Ulster coach admits team are just not good enough
NORTHERN Ireland’s new wonder boy Paul Smyth has told supporters he is only warming up and the best is yet to come from him.
The former Linfield hero celebrated his Northern Ireland debut in sensational style by smashing home an 86th minute winner in the 2-1 friendly victory over South Korea.
After moving from the Blues to Queens Park Rangers last summer, the 20-year-old scored on his debut for the club and he repeated the feat just four minutes after replacing Jordan Jones on Saturday.
He is now vowing to create more magic for club and country.
“I want to be as big as I can be in the game,” he said.
“It’s every boys’ dream to play professional football and I’ve always had with the London side runs until August next year.
Despite talk of interest from the Republic of Ireland, Smyth confirmed his commitment to Northern Ireland, saying: “I’ve been brought up through Northern Ireland youth teams and I always felt if the chance came at senior level, I wanted to take it. I’m happy playing for Northern Ireland.” Damning verdict: Jono Gibbes hit out after latest defeat in Cardiff ULSTER head coach Jono Gibbes blasted that there wasn’t a single positive to take from his struggling side’s latest defeat.
The province were beaten 3517 by Cardiff in the Arms Park in a game they were second best throughout.
“There’s nothing really that we want to associate ourselves with from that performance,” lamented Gibbes.
“There’s nothing in that performance that we aspire to be. There was nothing positive. It’s not good enough and it doesn’t reflect what we’re trying to do, what we’re trying to work in and what we’re trying to put pride in. It’s just not good enough.
“It felt a lot worse than the scoreboard suggested.
“That’s a really deflating performance. There’s not a lot we can hang our hats on there or be proud of. The scoreboard isn’t a fair reflection of how utterly we weren’t in that game.
“I’m not even sure how well they played, to be honest. It’s pretty deflating.”
With four games remaining, Ulster could see their slim hopes of making the PRO14 play-offs ended by defeat to Edinburgh next time out while they need to finish ahead of Benetton, now only one point behind, to have any hope of Champions Cup rugby next year.
ULSTER WOE GOES ON: P48-49