Buck stops with Kiss for Ulster’s failures, insists Best

FORMER Ulster ace and Ireland international Neil Best believes it’s high time the province made a case for the defence this season. With 28 tries conceded in the league, as well as five in two European games, the province are leaking over a score per game, more than the likes of Leinster, Munster and Glasgow this Guinness PRO14 campaign.

The side’s apparent defensive frailties, which have seen them concede close to three tries a game in domestic competition, again proved their undoing in the 32-32 draw with Dragons last Friday night.

Leading by 12 points in the 67th minute, the side shipped three quick scores in the final stages to leave themselves scrambling to rescue the situation in the closing seconds.

While the last-gasp try from Christian Leali’ifano salvaged a stalemate, head coach Jono Gibbes admitted afterwards that it would have felt unjust if the same player’s conversion had stolen back victory with the final action of the game.

Best (below), who won 18 Ireland caps and also enjoyed spells with Northampton and Worcester after leaving his native province, found the final quarter of the game tough to stomach.

“When Ulster should have been really turning the screw in the last 20, they found themselves disjointed and eventually chasing the game,” he lamented.

“Defensively, the line-speed was pedestrian and Ulster didn’t appear to be effectively shaping where the Dragons played in possession.

“While they have picked up two wins and a draw in their last three, Ulster have now conceded 90 points in the three games against teams who, between them, have only won five from 30 this season.”

For Best, who formed part of a devastatingly physical back-row with Stephen Ferris and Roger Wilson when Ulster last won what was then the Celtic League back in 2006, the side’s forward unit hasn’t been producing as required in recent weeks.

With Iain Henderson on international duty with Ireland — although the British and Irish Lion looks more and more like his future is at lock — and injuries to bruising South African imports Marcell Coetzee and Jean Deysel, Les Kiss has been forced to throw a number of back-row Academy products in at the deep end. Often criticised for bringing too few forwards through in recent years, the trend has at least been bucked by debuts for Aaron Hall, Matt Dalton and Greg Jones, while Nick Timoney is emerging as one real positive.

But, with those young players being used out of necessity rather than choice, and still adjusting to the level, Best does not think Ulster are getting the best out of their under-manned pack.

“Consistently patchy performances are in large part down to the way in which the players are being asked to play,” he said.

“We all know the talent in the Ulster backline, but the forwards need to be given the chance to play themselves into the game and that’s just not happening.

“It feels like there is a lack of a clear structure and gameplan. We didn’t see a pattern of Ulster consistently targeting and attacking the Dragons’