The lack of support play, both attacking and at the breakdown can be partially explained by the almost constant changes in combinations/positions and players not being used to each other. They are all professional and as such should be well drilled, but there are just too many without the experience of playing together at the moment.

32:15 of the video. For me Ulster resisted to the initial pressure, and Buckley changed the direction of his push, he didn't complain to the ref after...

Decadence wrote: We had some decent momentum in the first half and Marmion made some great breaks, but we didn't look after the ball both times. A try at that point might have changed the game. Our line out went to pieces for a while and as I said above, our midfield broke down repeatedly in attack and defence, killing any chance we had to get our game going. I would love to see Dawai in the center against Munster, he showed some great pace and strength on the touch line near the end.

Ulster defense was aggressive as it always is in Ravenhill, but they really should have had a bonus point there.

This is a massive problem at the moment, players are getting isolated and turned over an absurd amount of times per game, as opposed to last year when IMO our attacking breakdown work was one of the most impressive elements of our game.

guys I missed the pen leading to Ulster try on Bealham last scrum, was it justified ?

Diabhal wrote: In a world where any sort of injury to Jack means it's Blade or Tiernan to OH I think Poolman at centre is the least our fears.

while I hoped for different I didn't find this a surprising result, we are simply so stretched. and then to see Connacht players lying injured across the pitch. Jeez, not what I wanted. I would suggest that even the most optimistic fan (connachta ) would struggle on this one. I would suggest solace can be taken in everybody signing up for another season. I hate to be negative, but I do think this season is done.

This is indeed a very dark time from an injury perspective. I hope turkey and ham has superior healing properties.

Bealham, Poolman, Roux, Dillane, Muldoon and Niyi all seemed to be injured

Fingers crossed some of them fit for Munster

On a bright side another great conversion by Jack

We had some decent momentum in the first half and Marmion made some great breaks, but we didn't look after the ball both times. A try at that point might have changed the game. Our line out went to pieces for a while and as I said above, our midfield broke down repeatedly in attack and defence, killing any chance we had to get our game going. I would love to see Dawai in the center against Munster, he showed some great pace and strength on the touch line near the end.

Ulster defense was aggressive as it always is in Ravenhill, but they really should have had a bonus point there.

I was in favour of that already against Wasps. Now Poolman showed he definetly can't play there.Dawai HAS TO play 12. He did in the southern hemisphere in the past

Borders no.2 wrote: To try and find some positive note I love what Dawai has given us off the bench in the last two games. Start him against Munster even if it has to be out of position. We need more like him.

I wonder if any thought has been given to playing him in the centre?

Connacht had to take advantage of any chance to win this game, they just didn't.

On the one hand Connacht played quite well for some spells, on the other hand, Ulster undoubtedly butchered a litany of chances and if they were capable of passing should have had at least the four tries if not more. As usual we leave Ravenhill with nothing but more injuries. The only speck of optimism is that we have an eight day turnaround and Munster only have 5.

On this game, not much to say Ulster the dominant side without being anything spectacular (Can't even blame Clancy for this loss ) McCloskey caused us big problems. A lot of poor decision making from our viewpoint too, two of numerous examples are 1st try should never be scored if our defence holds its line. 2nd try we kick into midfield to the best player in the league to run back at us. Eventually they were going to wear us down from there.

No questioning the character of the lads, they kept going but given the disjointed nature of the team we were always going to struggle in Ravenhill if we didn't give ourselves something to work with early on.

The main disappointment is the injury situation. Its at scary levels now and threatens to end the season for us in the weeks ahead if it doesn't abate somewhat.

To try and find some positive note I love what Dawai has given us off the bench in the last two games. Start him against Munster even if it has to be out of position. We need more like him.

A great try there to put us back in the game. Our scratch midfield has been a massive factor in this performance, all 3 have made a lot of errors. Bealham is a very worrying loss.

To be fair to Rodney I thought he did quite well against us at scrumtime when they played us in Galway and he made a reasonable ball carrying impact in Ulster's revival last Sunday. Basically Ulster's options at prop are nearly as limited as ours are. A half middling performance from Rodney could get him a lot of gametime in the coming weeks.

Fourdogs wrote: Rodney v Denis is the contest I am looking forward to seeing. By all accounts his form for Ulster is no different than his last few games for us.

He has the odd game every now and then when he puts in a strong performance, think if he has any control over when that happens he might pick this game just to put it up to the likes of us.

connachta wrote:

dobby wrote:
With the weather the way it is looking for tomorrow it will be very much ball up the jumper time. So I wouldn't despair. Think our pack have the advantage so its not all doom and gloom

That's true
Our pack is close to the best, Heff, Roux and SOB associated are the most impressive 3 ball carriers we have

J.P + McCartney LH means we can struggle in the end at scrumtime, but in open-play, they will give all they have. Dillane + McKeon + Dawai should have a great impact too

Rodney v Denis is the contest I am looking forward to seeing. By all accounts his form for Ulster is no different than his last few games for us.