Ulster's pride and passion not enough to stop Wallabies

THROUGH the years, Irish rugby has had many moral victories embellished by hard luck stories. The match between Ulster and Australia at Ravenhill last Saturday will not be classified in that category. Australia won the match and deserved to do so by 39 points to 26.

So no tale to tell of another famous win for an Irish side over a major touring team. No re-enactment of the great afternoon in 1984 when the Grand Slam Wallabies fell by the wayside against Ulster. But one left the ground uplifted on a damp November afternoon by the Ulster performance and with the inner warm glow of having seen Irish rugby pride restored after the humiliation of Lansdowne Road last Tuesday night.

There was hope for a while that the improbable could be achieved but that perished before the power of the Wallabies pack. But as all five Ireland selectors sat in judgment, they saw an Ulster team not prepared to accept a passive secondary role and a team that was prepared to play with pride, passion, indomitable spirit and courage. No surrender was the precept as Ulster, who saw their lines breached early, regrouped to hit back.

They did it with such effect that they led 13-5 by the 22nd minute and 16-12 at the interval. Then the concession of a penalty try in the 48th minute and a try in the 50th - both converted - saw their lead turned into a 10 points deficit. It was at this stage that the character of the side came under its most severe test and they passed it with honours. There was going to be no casual stroll to victory for the Wallabies, they would have to earn anything they would get.

The Ulster side got a tremendous ovation at the interval and it was well deserved. They had not alone fought to contain a strong forward force, they carried the fight to the opposition and the full hearted tackling of the Ulster side was in the sharpest possible contrast to the ineptitude we had seen from Ireland last Tuesday night.

Ulster had to work on fairly limited possession, but made Australia fight for every ball and every inch of ground their big pack got in the mauls. The Ulster back row of Stuart Duncan, Steve McKinty - I have not seen him play better - and Denis McBride, defended with courage and effect and when the chances presented themselves the Ulster pack was not adverse to driving at the opposition and Paddy Johns was often in the van of the assaults.

Outside the scrum, the half backs Andy Matchett and Stuart Laing played with admirable common sense and the centres Mark McCall and Maurice Field gave a reminder to the national selectors of what real tackling is about. Both wings James Topping and Jan Cunningham did very well, with Topping once more underlining his potential and Robin Morrow, at full back, was no less brave and resolute than those in front.

What the Australian coach Greg Smith thought of it all is a matter he is keeping to himself.

He does not have a side under his control comparable to the teams we have seen from Australia in recent times. Forward power is now the main ingredient and a more notable characteristic than the rounded skills and flair of the 15 man game

They have in second row John Eales a most accomplished line out player and he exerted most influence in this facet of play. As early as the fifth minute he won a line out, the forward surge came in and Eales got a try. But two penalties from Laing saw Ulster in front by the 19th minute and then Ulster got an excellent try. McCall was the creator as he gave the pass to Topping coming in at pace off the right wing and he sliced the defence open to score under the posts. Laing converted.

Some tremendous defence and resolution by the Ulster pack in containing the Australian mauling, kept the Wallabies in check until the 26th minute when, after a maul, Joe Roff got through for a try which Matthew Burke converted. However a penalty by Laing saw Ulster turn round four points to the good.

The referee Ken McCartney had to leave the field in the 28th minute. His replacement was Charles Muir, who seems destined to keep cropping up in matches involving Irish sides. Life is hard enough without additional burdens.

Australia were awarded a penalty try in the 48th minute when an Ulster forward impeded in trying to contain Australia at a scrum near the Ulster line. Burke converted. A poor kick off after that try was the prelude to allowing Australia to set up an attack and Daniel Herbert was the provider for David Campese to score a try and Burke converted.

So Ulster stood 10 points adrift but Laing raised hope when he kicked his fourth penalty to bring Ulster to within seven points before Burke kicked a penalty for Australia to restore the 10 points difference.

But Ulster battled on and even after Roff got his second try and Burke converted in the 69th minute, the resistance and endeavour were not diminished and Ulster laid siege to the Australian line. They were twice held up inches short. Then in the 76th minute a deliberate knock on in an offside position was penalised by a penalty try as Ulster had the overlap and Laing converted to leave it at 26-36.

Remarkably in the third minute of injury time Australia opted to kick a penalty - changed times and altered attitudes and David Knox landed the goal to give Australia a 13-point winning margin.