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Ulster qualify for Champions Cup as Biggar makes history
By Peter Thompson
Dan Biggar made history in his last game for Ospreys but Craig Gilroy claimed a double as Ulster won 35-17 to seal a European Champions Cup spot on Sunday.
The Irish province will be back in Europe's premier cup competition next season after coming out on top in the first ever Pro14 Champions Cup play-off showdown at the Kingspan Stadium.
Gilroy crossed late in the first half and early in the second to put Ulster in front after Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones ploughed his way over from close range following a rolling maul 15 minutes in.
Ulster raised their game after the break in the absence of the injured Rory Best, Iain Henderson, Charles Piutau and Ross Kane, with Kieran Treadwell and Jacob Stockdale also touching down and John Cooney scoring 15 points from the tee.
Jeff Hassler scored a five-pointer on the hour mark and Biggar signed off with a try in his last Ospreys match before joining Northampton Saints, becoming the leading points scorer in the history of the competition with 1,585.
It was Ulster, though, who deservedly qualified for the Champions Cup after finishing fourth in Conference B.
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Latest Comments
Agree with Wilson B- at best. And that is down to skilled individual players who know how to play the game - not a cohesive squad who know their roles and game plan. For those who claim that takes time to develop, the process is to keep the game plan simple at first and add layers as the squad gels and settles in to the new systems. Lack of progress against the rush D, lack of penetration and innovation in the mid-field, basic skill errors and loose forwards coming second in most big games all still evident in game 14 of the season. Hard to see significant measureable progress.
Go to commentsKeep telling yourself that. The time for a fresh broom is at the beginning - not some "balanced, incremental" (i.e. status quo) transition. All teams establish the way forward at the beginning. This coaching group lacked ideas and courage and the players showed it on the pitch. Backs are only average. Forwards are unbalanced and show good set piece but no domination in traditional AB open play. Unfortunately, Foster - Mark 2. You may be happy with those performances and have some belief in some "cunning plan" but I don't see any evidence of it. Rassie is miles ahead and increasing the gap.
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