Ulster Rugby faced another crushing defeat on Saturday as they succumbed to Bordeaux Begles 40-19 at Kingspan Stadium, marking their second straight loss in the Investec Champions Cup.
Coming off the back of a heavy 61-21 defeat to Toulouse, Ulster aimed to bounce back on home soil but could only manage to hold off their French rivals for 40 minutes. The first half showcased some flashes of brilliance from the Irish team, who led 19-14 at halftime after producing strong performances from Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, and Werner Kok.
Ulster started off brightly with Izuchukwu scoring early to draw level after being down 7-0 following Tevita Tatafu's try for Bordeaux. Following Izuchukwu's response, Nick Timoney capitalized on Bordeaux's ill-discipline, scoring to give Ulster the lead for the first time. The hosts were then awarded a penalty try after Bordeaux's David McCann was sent to the sin-bin for collapsing the maul, giving Ulster the momentum they needed.
Despite the strong finish to the first half, which saw Ulster lead by five points, the second half told a different story entirely. After the break, Bordeaux completely dominated the game, scoring 26 unanswered points. The turnaround began with Damian Penaud's try, which shifted the pressure back onto Ulster.
Head coach Richie Murphy could only shake his head as his side struggled to respond to the renewed vigor from the French team, who had clearly found their rhythm. Murphy expressed his frustration post-match: "Definitely frustrated," he said. "I thought we put some good stuff together in the first half and put a very good team under pressure.”
Bordeaux continued their onslaught with tries from Guido Petti and Louis Bielle-Biarrey within minutes of each other, and Ugo Boniface rounded off the scoring late on, completing the rout. The home supporters watched as their team unraveled, with Bordeaux exhibiting their prowess and clinical finishing skills.
Murphy reflected on the performance, stating, "A couple of breakdowns we missed, and they take the ball off you particularly in those outside channels. It's tough to take but we’re playing some of the best teams in Europe right now." His sentiments echoed frustrations from many fans who had watched Ulster concede too easily after holding onto their lead.
The defeat extends Ulster's poor run of form, marking four consecutive losses across all competitions. Their next challenge is looming as they prepare for another tough fixture against Munster, where they will hope to rectify their mistakes and finally get points on the board.
This match also marked the senior debut of Zac Ward, the former Irish Sevens star, who impressed by making meaningful contributions on the wing. Though his debut was setback by the team's overall performance, it still highlighted the potential within the squad moving forward.
While Bordeaux's performance was polished and disciplined, showcasing their attacking strength, Ulster's inability to maintain their first-half momentum will leave the coaching staff with much to ponder as they head back to the training ground.
With the pressure mounting and ambitions for advancement in the Champions Cup slipping away, Ulster's management will need to galvanize the team to face the formidable Munster. Murphy noted they must "last 80 minutes" against top teams, stating, "You get it wrong, you runinto massive bodies, and they slow you down; it becomes very difficult to regenerate quick ball.”
Fans will be hoping for improvements as Ulster looks to turn its fortunes around and challenge for points during this challenging period of the season.