Anscombe optimistic as Ulster pick up momentum

RABODIRECT PRO 12 Ospreys 13 Ulster 16:SOMETHING WILL have to give at Ravenhill on Friday night when Kiwi coaches Mark Anscombe and Rob Penney go head to head for the first time on Irish soil.

Both will head into the first big inter-pro derby of the season with perfect records after Anscombe’s Ulster and Penney’s Munster made it two from two at the weekend.

But Auckland man Anscombe’s smile might be broader. After all, Ulster have opened with victories over two of last season’s semi-finalists and went to the home of the champions and won.

But while the fact his side were able to claw their way back from a 10-point deficit to beat the Ospreys was pleasing, the biggest boost for Anscombe was the return to action of Stephen Ferris, Tom Court and Andrew Trimble. All of a sudden he has a team to work with and there will be more joining them soon.

“We have Chris Henry and Dan Tuohy available to us next week and Tommy Bowe is progressing well. He should be back in a couple of weeks,” said Anscombe.

“We’ve got by with some young guys in the opening few weeks and it is an important part of their development to play alongside some of the experienced players. Just take Mike McComish as an example, he came in at the last minute and played really well for the full 80 minutes.

“He will have enjoyed playing alongside Stephen Ferris in the second half, who wouldn’t?”

If Anscombe can move forward with his second half side on Friday night, then the odds would probably favour the home side.

A try from Hanno Dirksen allowed the Ospreys to lead 7-3 at the break and two more penalties from Matthew Morgan stretched the home lead to 13-3 after 52 minutes. But then came the Ulster cavalry charge.

Paddy Jackson kicked two penalties after three misses by Niall O’Connor and Paul Marshall dived over after a sweeping move opened up the Ospreys defence. Jackson’s conversion was the icing on the cake.

OSPREYS: R Fussell; H Dirksen, A Bishop, A Beck, T Isaacs (T Grabham 56); M Morgan (D Biggar 61), R Webb; R Bevington (D Jones 75), R Hibbard, A Jarvis (J Rees 75), I Gough (J Bearman 54), AW Jones (capt), J King (S Baldwin 66), J Tipuric, J Thomas (G Stowers 61).

ULSTER: J Payne; C Gilroy, D Cave, L Marshall (A Trimble 54), M Allen; N O'Connor (P Jackson 54), M Heaney (P Marshall 41); C Black (T Court 41), R Herring (N Brady 49), D Fitzpatrick (J Afoa 49), J Muller (capt), L Stevenson (N McComb 66), M McComish, S Doyle (S Ferris 54), N Williams.

Referee: N Paterson(SRU)