ULSTER’S CLASH WITH the Scarlets was being billed as a battle of two exceptional back lines, but in the end it was Ulster’s forwards who made the difference.
With a superior scrum, a flawless line-out and some bulldozing carries from the likes of Rodney Ah You and Robbie Diack, the Ulster tight eight set up the platform for their nimble footed backs to carve their way through.
They may have only scored once through the backs, but Ulster could have had several more, with Louis Ludik finishing off a team effort in the first half as the back division’s five pointer.
Instead it was down to the forwards to show their backline compatriots the way to the line by mauling over with the last play for the second try of the game.
On his 100th appearance for his adopted province, Rob Herring led the line from hooker, and said after the game he’s happy for his forwards to go about their job quietly while the backs steal the headlines.
You look at the backs and the players who were brought in, they’re star quality,” Ulster’s latest centurion enthuses.
“I think as a forward pack we like to go about our business quietly and make sure we get our set-piece right.
“Our set-piece is right up there as one of the best in terms of stats, so we are providing good ball for the backs and to be quite honest, that’s our job.
“We had crucial turnovers at good times in the game and it was good to get that relief.
We’ll look back at the game, we played some good rugby in the right areas of the pitch but we just couldn’t finish it off which is slightly disappointing. But we’ll learn and try to fix it for next week.”
It was an emotional night for the hooker, who donned the famous white jersey for the 100th time, and he marked it with a victory that makes it three on the bounce for Ulster.
But, as he has repeated in the lead up to this milestone, Herring was not going to let his emotions get in the way of his performance.
I was just thinking in the build up to the game there’s a lot made of it, but once you get over the white line it’s just another game and I’m just happy to get the win,” he commented.
“I think before the game I was slightly more nervous than usual, just reflecting on the last four years. But once you hit the field, as I said, it’s just another game and I just want to do my best for the team.”
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