How the Ulster players rated in Champions Cup defeat to Racing 92
Ulster were beaten 44-12 by Racing 92 on Saturday evening but captain Rory Best spoke of positives to take from the performances.
So did the individuals far?
Read more:
- I still feel sick: Simon Zebo gives Michael Lowry his jersey in apology for try-scoring taunt
- Ulster were better than Racing 92 scoreline suggests, insists Rory Best
Michael Sadlier casts his eye over the Ulster players:
Starting XV
Michael Lowry 7: His pace will worry most defences. Helped set up the first try and did well throughout. Rightfully got an apology from Zebo.
Craig Gilroy 6: The idea was to get the ball out wide and he was involved in both Ulster tries. But there were errors and one unnecessary forward pass.
Will Addison 7: Another impressive showing when going forward. Gave Shanahan the scoring pass but there were two chances lost as passes went astray.
Stuart McCloskey 5: Not his finest effort though there was plenty of direct work. Will be frustrated that he couldn’t have scored off Gilroy.
Jacob Stockdale 6: His try was beautifully crafted and came close to two more. But there were defensive issues.
Billy Burns 7: Had to stamp himself on the game and did that starting the move for the first try and cross-kicking to both wings for the second. Left early.
Dave Shanahan 6: Always a big ask coming in for Cooney, he bagged himself another try and kept things ticking over.
Andy Warwick 4: There was one early missed tackle but when the scrum started to go south his night ended at the interval.
Rory Best 5: Looked to be losing that defiance as things ebbed away. It was a hard night at the coalface with the lineout not going well.
Marty Moore 5: Put in a big shift defensively which must have been energy-sapping and he too fell off tackles while the scrum wasn’t something to admire.
Iain Henderson 5: Busy in defence which maybe seemed to take from his overall contribution which was quieter than usual.
Kieran Treadwell 5: Pulled off one big hit on Nakarawa but there was far too much work off the back-foot.
Marcell Coetzee 6: Ulster’s top carrier (16) and tackler (20). The pressure told though and he could have been carded for one deliberate knock-on.
Jordi Murphy 5: The sight of Murphy coming in off-side in the second half told a tale of frustration on a hard night.
Nick Timoney 4: He was rightly yellow-carded, and there were too many situations where he just didn’t function.
Replacements
Eric O'Sullivan 4: (Warwick HT)
Sean Reidy 5: (Timoney HT)
Johnny McPhillips 5: (Burns 45)
Adam McBurney 4: (Best 57)
Ross Kane 4: (Moore 57)
Alan O'Connor 4: (Treadwell 57)
Angus Kernohan 4: (Stockdale 57)
Jonny Stewart 3: (Shanahan 73)
Belfast Telegraph Digital
