ULSTER CHEET DEATH..
Burns earns tourists a late draw
Cheetahs
39
KEN LAGAN
BILLY BURNS kicked a last-gasp conversion as Ulster kept up their unbeaten start to the new season by snatching a draw against the Cheetahs.
The visitors, who won their opening three
Pro14 games, trailed for the majority of the match in Bloemfontein before fly-half Burns kept his cool under extreme pressure following Henry Speight’s injury-time try.
Two converted tries from scrum-half David Shanahan, both assisted by centre Darren Cave, meant the Irish side went in three
Ulster
39 MANU TUILAGI credits Jonny Wilkinson with helping him to believe he would return to rugby better than ever.
Leicester’s wrecking-ball centre is back where he dreamed of during those long, lonely spells on the sidelines.
Back starting and finishing matches, back scoring tries, back in the England squad.
“I’ve not seen him with as much energy and acceleration in a long time,” said England points behind at half-time. Cheetahs had really taken the fight to the tourists in that opening period, with tries from Gerhard Olivier and William Small-smith plus Tian Schoeman’s penalty.
The South Africans were searching for their first win in this season’s competition and second-half tries from hookers Joseph Dweba and Jacques du Toit and wing Rabz Maxwane looked to have put them on course for victory, although Johnny Stewart’s score and a penalty try gave Ulster hope.
Louis Fouche’s 78th-minute penalty extended the hosts’ lead to seven, before Australian Speight powered over in the final moments.
Burns, who kicked 12 points during the course of the match, added the extras to claim an unlikely three points for Dan Mcfarland’s side. head coach Eddie Jones. “He looks really good.”
Tuilagi, 27, lines up at Welford Road tomorrow outside
England half-backs Ben
Youngs and George
Ford. Opponents
Worcester will not sleep well.
Tuilagi has become a first-time dad, but life has not been so sweet on the pitch since a damaged chest muscle sparked five pretty much unbroken years of misery.
Connacht Scarlets Sportsground, 5.15pm
v CONNACHT coach Andy Friend reckons Jack Carty will go from strength to strength following an impressive start to the season.
Despite two losses in his first three games, the Aussie has been pleased with many things, not least the form of out-half Carty.
“Jack has been phenomenal, he is gaining in confidence each week,” said
Friend. “He has a tremendous skill-set and to give him confidence to express himself is only going to add value to us.
“I have been very impressed by him. He is a good, quality player.”
Ireland skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy was at training with Connacht this week and Friend said it was a real shot in the arm for his players.
“It was good to have Richie down, and good for Jack and the squad to know that the Irish coaches are watching them. That is encouraging.”
Connacht host Scarlets today and Friend is looking for an improvement from their “You always say you will get back, but you have a lot of dark days,” he admitted. “My nature is to think there will be light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s been tough.” During those “dark days” he looked around for reasons to believe he had not used up all his good fortune playing in a World Cup aged 20 before becoming a Test Lion at 22. As his body succumbed to groin, hamstring and repeated 17-10 defeat against Edinburgh last week.
“We definitely need to be better with the ball when we have got it and to be better with our discipline.
“This team is growing, these young men are really proud of this jersey.
“They were really hurting after the Glasgow match and really hurting last weekend in Edinburgh and I know they want to turn it around this weekend.”
Friend (left) has made six changes to his team, with Bundee Aki back for his first start since April. He’ll be partnered in midfield by Tom Farrell, who returns from a stomach bug, while Cian Kelleher is back on the right wing.
Denis Buckley returns at loosehead, with Quinn Roux in for Ultan Dillane in the second row. Robin Copeland makes his debut at No.8. knee problems he was drawn to the example of Wilkinson, who overcame a four-year block of injury to reclaim former glories.
“I looked at Jonny and his comebacks and, yeah, it gave me hope,” said Tuilagi, who also saw sports psychologist Matt Thombs. “I just hope it will be like that for me!”
He even visited a witch doctor in Samoa, who removed evil spirits from him. “It is hard to believe,” he added. “But she said, ‘It is done’ – I believe it is.”