Ulster recovered from being 23 / 0 down at halftime to get a vital victory over Oyonnax in Pool 1 of the European Champions Cup.
Key men Ruan Pienaar, Paddy Jackson and Nick Williams all came off the bench for the 2nd half to help the Irish side scrape a remarkable 1-point win.
Ulster were in big trouble when Jeremie Maurouard and Uwa Tawalo scored tries. But backs Rory Scholes and Craig Gilroy, and young prop Kyle McCall, saved them from a damaging defeat.
Ulster, who revived their European prospects with back-to-back wins over Toulouse, are 2nd in Pool 1 with 13 points – 6 behind Saracens.
Those December victories over Toulouse would have meant little had they lost to the Pool outsiders at the Stade Charles-Mathon.
Ulster’s disastrous 1st half
The visitors were soon under pressure as hooker Maurouard drove over for a 7th-minute try from a lineout.
Former Wales outside half Nicky Robinson added the conversion and then 3 successive penalties to put Ulster in deeper trouble.
Ulster suffered another blow just before halftime when a loose pass gave Fijian wing Tawalo the chance to sprint from his own half and score under the posts.
Kiss makes key changes
Director of rugby Les Kiss responded to Ulster’s plight by introducing the experience of Pienaar and Jackson as halfback pairing, and the power of Williams to the pack, at the break.
It led to a completely transformed Ulster performance and, from the moment Scholes raced 30m to the line, the comeback was on.
Jackson added the simple conversion, and then 2 tries in 4 minutes from Gilroy and loosehead prop McCall, both converted by Jackson, made it 23 / 21.
When Oyonnax prop Horace Pungea conceded a penalty a metre inside the Ulster half, there was a chance to complete the comeback.
Jackson landed the long-range kick to put the visitors into the lead for the 1st time with 2 minutes left.
Oyonnax: Etienne, Codjo, Taufa, Sheridan, Tawalo, Robinson, Blanc, Delboulbes, Maurouard, Clerc, Robson, Metz, Gunther, Faasavalu, Wannenburg.
Replacements: Clegg for Robinson (55), Aziza for Blanc (58), Wright for Delboulbes (62), Bordes for Maurouard (52), Pungea for Clerc (60), Maafu for Faasavalu (60).
Not used: Fabbri, Ikpefan.
Ulster: Gilroy, Arnold, L Marshall, McCloskey, Scholes, Humphreys, P Marshall, McCall, R Best, Lutton, Stevenson, Van der Merwe, Diack, Henry, Wilson.
Replacements: Ludik for Arnold (23), Reidy for L Marshall (75), Jackson for Humphreys (41), Pienaar for P Marshall (41), Black for McCall (20), Herring for R Best (75), B Ross for Lutton (78), Williams for Stevenson (41).
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU).
| Oyonnax (23) 23 |
| Tries: Maurouard, Tawalo Conversions: Robinson 2 Penalties: Robinson 3 |
| Ulster (0) 24 |
| Tries: Scholes, Gilroy, McCall Conversions: Jackson 3 Penalty: Jackson |
bbc
RIP David Bowie.
One of the greatest and most original musicians ever.
@ robzim:
Another legend gone.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of all his stuff, but his legacy and genius cannot be denied..
Commencing countdown,
engines on
Check ignition
and may God’s love be with you.
R.I.P. David.
@ robzim:
RIP David Bowie. So much good music over such a long time in the industry almost impossible to single out just one favourite. This one brings back the memories.
also love this one, a super duet with another great David. As they say in Afrikaans this gives you hoendervleis.
This is how he said good bye.
@ robzim: Spot on there Rob. I’m old school and can’t help myself. Starman still does it for me afraid. Some cat was laying down some rock n roll……….wow, what far out 70’s lyrics and good memories
JP Pietersen will be joining Leicester Tigers from next season. Not sure how long the contract is for.
@ robzim:
Very haunting when I heard it for the first time this morning. As someone said, he knew he as going and turned death into an art form. Released on his birthday last Friday.
What a talented man David Bowie was and such great music he left us.I think Bowie wore a dress when appearing on the front cover of The Melody Maker either in 1972 or around that time.Brave thing that was and what a way to make a statement,but then David Bowie always had guts to do something on all accounts all through his life.
RIP Sir…ICON.
1 @ robzim:
Abolutely agree with you Rob. What a sad day hearing of his passing this morning.
Grew up in that era so a part of my life remeber so much of his music. Loved Lets be Heros for one day. Was there in London the timr of that concert as well. How time goes by so fast.
Read he died if liver cancer. So sad for him and his last song on Sky this moring so errie and haunting. See in one of the Tube stations there a huge sign with: Don’t know where I am going but it wont be boring. And the date if his birth snd death. Must have out a smile on many of his fans faces.
There used to be a pub night here would be good to have one again and dedicate it with all of his songs. He was a legend.
RIP. David Bowie – Legend
@ Puma:
Meant – remember
10 @ Puma:Great idea Puma.
I’ll put an article up later this afternoon and we can all reminisce with his music and possibly those that he collaborated with and / or influenced.
I’m not sure I will be able to join in as I have a meeting with the headmaster of my youngest daughter’s new high school in the evening.
He certainly shaped a generation’s perception on music and will be sorely missed.
12 @ Scrumdown:
Howzit Scrumdown. Thats a brilliant idea do it early pub night. We here will carry it on until the rest of the night owl
Can join in.
I am retired do can join in any time and nit playing golf today. Just seeing bio kater this morning for another work out then back home. Look forward to it and hope all thevold bloggers vome back for just one day to us celebrating Bowie snd what he gave us music lovers over the years.
Do hope my good friends: Rye, Charo and Sharkslover joins in just fir today and many other old bloggers here.
12 @ Scrumdown</b
In will use my PC for that so promise no typos….. Haha
Cheers and enjoy you day boet. Catch up later.
14 @ Puma:
In = And .. 😳
13 @ Puma:
Sorry for the rubbish English up there. Its all typos.
Will use PC for sure for Pub Night to remember Bowie. So no typos.
@ Puma:
Hi Puma, hope you join us for the rest of the season, John is assembling an exciting squad for you boys, looking forward to seeing what they can do in combination with Rob du Preez.
Stormers training camp squad to go to Wilderness.
Nizaam Carr, Kurt Coleman, Damian de Allende, Jan de Klerk, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Robert du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ryno Eksteen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Nic Groom, JC Janse van Rensberg, Huw Jones, Oli Kebble, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Johnny Kotze, Dillyn Leyds, Frans Malherbe, Godlen Masimla, Bongi Mbonambi, Khanyo Ngcukana, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni, Justin Phillips, Louis Schreuder, JD Schickerling, Chad Solomon, JP Smith, Jaco Taute, Brandon Thompson, Jurie van Vuuren, Kobus van Wyk, Alistair Vermaak, Jano Vermaak, Jacques Vermeulen, Michael Willemse, Leolin Zas
It is great to see JD Schickerling has made a full recovery and is back in the running…
Also good to see Jacques Vermeulen, Justin Phillips and Brandon Thomson are in the squad…
On the other hand it is shocking to see Kurt Coleman and Louis Schreuder are still in the group..
I cannot think of a much better place to go to for a week as the Wilderness although I have never seen a rugby field in that lovely place 🙂
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