Rugby

Ulster roar back into form to record famous victory over Racing 92

Resounding bonus-point victory for the northern province over French opposition in Champions Cup

Ulster's Rob Herring celebrates after Nick Timoney scores their teams fourth try. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho

Michael Sadlier at Kingspan Stadium
Sun Dec 17 2023 - 14:38
Champions Cup Pool 2: Ulster 31 Racing 92 15

So, it finally happened, and not before time either, as Ulster manufactured a performance of substance with ruthlessness, accuracy, and some variation to not only claim Racing’s scalp but walk away with a bonus point victory as well.

This was easily the northern province’s most complete showing this season and, indeed, it has been quite a lengthy time since Dan McFarland’s squad have operated with such cohesion as they scored four tries – three from tap and go penalties – against the Top 14 leaders who looked discomforted from the off and only showed glimpses of their dangerous attacking plays.

Nick Timoney scored off two of these penalties - his second from a skilfully ball flipped off the deck from the boot of John Cooney - while Stuart McCloskey was another beneficiary and Matty Rea also touched down after Ulster had cut Racing open with an ambitious strike play.

“Definitely our best for a while,” said McFarland who came into this game after Ulster had suffered three straight reverses, the round one European result at Bath being a particularly painful experience. “We are creating an attack that is stepping forward from where we have been before. And that requires risk (and) endeavour.

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“Do I feel that we have hit the end result in that? No. Of course not, but we played some really good stuff in there,” the Ulster head coach added following the province’s first points from Europe which places them fourth in Pool Two.

“(It was) frustrating really,” said Racing coach Stuart Lancaster whose side has now suffered two losses from two in the pool. “We knew there would be a strong reaction from Ulster off the back of the Bath game and I’ve been here enough times to know what that looks and feels like.

“(It’s) Frustrating but it’s not terminal and I’ve been in Europe long enough to know that we’ve still got a chance of qualifying, and we just want to fight to get into the last 16 now.”

Their failure to claim a bonus point – they scored three tries, one from the ever-lively Nolann le Garrec and a second half brace via Janick Tarrit – and land any of their three conversions from Le Garrec proved damaging but then none of their star players, Siya Kolisi included, had a significant impact on this game.

“We had chances to do that (get a bonus point),” said Lancaster. “We scored three tries and had the disallowed try (from Le Garrec), it should have been something out of a difficult night.”

Ulster's Steven Kitshoff (left) in action against Racing 92's Trevor Nyakane. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Ulster had to hit the ground running and did so, Timoney scoring with a little over three minutes gone when the province opted to tap a penalty. Cooney converted, and Ulster had the ideal start.

On another visit to Racing’s 22 they did it again, Timoney this time trucking it up before McCloskey bashed over. Cooney’s conversion came in off the post and, suddenly, Ulster had daylight on the scoreboard.

It didn’t last. On the half hour, an Antoine Gibert cross-kick was taken on the run by Juan Imhoff who off-loaded to the supporting Le Garrec to make the corner though he managed to completely top his conversion attempt.

Ulster responded by putting some impressive width on the ball, Lowry putting Jacob Stockdale in space and Cooney’s trail run seeing him caught short of the line. The hosts recycled though, and the impressive James Hume’s long pass put Rea over with two minutes of the half remaining. Cooney converted again and Ulster trooped off leading 21-5.

The next score was pivotal and, once again, it belonged to the hosts. They won another penalty under the posts and opted for another tap and go, the driving maul propelling Timoney through for his second and Ulster’s bonus point.

Cooney once more converted and now the northern province led 28-5.

Two tries off lineout mauls from Tarrit made it 28-15 - both were unconverted - but Cooney settled any anxiety with a 68th minute penalty on an evening which, contrary to most expectations, deservedly belonged to Ulster.

Ulster tries: N Timoney 2, S McCloskey, M Rea, Cons: J Cooney 4 Pens: J Cooney 1

Racing 92 tries: Le Gerrec, J Tarrit 2

Ulster: M Lowry, R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, B Burns, J Cooney; S Kitshoff, R Herring, T O’Toole, A O’Connor, I Henderson (capt), D Ewers, N Timoney, Matty Rea.

Replacements: T Stewart for Herring 10-22mins and 54mins, E O’Sullivan for Kitshoff 76mins, S Wilson for O’Toole 76mins, K Treadwell for O’Connor 60mins, H Sheridan for Rea 60mins, N Doak for Cooney 78mins, J Flannery for Buns 52mins, S Moore for Hume 78mins.

Racing 92: M Spring, H Arundell, G Fickou, H Chavancy, J Imhoff, A Gibert, N le Garrec, H Kolingar, J Tarrit, T Nyakane, B Chouzenoux, W Rowlands, C Woki, S Kolisi, W Lauret

Replacements: E-B Arous for Tarrit 70mins, G Gogichashvili for Kolingar 68mins, G Kharaishvili for Nyakane 61mins, F Sanconnie for Chouzenoux 40mins, I Diallo, M Baudonne for Kolisi 58mins, T Tedder for Chavancy 61mins, I Tabuavou for Arundell 61mins

Referee: L Pearce (Eng)

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