My main takeaway from the Game on Friday in Ravenhill was that next season we will win there, unless they sign the All Blacks (and then we'll just draw :whistle: ).

The starting of Rodney killed us from a momentum point of view, real shame that he hasn't even got the standards to make the most of his last few games for the province. Ulster were always going to be quick out of the blocks to try shut us down early and our errors when the pressure came on was uncharacteristic and costly..

But really not too many grumbles with the performance overall, yeah it could have been better but given the changes and Ulster's desperate need for win the only real disappointment is not achieving the bonus point which would have been a fair outcome given the effort.

Anyway it's done, we move on. Hopefully Pat will ahve a decent hand to play in Grenoble, I worry about fatigue setting in. Some guys have big minutes on the clock already this season...

Mul: 21 Games and averaging 75 mins each game..
Aly: 22 Games and averaging 64 mins each game..
Buckley: 18 Games and averaging 65 mins each game..
McCartney: 16 Games (since injury) and averaging 67 mins each game..

Mul is an absolute machine of course, by the time his career is finished his Pro12 appearance and minutes played record will never be matched, and especially by a forward.. (Currently 208 Games and 14,853 minutes played)

Long round trip - up & down in the one time zone is hard going - back home at 2am this morning.

Disappointed with the fact we didn't get a bonus point - should have done so in my opinion.

Agree with a lot of the commentary already mentioned in this post.

Rodney really was very poor. Very poor - it was fun telling the Ulstermen that's what you can expect from him - they seemed less than enthusiastic about him coming there

Muldoon was absolutely immense - I mean massive!! What as servant he has been & continues to be. Leadership is word written for him.

Thought Bundee was knackered as were a few others.

Whilst O'Leary was OK, the loss of AJ / Ronaldson / Carty really told on us - we are poor from the boot when it comes to place kicking without of these being on the pitch.

Thought some of decisions - especially for the second try - looked extremely 'home town' ones

Still the courage & the heart in the last 10 mins really put the wind up the Ulster supporters around us - if anything they were praying for the clock to hit the 80 mins mark.

Proud of the lads - brave - hard working - unlucky in many was - lots of unforced errors - the injury count is a BIG issue now - we need two wins from the last three games to be sure of a top 4 in my opinion.

Thought Ulster were ok - certainly not their first string forwards but they had a strong back line out.

By the way , their new stadium is a fabulous place to watch a rugby match - good luck to them.

Ulster well deserved the win last night. I thought we were worth a bonus point personally but wasn't to be.

That last 10 minutes defence was herculean but Ulster not getting the ball wide quick shot themselves in the foot. Really surprised they didn't go for the posts a bit more.

Really high penalty count across the game. I don't think the ref had control over it really. Muldoon was practically laughing as he walked away at one point (I know him and refs don't get on at the best of times)
I can only comment on what I saw there. I might watch it back. A really sluggish first half from Connacht how Rodney stayed on the pitch that long I'll never know. (Good luck to him up in Ulster can he go now?) if he plays again for Connacht this year it'll be disappointing his last 2 games were well I'll stop short of saying disgraceful he had zero interest to be on the pitch. Bealham and Dillane really brought us to life.
Robb had a good game he's a good tackler he lessened McCloskeys impact who still had a decent game.
Jackson wasn't himself anytime I've seen him live I've always been impressed not as much last night.
Healy isn't 8ft tall those long passes out to home were getting ridiculous.

Hopefully there isn't too many injuries with a European quarter final ahead.

The last 10 minutes of the match last night was amazing. I expected Connacht to fold under the pressure. To hold out with only 13 men, with no chance of winning the game is amazing. Obviously I'd prefer if we had won or got a LBP but I do love seeing a team do something special just for pride. That last 10 minutes was special. Not sure why but it reminded me of the win over Harlequins a few years back. That is still my favourite ever Connacht win. I love the idea of putting everything into a game (or last 10 minutes like last night) when there's nothing on the line but pride. It's what gives us identity and distinguishes us from most teams (especially French clubs) who lose interest when hope of winning or progression in a pool is gone.

