Ex-Leinster player seals dramatic Ulster win over former side
John Cooney slotted over a last-gasp long-range penalty to earn Ulster a 23-21 win over Leinster and guarantee them a place in the United Rugby Championship play-offs.
Tries from Rob Herring and Jacob Stockdale also contributed to a vital Ulster victory in what was a tense Irish derby, with Cooney kicking both conversions and two other penalties to go with his match-winning strike.
Leinster, who led for most of the game at Kingspan Stadium, took a losing bonus point and have assured themselves of a top-four finish a week before their European Champions Cup final clash with Toulouse.
After dominating the opening exchanges and having Michael Lowry breach the Leinster line twice but not be awarded either effort, the hosts put a 13th-minute penalty to the corner.
From there, Ulster launched a maul and Herring touched down for a score that was awarded after referee Andrea Piardi had gone upstairs.
Leinster levelled things up in the 22nd minute after Billy Burns’ kick was charged down by Will Connors who then fed the supporting Charlie Ngatai who touched down. Harry Byrne converted, and the score stood at 7-7.
Leinster then took the lead after 29 minutes, Hugo Keenan making a line break and throwing an inside pass to the supporting Cormac Foley who ran clear for the visitors’ second score, once again Byrne adding the straightforward two points.
Cooney slotted a 31st-minute penalty to cut the Leinster lead to 14-10, which is how the first half ended.
Three minutes after the restart Cooney landed his second penalty to cut Leinster’s lead a solitary point.
However, the visitors moved further clear again when, following a series of pick and jams on the line, Michael Ala’alatoa drove over on after minutes.
Byrne’s conversion left Leinster leading 21-13 but Ulster came back again to make it a one-point contest.
Jacob Stockdale intercepted a Byrne pass and raced nearly the length of the field, with Cooney adding a superb conversion and the hosts trailed 21-20 heading into the final 20 minutes.
It was set up for an epic finish and it fell to Cooney with three minutes remaining, his long-range penalty winning the game and ensuring Ulster a play-off place.
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Great to see the biggest clash between the Boks and ABs. The Boks have a better replacement bench and a developing squad for RWC 2027. The ABs could have won but for poor penalty kicks from DMac and a bad decision from Scott Barrett to kick for touch and not at the poles. Le Roux should be pensioned off and either Fassi or Willemse when fit play fullback. Sacha must not try to be too fancy but has great potential. Pollard is still the best 10. Hopefully Libbok gets his chance to play in Argentina. Etsebeth and Marx enjoyed immense games. The ABs are a work in progress but they require better forward like those of old AB teams.
Go to commentsThey also use a far more consistent scale.
Rugby pass seem to have a different scale for each player based on the authors expectations or how much he likes them.
Can't fathom how Moodie and Reece both were a 3.
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