Ruan returns
HIS FIRST-HALF TRY was more noteworthy for the poor tackling than the scrum-half’s amazing strength, but outside of that, Ruan Pienaar’s fingerprints were all over this victory.
While Paul Marshall is effective in injecting pace into a game and ensuring defenders are punished when they don’t defend the pillars, Pienaar is simply a class apart.
His calm, assuring presence has been missed by his province so far this season. And whether kicking long for touch, dictating play from the base of the ruck running that superb loop play to set up Tommy Bowe’s try he showed flashes of his quality tonight.
Another lead chewed up
The key phrase from Ulster’s management and players this week was ‘an 80-minute performance’. Now that’s much easier said than done, but Neil Doak will be disappointed with the loss of impetus after the half-time whistle.
Though Scarlets looked destined for second place throughout, there was room for disaster to strike when Rhys Priestland kicked his side to within five points. That score instead shook the home side into life and they went on to up the tempo and force the two tries they needed.
Olding concern
Stuart Olding was replaced at half-time after reportedly falling foul of the pitchside assessment that guards against concussion.
It’s good news that he was taken from the field if there was a concern, but it must be a concern that he faces another week of return to play protocols after another head injury.
Last week, Donncha O’Callaghan’s stray boot caught Olding and, against Toulon in round two, Romain Taofifenua also connected with the young centre with an altogether more powerful and reckless strike with the right foot.
Humphreys’ mixed bag
Ian Humphreys will want to forget one aspect of his game. However, leaving aside his abysmal early kicks at goal (he ended the night with 2 / 6) there was plenty to like about the returning number 10′s display.
With Pienaar was solid and secure, Humphreys was able to take chances with the ball in hand and scythed through gaps in the Scarlets defence to put Ulster on the front foot.
The Ex Leicester and London Irish man also showed how to deal with a defence that blitzed as quickly as Scarlets set out to do; delivering a number of looping passes above the heads of defenders or standing deep before chipping in behind. We expect to see Pienaar regain control of the kicking tee once he is fully fit, and that could be a winning combination for Ulster.
There’s still a chance…
So Neil Doak finally has a European win on the board and their one point is inflated to six.
Most players involved in this tournament will stress that qualification will be possible on much fewer points than was the case in the Heineken Cup. Yet even so, if Ulster stand any chance of reaching a fifth consecutive European quarter-final, another five points are necessary against Scarlets next week… Toulon taking Leicester out of the equation probably wouldn’t hurt either.