On Rodney, I heard from someone in URSC that he was signed on the recommendation of Rory Best, who was very impressed with him apparently

Funny but I thought Muldoon had a stormer. Might even have been best backrower on the pitch.

Injuroies and fatigue are going to be the biggest challenge now.

I'd focus on the league personally.

Got to win next week now.

That would make it 3 inter pros from 6. A very respectable return really.

Really like the cut of Bealham. He could become the best 3 in the country you know.

I think the ref said that SOL's yellow was for the accumulation of penalties by Connacht, rather than for the high tackle being dangerous.

From an Ulster point of view... Connacht are coached to another level. Down to 13 and still kept shape in defense, stole one against the head with a man down. Haven't seen teamwork or siege mentality like it since Ulster were good (in the 80's). You're not scared of the ball and that's a paradigm shift in Irish Rugby. Pat Lam for Ireland! Didn't understand Bealham's inclusion in the Six Nations squad... understand now. Like the cut of his jib. Good Luck!

Donal Connolly wrote:
Time to let Rodney go - he ought to be ashamed considering the chance they gave him and effort Connacht put into him.
Ulster will be wondering what they let themselves in for.
.

Rodney is an agent on the inside, when this fixture rolls around next year and he's at tighthead....four penalty tries from scrums pushed over the line.

Our attack was blunt tonight and their defence made hay... The yellow for SOL was harsh I thought (I watched on TV), it was a penalty and that's it. Sorry to see no LBP but no time to wallow, onwards and upwards

Shelflife wrote: Paynes motm hardly suprising, Constable who commentates on the bbc represents him, nearly as bad as Frankie on Rte .

Twas either Payne or henshaw and payne was less useless

Paynes motm hardly suprising, Constable who commentates on the bbc represents him, nearly as bad as Frankie on Rte .

Kingspan is a fine spot - the place was bouncing tonight. Brave to a fault tonight but some weary legs and malfunctions cost us....lineout particularly.

McCartney overshot the runway - alot. May have been number of lineout options they had.

Rodney was embarrassing - the "tackle" on Browne which led to their try was laughable not to mention his ambling back afterwards. As they were dotting down in the corner he was 15 metres away strolling back. Attitude stinks. That's him done now you'd imagine - lads who've given as much as Muldoon, Aki, Muldowney, Bucks must be eaten up inside to see his effort levels since transfer was announced.

Peter Robb was an absolute rock in defence - cut out of stone.

Dudley was Dudley - deadly. Scrums and breakdown both a lottery - yellow for OLeary seemed v harsh but not seen on TV.

Disappointed but proud - died with their boots on tonight.

BTW - Jared Payne MOTM. Really. Presumably based on the number of times Jim Neilly belated about him.....

a good performance considering the players we had available, we really need our half-backs fit and available and after watching the last few games our backline looks much less cohesive with Ronaldson not playing, again the guys that came on were well up to the pace of the game as soon as they came on.

Tough game to get into only 6 days after Leinster. I thought Muldowney looked tired last week never mind tonight. A few others looked tired too or maybe an had an eye on next week. Rodney was poor again and Lam didn't hesitate to pull him again. Hopefully his last appearance in a Connacht jersey as he has switched off and there's no place for that now.
Robb, Finley, Dillane and especially O,Leary were good tonight. Bodes well for the future.

salmson wrote: Henshaw's been really poor this evening.

Infairness he did a magic steal that resulted in sending Healy away when we were down to 13 men
But Payne definitely won the 15 battle
Shame Lam never got to unleash Brennan

We played decent at times but Ulster deserved the win - had been nice to get a LBP but not end of the world
O'Leary looked okay but our 10 curse has struck again - O'Leary looked injured before he went off. Niyi hobbling aswell
Dillane is awesome
Blade lively when he came on
Defensively I thought Robb was a rock- 12 tackles made and 0 missed
Muldoon is getting my vote for player of the season

The negatives- our lineout malfunctioned first half, Muldowney looked rather tired. I'll forgive Rodney knocking on (twice), I wont forgive his piss poor attempts at "tackling". I really wanted him to have a good game..He didn't..