Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshops

Saturday.12^th December, 2009.

Irish rugby continues to rule Europe. On top of Ireland’s undefeated year on the international scene, all of their Heineken Cup teams had victories on the weekend and all three are at the top of their pools.

Ulster played Stade Francais at Ravenhill Road in Belfast and, with the Ulster Telegraph calling on the home crowd to give the visitors a rousing “welcome”, the scene was set. The Ulstermen certainly did their bit off the pitch and their team responded. It was a super game. Ulster were courageous from the beginning and showed judgment, vision, skill and pace to frequently run their way out of defence. This, as always, paid dividends.

Honestly, I see four out of five quality games of rugby, in the northern hemisphere. I see ball in hand, and energy and enterprise – and, I’m pleased to say, much less of the aerial ping-pong! When I read some of the drivel criticizing the rugby played in Europe, I can only assume that it is totally uninformed. Better that these authors watch some games before opening their mouths!

Ulster surprised Stade Francais. They were soon on top at the lineout and had power and drive at the tackle. Their captain, Chris Henry, led from the front yet again, and it shows the quality of Ireland’s backrow depth that he cannot find a place in the national team. They never allowed the Stade to settle into their undoubted quality and led from start to finish – on the scoreboard and on the pitch.

The scrums never settled at all, so the referee, perhaps wisely, appeared to penalise each team in turn. This seems as good a way as any to sort out the problem. It certainly worked for Ulster, who were anticipated to have problems in this area with Roncero and Marconnet propping for the Stade.

Strangely, to me at least, Stade used Lionel Beauxis to kick for goal, in preference to Julian Dupuy, who kicked for France and for Leicester last season – with accuracy and length. This decision certainly cost them, because, by half-time, with the score 13-6 in favour of the home team, Beauxis had already missed two penalties and one attempted drop, all of which were easily kickable. Add to this the two turnovers of the lineout throw, both on the Ulster five-metre line, and you sensed that somehow this was not going to be Stade’s day. Australian Ed O’Donoghue was most effective here for Ulster – Melbourne Rebels take note; quality locks don’t grow on trees!

Ulster, however, were quite clinical. They converted all of their opportunities with quality execution – funny how that happens – and man-of-the-match Ian Humphries saw an opportunity on the counter. He ran Simon Danielli into half a chance, which he opened up with his speed and then found hooker, Nigel Brady, on his inside. Brady showed some pace and ran in the try from about 25 metres. The speed and efficiency of this strike stunned Stade Francais and enthralled the crowd.

Dupuy was making some opportunities and one neat “chip and run” over the head of Danielli, down the rhs blind, reminded me of Nick Farr-Jones. This ball, that is kicked on the top side and runs continuously AWAY from the retreating defender, is all but a lost art.  The ever-reliable  Clinton Shifcofsky saved the day and Stade lost the lineout on their own throw!

Humphries was growing in confidence and showing real ability. He ran the ball out from under his own posts, sold the dummy on the switch-pass. After making good ground he popped an off-load to the outstanding Stephen Ferris. Big, strong, skillful and aggressive, he is the ideal No. 6!

Early in the second half, Dupuy was yellow carded on a most decision and that was pretty well it for Stade Francais, save a belated burst in the final ten minutes when they suddenly decided that they had better try for a losing bonus point. The French teams, away from home, are a mystery. I hope for their sake that their decision to play next week’s return “home” fixture in Brussels, does not backfire.

Noel Oelschig replaced Lionel Beauxis and the Stade attack suddenly came to life. Urgency immediately replaced complacency. Second touched for the fly-half created opportunities out wide – as they always do – and Gasnier and replacement wing, Julian Arias, looked dangerous. Stade were denied a try by James Haskell’s illegal push on a defender, but they were soon in, by Arias, from a superbly executed set play. Oelschig, with a second touch, put Gasnier into some space and he positioned Arias for a clear run to the line. This bought the score to 23-13 and gave Stade Francais a chance for the bonus point, but decisions to take ambitious attempts for long range penalties cost them valuable time and this was the final score.

It was a great team performance by Ulster. Quality contributions from all over the pitch, lovely soft hands with the pass invariably in front of the receiver, invariably enabled them to maintain the pace of their attack, whether out wide or in tight. They were prepared to off load in the tackle and this kept pressure on the Stade defence and gave them space out wide.

All of their top players contributed. Humphries, Danielli and Trimble were enthusiastic and positive. Schifcofsky was a rock under the high ball. Isaac Boss was his usual quality self and Henry and Ferris showed pace, power and a work rate to support the enterprise of their backs.

Well done Ulster!