Ulster face nervous wait after ending second-half hoodoo

What lacked confidence for Ulster to play knockout rugby at the top of Europe appeared to be waning when Exeter Chiefs were playing at half-time, given the recent trend of fading late in games.

As the first half came to an end 17-17, the team felt palpable frustration inside Kingspan Stadium because they needed a significant bonus point win to ensure they qualified for the Investec Champions Cup last 16.

Ulster may have scored three first-half tries, but the Chiefs’ opening 40 minutes left them with little faith in the outcome of their resounding victory.

Then the second half happened.

Second-half shut-outs have been alarmingly prominent for Ulster in Europe this season.

At home to Bordeaux last month, they conceded 26 points without reply having led 19-14 at the break. In Leicester, they built a 10-0 lead but shipped 38 unanswered points.

Context is important, of course. Exeter has had a much rougher season than Ulster, despite their fair share of issues.

Rob Baxter’s side arrived in Belfast on the back of a 69-17 shellacking at the hands of Bordeaux, a 12th loss in 13 games across the Premiership and Champions Cup this season.

With only three players remaining and devoid of front-line stars like Henry Slade or Dafydd Jenkins, among others, the team underwent a significant change.

With that, a daring first-half performance might have caught Ulster off guard, similar to Ross Vintcent’s departure from Stewart Moore and Rob Lyttle in the direction of a sensational solo try.

There was to be no great collapse for Ulster this time, though.

Returning hooker Rob Herring had already secured the bonus-point score before the floodgates opened with Cormac Izuchukwu scoring his second and third tries, both for Ben Carson’s excellent solo effort and Dave McCann’s second.

Ulster played some lovely stuff, too. Jude Postlethwaite’s delightful offload sent Michael Lowry away in the build-up to Carson’s try while Izuchukwu’s second came at the end of one of the best passages of play Richie Murphy’s side have mustered all season.

“They’ve done a really good job tonight”, Murphy said of his team.

Ulster waits anxiously for the end.

On Sunday, they need Bordeaux to beat the Sharks by 29 points to have any chance of progressing, and given the French side’s firepower – they have scored 151 points in three games so far – that is a distinct possibility.

Murphy was keen to emphasize the importance of knockout European rugby for a squad he is still developing in his first full season at the helm, and Ulster will at least have the Challenge Cup in place.

“It’s important that we win rugby matches and over the last while we probably haven’t won enough”, he admitted.

Although Murphy briefly reviewed the positive aspects of Friday’s game, Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby will have been boosted by Izuchukwu’s performance with the Six Nations only two weeks away.

The past few months have been huge for Izuchukwu’s development. At the age of 24, he established himself as a stalwart for Ulster and has put together a portfolio that suggests he could make a significant impression in the green shirt in the years to come. He made his Test debut in November.

“Izzy’s been brilliant”, said Murphy.

There is much more to him than that, according to those who talk about him scurrying around the outside channels and carrying ball.

His line-out work has grown incredibly large in recent weeks. Teams don’t want to throw anywhere near him and he’s spooking line-outs, which is fantastic.

He is working really hard, constantly learning, and enjoying himself, which is great.

Speaking of smiles, there were a few of them at full-time on Friday night. Come Sunday, of course, the nerves will take over as Ulster’s European fate is decided in the south of France.