Cooney helps Ulster inflict ‘death by a thousand cuts’

Another week, another chastening Premiership defeat in an Angloirish fixture. Once again, the Champions Cup is overwhelming many of its English contestants.

After a last-gasp loss at Ulster on the road last weekend, Paul Gustard, Harlequins’ head of rugby, rested Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw and Danny Care for this return leg.

Gustard spikily insisted those selections had “absolutely zero bearing on the game”, but Harlequins surrendered here to far superior opponents. They conceded four second-half tries as Ulster made it four wins from four in Pool Three and extinguished the hosts’ European campaign.

“It was death by a thousand cuts,” Gustard admitted. “That’s not good enough for a Harlequins team. It’s not good enough for a team at home, either.”

All-action scrum-half John Cooney – surely bound for Six Nations involvement with Ireland – shone once more. He scored two opportunistic tries in a 19-point haul, inspiring his province to the edge of the quarter-finals thanks to a precious bonus point.

Cooney put Ulster ahead in the sixth minute when Harlequins’ stand-in skipper Kyle Sinckler failed to roll away following a tackle. From 40 metres out, he drilled the ball down the middle and Ulster led 3-0. Harlequins then lost openside flanker Will Evans and fly-half Brett Herron to injury.

Ulster’s patient and powerful phase-play eked out two more kickable chances. Ulster spurned shots