Ulster v Leinster: Five takeaways as ‘pantomime villain’ Prendergast has last laugh as hosts sweat on wounded Wallaby
Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast scored 14 points against Ulster.
Following a 29-21 victory for Leinster over Ulster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Friday night, here’s our five takeaways from the game at Affidea Stadium.
The top line
Leinster climbed to third in the URC standings after picking up a richly deserved win on the road, despite missing a host of players against one of the in-form outfits.
Tries from James Culhane, Jimmy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw and Sam Prendergast saw them to five points with the latter also adding three conversions and a penalty.
Ulster were stifled for the majority of the match – being nilled until 55 minutes – but did launch a spirited rally late on, scoring through Bryn Ward and Zac Ward (2).
The fightback was helped somewhat by Leinster replacement Max Deegan receiving a 20-minute red card for clumsily taking out an airborne Werner Kok on the hour.
But for Ulster, the defeat is a setback as they missed an opportunity to push for a top two position, with this an out-of-sorts performance that will upset Richie Murphy.
Ulster suffocated
Leinster will be delighted with how they frustrated what has been an electric Ulster attack, especially during the first half, as they completely dominated the home side.
Ulster just could not get into their groove in the first half and had no momentum which caused errors galore, including struggles at the line-out and scrum especially.
They were the second-highest points scorers in the URC this season with 399 before kick-off tonight, but they were a shadow of their lethal selves in a dismal showing.
Credit must go to Leinster for how they shut down their hosts, but there was definitely something amiss with Ulster as they appeared out of sorts throughout the game.
Pantomime villain has last laugh
Prendergast had been recalled to the Leinster starting XV after being absent from the matchday squad for their recent Investec Champions Cup knockout fixtures.
It’s clear he has fallen down the pecking order at both international and club level but one feels it was a smart move from Leo Cullen to take him out of the spotlight.
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His return in this fixture allowed him an opportunity to make a point that he’s worked on his weaknesses and on the whole he came through it with credit in the bank.
However, it was clear Ulster supporters pegged Prendergast as a pantomime villain this evening, cheering any mistake early on. But as this game transpired any noise was silenced as Prendergast guided Leinster around the field calmly, ultimately impressing those voting to take the Player of the Match award which will please him greatly.
Angus Bell blow
An early injury to Wallabies prop Angus Bell rather summed up the mood at Affidea Stadium as his exit took the wind out of Ulster’s sails in this inter-pro showdown.
Bell left the contest with just seven minutes on the clock after getting his left leg caught under him while taking contact close to his own line. The Australian loosehead cut a dejected figure on the ground in the immediate aftermath before accepting his fate and gingerly getting on to a waiting medical cart that transported him from the action.
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As always with injuries such as this, the fear is the severity and timescale the player will be out, with Ulster of course in the midst of a crucial end-of-season period. Next up for them is a URC visit to tackle Munster before their massive EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final against Exeter Chiefs on May 2. Ulster fans will pray Bell’s injury is minor.
Leinster back in the hunt
A team selection from Cullen that saw Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Rieko Ioane and other stars absent led to many predicting an Ulster victory. It is therefore a massive fillip for the visitors that they came, saw and conquered in the manner that they did, picking up all five points on the road.
Cullen and his staff will be delighted with many facets of their side’s performance, notably their defence, scrum and how clinical they were in the opposition red zone.
A special mention must go to O’Brien who relished his physical battle against Kok and rocked several Ulster players in a shift that no doubt caught Andy Farrell’s eye.
READ MORE: URC round 15: Predictions, teams, kick-off times, how to watch and referee appointments
