in the first half, we gave away too many knock ons and stuff.
“Just goes to show if we keep the ball in hand we can score points against teams like this.”
Ulster now have a five day turnaround before they take on Connacht in what will be an intriguing inter-provincial clash in Belfast on Friday night, meaning there’s very little time for recovery.
Reidy, however, says that they have to put today’s result behind them and concentrate on the challenge ahead in the Guinness PRO12.
“It’s a pretty short turnaround next Friday against Connacht and we know they played well this week,” the Ireland flanker warns.
There’s no rest here, we have to put today behind us and move on to next week.
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