Sport

Defeat to Ospreys ends Ulster's hopes of Guinness PRO12 play-off spot

Charles Piutau takes the ball from Keelan Giles during the penultimate Guinness PRO12 League clash between the Ospreys and Ulster Rugby at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday Picture by John Dickson / www.dicksondigital.com
Charles Piutau takes the ball from Keelan Giles during the penultimate Guinness PRO12 League clash between the Ospreys and Ulster Rugby at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday Picture by John Dickson / www.dicksondigital.com Charles Piutau takes the ball from Keelan Giles during the penultimate Guinness PRO12 League clash between the Ospreys and Ulster Rugby at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday Picture by John Dickson / www.dicksondigital.com

ULSTER’S hopes of playing knock-out rugby for a seventh consecutive season are all but over following another error-ridden display on Saturday at the Liberty Stadium, where the Ospreys’ 24-10 win secured the Welsh side a PRO12 semi-final place barring a virtually impossible scenario.

Not only would Ulster have to beat table-toppers Leinster with a bonus-point in their final game of the regulation season, but they would also need the Ospreys to lose by more than seven against the Scarlets and force a 73-point swing in the process.

Even the most optimistic Ulster supporter would concede that it simply isn’t going to happen so the Leinster game at the Kingspan Stadium will be therefore little more than a dead-rubber.

Nevertheless Ulster captain Andrew Trimble was anxious to stress the importance of the Irish derby clash in Belfast on Saturday.

“It is an inter-pro game against Leinster next week and that will give us plenty to play for,” said Trimble.

Les Kiss, however, was more circumspect as he reflected on Saturday’s disappointing display which, in some respects was a mirror-image of the narrow loss to Munster at Thomond Park a fortnight earlier.

Ulster had the bulk of the possession in the second half after trailing 17-3 at the interval, but a series of errors meant they didn’t cross the try-line until the final minute when Jacob Stockdale touched down for Paddy Jackson to convert after he had knocked over a penalty in the first half.

Earlier in the second half, Stockdale had kicked the ball over the dead ball line when a try looked the more likely outcome and Charles Piutau knocked on close to the line.

Those were just two of the many errors – three consecutive line-outs were lost on their own throw in the opening 40 minutes alone- that epitomised a disappointing afternoon which had got off to a bad start when Iain Henderson’s early indiscretion at a ruck ultimately produced the opening try when Tom Habberfield got over to put Ulster on the back foot.

“It’s not the best dressing room,” said Kiss with a hint of understatement.

“We afforded them a lot of time on the ball and I accept that’s not good enough when you give a team like Ospreys a bit of oxygen and a way to stay alive.”

“In the second half, we created a lot of opportunites but we weren’t good enough to finish them off; we had a good chance (to win the game) but there’s disappointment across the board.

“These things hurt for a while but if there’s something to get the best out of yourself it’s an

inter-pro.

“Leinster are such a good team and this year they’ve got better and better and personally I think the team that beats them will win the championship.

“So we’ll see how that goes but, in the end, it’s disappointing today, that’s for sure.”

To add to Ulster’s woes, centre Stuart Olding, is out of the Leinster game after picking up an ankle injury shortly after replacing Stuart McCloskey.

Springbok fly-half Ruan Pienaar is doubtful for what would be his last game for Ulster after being forced off with a back spasm.