Kiss happy with messy victory as confidence is restoredbefore European return
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“An interpro challenges you in a different way, there is a lot more at stake,” Kiss said.
“It will always be tough and you have to tough out every minute. We did that up to the last minute of the game.
“A score (from Connacht late on) wouldn’t have changed it but it was nice not to concede.
“We expected a little bit of mess in the game and a bit of stop-start. I think the scrum was interesting the way it was managed and it probably threw both teams off a bit and it became a bit scrappy at times.
“We expected this would be a tough game that may have had not a lot of flow to it.
“It was important to win because Europe is there (next) week and because of where we are in the Conference.
“But for us it was important for us to grow certain parts of the game.
“As a coaching group we feel we saw enough good things again in terms of what we’re trying to do with our game.”
Despite the win, it wasn’t all good news for Ulster who are still waiting for the verdict on Marcell Coetzee’s ongoing knee problems amid fears the man who has been limited to just five appearances since the start of last season requires another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The flanker returned home to South Africa this week to visit the surgeon who carried out his original ACL surgery in 2016.
“It’s a difficult process,” he admitted. “We want to make sure we do everything possible to get in front of this.
“There’s a bit of fluid and pain in there and the original surgeon is going to have a thorough look at it.
“I’m guessing, but I’d be hopeful that we’ll have real, solid news by the end of next week. We need to make sure Marcell has the best opportunity.”
Kiss did add, however, that a need for further surgery had not yet been confirmed.
Elsewhere last night, Zebre, conquerors of Ulster seven days ago, showed yet again they are no longer the whipping boys when they lost by only a point in Edinburgh.
Glasgow also had a tough battle with the Cheetahs before finally edging past the South Africans, while the all-Welsh battle ended in a convincing victory for Cardiff Blues against the Dragons.
Last night: Edinburgh 16 Zebre 15, Cheetahs 26 Glasgow 29, Ulster 16 Connacht 8, Cardiff 43 Dragons 29.
Today: Leinster v Munster (2pm), Treviso v Kings (7pm), Ospreys v Scarlets (7.35pm). ULSTER: C Piutau; T Bowe, L Marshall, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; C Lealiifano, J Cooney; K McCall, R Herring, W Herbst; A O’Connor, K Treadwell; I Henderson, C Henry (capt), J Deysel.
Replacements: J Andrew (for Herring, 75), A Warwick, R Ah You (for Herbst, 67), R Diack (for O’Connor, 49), S Reidy (for Henry, 54), P Marshall, P Nelson, L Ludik (forBowe,59)
CONNACHT: T O’Halloran; C Kelleher, B Aki, T Farrell, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, T McCartney, F Bealham; U Dillane, Q Roux; E McKeon, J Butler, J Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: D Heffernan (for McCartney, 49), D Coulson (for Buckley, 65), C Carey (for Bealham, 69), J Cannon (for Roux, 59), E Masterson (for Muldoon, 62), C Blade (for Marmion, 71), S Crosbie (for O’Halloran, 11), E Griffin (for Carty, 59) Referee: A Brace (Ireland)
Man of the Match: Jacob Stockdale
WHILE he may not be staying in these parts for too much longer, Ulster were once again thankful for the presence of their star All Black Charles Piutau as they returned to winning ways against Connacht at Kingspan last night. IAN Porter was Banbridge’s man of the match when he made both their tries and kicked 13 points in the All-Ireland League 1B success over Ballymena.
Bann have now taken the lead in 1B with 16 points from their four outings, but the undefeated Shannon are only three in arrears and will probably regain the top spot when they face Dolphin this afternoon.
The home team started strongly and took a 10-point advantage when the Ulster-released Brett Herron kicked a penalty after 16 minutes and then chipped over
In a game where try-scoring opportunities were few and far between, the Bristol-bound full-back, who will next season become the world’s best paid player, provided a moment of real quality to set up Jacob Stockdale for the crucial score in a 16-8 victory.
The rest of the points for the home side came from the boot of Connacht old boy John Cooney ( left) as the northern province were able to flush last week’s shock loss to Zebre from the system on a night where, while far from their best, they had to show plenty of determination in the second-half.
Having trailed at the turn thanks to visiting hooker Tom McCartney’s try, there was sizeable improvement in the final 40 in a game where the result seemed to carry far greater significance than the performance.
While there will still be plenty to chew over in Monday’s review, going into next week’s opening chapter of European competition against Wasps on the back of two straight defeats would have been unthinkable.
Getting there, however, wasn’t always pretty in a game that improved as it went along.
While he had few rivals, Stockdale (right with with Charles Piutau) was certainly the man at the centre of the the opening quarter.
After claiming one high ball, the now-Irish international wing seemed to be taken in the air by Jarrad Butler but referee Andrew Brace waved play on.
The 21-year-old took matters into his own hands soon after, streaking past Tom Farrell and Cian Kelleher on the outside but was just unable to find the support run of Cooney who would have jogged in for a try under the posts.
It was a similar story only minutes later when, this time, he burst through the tackle of Jack Carty but the pass to Christian Leali’ifano didn’t stick.
Much like in the loss to Zebre a week ago, turnovers were again proving Ulster’s undoing and this despite the hosts enjoying plenty of possession.