Hard times in Musgrave as Ulster drop off the pace in the second half.
We arrived at Belfast International just before 1:00pm and took our place in the queue just behind Isaac Boss and Andrew Trimble. We were booked on the Youngman Airways 2:00pm chartered flight to Cork and we were traveling with the team. The short wait passed quickly as a group of mini-Fruettes (on a school trip) spotted Andrew Trimble in the line and surrounded him. After 10 - 15 autographs on assorted items of clothing and several group photos our line started to move and we collected our boarding pass and went off to find the bar.
Our time in the bar was limited however as I remembered, while I was being swabbed at security, that I had forgotten to put my memory card (ironic eh!) back into the camera such was my excitement that morning. So after a quick rip-off at Dixons we only had time for one pint before we were being called to board.
Imagine our surprise when we trucked up to our seat on the Youngman Twinprop Special and we find Justin Harrison sitting there. He stated a preference for the seat beside the emergency exit as it afforded him more legroom so we quickly made other arrangements. Being split up did give us the chance to help some of the players with their quiz sheets which had been prepared by Isaac to keep them amused on the way down.
With a strong tailwind we arrive at Cork Airport early and after a mile walk we arrived in the terminal, collected our tickets from Fitzy's bag and wished the players all the best as we traveled in separate busses to the team hotel. Unfortunately our bus was commandeered by the freeloading blazers of the Ulster Branch who decide they want to take the paying customers on a half hour detour so we can drop them off at Jurys to meet their chums. It was a damming indictment of their mind set with respect to the paying supporter that these five buffoons didn't even think to get a taxi. It really was piss poor public relations by the Ulster Branch.
We eventually arrive at the Rochestown Park Hotel (half an hour late) and we meet up with some more of the traveling support and an old mate from Monster Land. We just about have time for several pints and a bite to eat before we're getting on the bus again to head to the ground. This was my first trip to Musgrave and I was a bit disappointed as it looks really tatty and doesn't have anything like the atmosphere of good old Ravers. There wasn't much crack with the Munsters either though they were friendly enough. Importantly, though, it was reasonably easy to get a pint and the bar was never too crowded.
And so to the game. I was worried as soon as I saw Rolland run out.
As an aside, the Celtic League need to get things like this sorted if they aren't going to slip from a second rate competition to a third rate one. Rolland shouldn't be reffing any game between Irish sides - he has just too much baggage (and it's usually dumped on Ulster's head). This, combined with the fact that the return match is going to be played against the Munster B Team on a Tuesday night, really makes the Magners League look like the poor cousin of the Guinness Premiership and the Top 14.
However, apart from giving away two soft tries, I thought that Ulster shaded the first half and the Munster Fans around us were very quiet. In fact the atmosphere was pretty poor and the only singing we could hear came from the small band of URSC Supporters down the far end in the more economical terrace! The second half was a different story and Ulster were taken apart. After about 30 points the home support eventually found their voices and it was a long 40 minutes.
There are many reasons put forward as to Ulster's strategy during this game. Behind the spin the fact is that when the momentum started to go Munsters way we didn't have anyone big or ugly enough to stand up and stem the tide. We still need this type of player in the front five if we are to move forward next year. While Ferris is an awesome presence in the back row he's just not dirty enough for this role.
With an hour wait after the game we took the opportunity to visit some of the local hostelry's outside the ground and then it was back to Cork Airport for the return trip. The flight was pretty subdued for obvious reasons and Matt Williams carried out game reviews on his laptop with some of the players on the way back up. The unfortunate Ferris had to stand most of the way back as he was suffering with back pain and not a pain in the neck (right) as some might think.
Arrived back home to see that Matt Williams had pinpointed the areas of weakness, lineouts and missed first up tackles, and stated that it was good experience for the younger players. This is exactly the same as Mark McCall was saying at the start of the season whereas with him it was treated with disdain by the erstwhile supporters whereas now the same words herald the new messiah. No dissing of the new manager here, just a comment on the vacillating supporter.
The FRU Man of the Match goes to Stephen Ferris who put in another barnstormer with some big hits. I just wish he would have stuck one on Buckley half way through the first half! (Legally of course!)
Some of you may be aware that The FRU has quite a following within the local Civil Service. Well one of our moles loyal readers has forwarded us a copy of a series of correspondence between Our President and Our Queen. It could only happen in Ulster. Here's the first part!
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Rugby on TV
Friday 28th March
19:10 Ospreys v Ulster Magners League BBC2 Wales (19:00-21:00) BBC Interactive (19:00-21:00) Setanta Ireland (19:00-21:30)
19:30 Connacht v Munster Magners League Setanta Sports 2 (19:00-21:45)
19:30 Toulouse v Biarritz Top 14 British Eurosport 2 (19:15-21:15)
Saturday 29th March
15:00 Leicester v Wasps Guinness Premiership Sky Sports 2 (14:30-17:00) Sky Sports HD2 (14:30-17:00)
17:30 Llanelli v Leinster Magners League Setanta Sports 2 (17:15-19:40) S4C
Sunday 30th March
16:10 Dragons v Glasgow Magners League Setanta Ireland (16:00-18:00) S4C
Friday 4th April
19:30 Sale v Brive Challenge Cup Quarter-final Sky Sports 2 (from 19:30)
Saturday 5th April
07:30 Hurricanes v Sharks Super 14 Sky Sports Xtra (07:30-10:00)
10:00 Waratahs v Blues Super 14 Sky Sports Xtra (10:00-12:30)
14:30 London Irish v Perpignan Heineken Cup Quarter-final Sky Sports 2 (14:30-17:00) Sky Sports HD2 (14:30-17:00)
17:00 Gloucester v Munster Heineken Cup Quarter-final Sky Sports 2 (17:00-19:30) Sky Sports HD2 (17:00-19:30)
19:30 Newcastle v Castres Challenge Cup Quarter-final Sky Sports 2 (19:30-22:00) Sky Sports HD2 (19:30-22:00)