Last Tango in Edinburgh

The score may have suggested a closer game than it was as Ulster enjoyed domination in the forward exchanges and the collisions to emphatically deny Edinburgh a bonus point on their home turf in front of their home crowd. Admittedly they were 5 players short against an almost complete Ulster side who for much of the second half with at least one player in the bin and at times two. It was not the dominance that was in question or the effort from the players for while David Humphries provided a virtuoso foil for the rapier and killer penetration of Paul Steinmetz and Andrew Trimble in the execution it was the tactical misjudgements that gave Edinburgh lifeline and a chance in the match. It would not be too harsh to comment that Ulster kept Edinburgh in the game despite utterly stuffing them in the scrum and performing a crucifixion in the lineout Edinburgh always had a chance of salvaging something from the game. To be fair to Edinburgh they were as robust about the park as you would want a side to be. However when it comes off it is marvellous to watch and a great advertisement for the game but Ulster never did the hard work up front before letting the ball loose and were intent on running just about everything. Most times it paid off and in this respect David Humphries was sublime now that he has been given more time and less poor ball from the now in form Isaac Boss. Other times it was not for the faint hearted or those of a nervous disposition. But the difference from past times was the performance of David Humphries or more especially the service from Isaac Boss who is by far the best scrum half playing on this island.

Edinburgh started very brightly with some early and sill penalties putting Ulster under pressure but the first scrum was ominous with the Ulster front row showing the home side how to do it. Not before long pressure from an Edinburgh scrum but Hodge under pressure for Humphries to charge the ball down before feeding the most impressive Ferris putting Maxwell in from 5 yards out and open the Ulster account. Edinburgh 0 Ulster 7. Humphries soon stamped his mark all over the place running from deep inside his half with pressure forcing Edinburgh to concede a converted penalty before Hodge replied for the home side twice to make the score Edinburgh 6 Ulster 10. By this stage Ulster were streets better but a charge down on an ambitious Humphries grubber almost put Webster in the corner but for try saving tackle by Andrew Trimble after Webster tried to cut inside. Then came the first of three sin binning this one being for McCallion the home side number 8 with Ulster on the rampage. Boss was the catalyst and the controller while Trimble was the executioner and the Ulster pack rumbled for Rory Best to be denied. But from the ensuing the intense Ulster forward pressure told with Boss scoring and Humphries converted to leave the score Edinburgh 6 Ulster 17. The story of the half was all about David Humphries making breaks, everyone else missing touch and the Ulster back providing a stream of ball any back line would have relished. As for Edinburgh they were robust in nature, proud and defiant but not the same class in either the pack or behind the scrum.

In the second the home side upped the pace in the pack playing at a faster tempo than before going through the phases looking for the gaps and trying to create space for their strike runners. But the defence of the visitors was sound soaking up long periods of pressure but reorganising quickly and having been reconditioned looking for every opportunity to turn that defence into attack through the quick thinking of the halves pushing Gunners back deep into their own territory. Justin Harrison was immense yet again putting body firmly on the line using every ounce of his hard earned experience to thwart the onslaught that came from Edinburgh. Thus putting yet another nail into the coffin of his doubters and critics. Had Maurice Field taken some of the shoeing big Harrison took tonight he might have thought differently. Ulster were very much under the cosh by a revitalised home side but time and time again indiscipline let them down or else a marvellous break by Boss from close to his own line sent them back to think again. The ball was slowed down by an indecisive Jonny Bell, just on the pitch and the move broke down. But it was Ulster who was looking dangerous in the counter. Ulster had been reincarnated by Neil Kelly and was turning defence into attack at every opportunity. By this stage Ulster were on the rampage and Edinburgh were tiring but certainly not bowed still with plenty of fight in them. But soon after another foray into the Ulster danger zone Maxwell was binned for hands in the ruck. But despite a man down the best of the Ulster side came out with every individual working extra hard to make up the deficit. But Ulster were soon down to 13 men when Captain Simon Best was invited to leave the field for dangerous use of the boot in what was becoming more a hissing fit between 2 sisters than a rugby match. Edinburgh were more than keen to seize their chance and were eventually awarded and rightly a penalty try for Ulster continuously pulling down the maul to leave the score Edinburgh 16 Ulster 23 as Humphries had earlier kicked 2 penalties.

Blood was sensed in the cold Edinburgh air but not Ulster blood as you might suspect still with only 14 men took the fight to Edinburgh. In one glorious move close to the end with the Ulster scum going forward after the home side front row were balking under the pressure Boss had the time to put the right winger on his way and gain 50 meters before the move was stopped in its tracks. However it was not before long Maxwell returned to score the final try for the visitors and give Edinburgh a mountain to climb. Again it was ball given by the pack to the executioners and the matadors in the back line as Steimetz put an accurately weighted chip for Maxwell to touch down. Just before the final whistle Hodge scored a consolation try for Edinburgh and Humphries concerted a penalty for Ulster to leave the final score Edinburgh 23 Ulster 31.

Tonight was a great advertisement for Celtic rugby with the game at time played at a hectic pace and intensity that showed why Ulster now have the best away record in the league. It is just a pity fortress Ravenhill is not the scary place it used to be. The points and the winning of the game came from the immense pressure that was exerted in the front row by Simon Best and Bryan Young and when you have a replacement of the quality of Justin Fitzpatrick you will strike the fear of the almighty into most sides. It was ultimately this pressure that allowed the time and space to be created for the halves, executed by the three quarters and exploited by the pack. Neil Best showed why he is such an abrasive character putting in a performance that will not reach Eddie O’Sullivan and stake his claim on the Irish team. He created so much pressure from the kick off that he forced the home side into mistakes and ultimately concede penalties and points but this was indicative of the Ulster performance. Put on the pressure and thus create space for your strike runner once the ball has gone through he mill of the creative geniuses of the back line. The criticism of the side is there was a tendency early on to run ball that was forced when a size 7 boot was what was required to turn the home defence. But all in all Messrs McCall, Clarke and Kelly will be pleased with the performance delighted with the result and overwhelmed with the character that was show by Ulster Rugby at a favourite stamping ground keeping the hoodoo on Edinburgh

ULSTER: 15 - Bryn Cunningham, 14 - James Topping; 13 - Andrew Trimble; 12 - Paul Steinmetz; 11 - Andrew Maxwell; 10 - David Humphreys; 9 - Isaac Boss; 1 - Bryan Young; 2 - Rory Best; 3 - Simon Best (captain); 4 - Justin Harrison; 5 - Matt McCullough; 6 - Neil Best; 7 - Stephen Ferris; 8 - Roger Wilson
 
Replacements: 16 - Nigel Brady; 17 - Justin Fitzpatrick; 18 - Rowan Frost; 19 - Neil McMillan; 20 - Kieran Campbell; 21 - Adam Larkin; 22 - Jonny Bell

Edinburgh: 15 Leonelli 14 Webster 13 Godman
12 Dey 11 Pyke 10 Hodge 9 Lawson (captain)
1 Jacobsen 2 Kelly 3 Dickinson 4 Strokosch
5 Duley 6 Mustchin 8 Callam 7 Cross

Replacements: Hall Smith MacDonald Pringle Monro Jorgensen De Luca

Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (WRU). Touch Judges: Malcolm Changleng (SRU), Peter Carruthers (SRU)