1
Watch: Ulster and Leicester engage in fierce chip-chase battle
By Online Editors
Ulster and Leicester are going to need some dip with all the chipping the sides did in their Champions Cup clash Saturday night.
England first five-eighth George Ford got the ball rolling with some right footed magic right before halftime.
Up 3-0 with time winding down in the first spell, Ford conjured some magic to give his side a boost before the break after stabbing a perfectly weighted kick through for running mate Matt Toomua to pounce on.
Toomua's tightrope finish gave Leicester an extended buffer, but Ulster wouldn't lie down easily and came out of the sheds firing.
With scores at 13-7 with less than 20 minutes to go, Ulster's Billy Burns matched Ford's first-half effort with an equally impressive dink over the top to winger Robert Baloucoune who raced away for what turned out to be the decisive try.
John Cooney added the extras to give Ulster a one-point edge, which gave the match its final 14-13 scoreline.
With the victory, Ulster moved to 5-1 in the pool and earned a quarterfinal berth in the Champions Cup, finishing second in their pool behind French side Racing 92.
Leicester finished with just one victory from their six matches, much to the dismay of the fan above.
Elsewhere, the kick and chase technique remained in vogue and at large, with Scarlets wing Johnny McNicholl only just unable to secure a spectacular finish after a close to perfect kick from winger Steff Evans.
Scarlets were eventually held out 46-33 in their defeat to Racing 92, who advance to the quarterfinals as mentioned.
Rugby World Cup City Guides - Oita:
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Israel Folau to make rugby return despite mid-week Lions disappointmen
3
Gregor Townsend: It’s the first time since 2000 that we’ve been to NZ
4
England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie's club future appears done
5
Latest Comments
But he chose rightly or wrongly to play for Tonga. If he wanted to play for the ABs why didn’t he hold off?
Go to comments“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”
Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.
“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”
I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.
“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”
I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.
“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”
I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!
Go to comments