Friday night at Affidea Stadium witnessed a ruthless display of rugby as Ulster savaged Racing 92 with a 61-7 thrashing, launching their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign with a statement victory. The onslaught included nine tries, two each from Jacob Stockdale and Zac Ward, as the home side decimated their Parisian visitors.
Racing 92 briefly appeared competitive after Antoine Gibert snatched an intercept try in the seventh minute, converting it himself, which momentarily hinted at a contest. However, Ulster's response was swift and brutal, leveling the score by the 14th minute with a Jacob Stockdale try, set up by James Hume.
A tense standoff in scoring broke minutes before halftime when Rob Herring capitalized on a maul to push Ulster ahead. Despite a close call with Will Rowlands' disallowed try, Racing 92 could only watch as Ulster continued to dominate, leading 14-7 at the break.
Tom O’Toole bulldozed over shortly after halftime, marking the beginning of a relentless barrage. The dynamic shifted significantly as Ulster's substitutes entered the fray, with Tom Stewart and Scott Wilson adding their names to the score sheet. Jake Flannery and Zac Ward piled on, leaving Racing floundering at a 47-7 deficit.
The massacre didn't end there; Stockdale and Ward both doubled their evening's tally, propelling Ulster past the 60-point mark. Racing 92, overwhelmed and outclassed, could offer no resistance as Ulster stamped their authority all over the game.
"Tonight was a testament to the hard work the team puts in day in and day out. We keep our heads down and focus on what we can control, and tonight it paid off,"
said a jubilant Ulster coach Richie Murphy post-match, reflecting on the comprehensive performance.
Teams:
Ulster: Jacob Stockdale, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Juarno Augustus, Nick Timoney (c), Dave McCann, Charlie Irvine, Harry Sheridan, Tom O’Toole, Rob Herring, Sam Crean; Replacements: Tom Stewart, Angus Bell, Scott Wilson, Joe Hopes, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Stewart Moore.
Racing 92: Geronimo Prisciantelli, Nolann Donguy, Sam James, Vladi Ashvetia, Wilfried Hulleu, Antoine Gibert, Kleo Labarbe, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Noa Zinzen, Fabien Sanconnie, Will Rowlands (c), Junior Kpoku, Gia Kharaishvili, Yanis Basse, Edouard Jabea Njocke; Replacements: Diego Escobar, Herman Coetzee, Lehopoame Leota, Maxime Baudonne, Jonny Hill, Auguste Albuisson, Leo Carbonneau, Arthur Espeut.
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wal)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (Wal), Carwyn Sion (Wal) TMO: Aled
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Friday night at Affidea Stadium witnessed a ruthless display of rugby as Ulster savaged Racing 92 with a 61-7 thrashing, launching their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign with a statement victory. The onslaught included nine tries, two each from Jacob Stockdale and Zac Ward, as the home side decimated their Parisian visitors.
Racing 92 briefly appeared competitive after Antoine Gibert snatched an intercept try in the seventh minute, converting it himself, which momentarily hinted at a contest. However, Ulster's response was swift and brutal, leveling the score by the 14th minute with a Jacob Stockdale try, set up by James Hume.
A tense standoff in scoring broke minutes before halftime when Rob Herring capitalized on a maul to push Ulster ahead. Despite a close call with Will Rowlands' disallowed try, Racing 92 could only watch as Ulster continued to dominate, leading 14-7 at the break.
Tom O’Toole bulldozed over shortly after halftime, marking the beginning of a relentless barrage. The dynamic shifted significantly as Ulster's substitutes entered the fray, with Tom Stewart and Scott Wilson adding their names to the score sheet. Jake Flannery and Zac Ward piled on, leaving Racing floundering at a 47-7 deficit.
The massacre didn't end there; Stockdale and Ward both doubled their evening's tally, propelling Ulster past the 60-point mark. Racing 92, overwhelmed and outclassed, could offer no resistance as Ulster stamped their authority all over the game.
"Tonight was a testament to the hard work the team puts in day in and day out. We keep our heads down and focus on what we can control, and tonight it paid off,"
said a jubilant Ulster coach Richie Murphy post-match, reflecting on the comprehensive performance.Teams:
Ulster: Jacob Stockdale, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Juarno Augustus, Nick Timoney (c), Dave McCann, Charlie Irvine, Harry Sheridan, Tom O’Toole, Rob Herring, Sam Crean; Replacements: Tom Stewart, Angus Bell, Scott Wilson, Joe Hopes, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Stewart Moore.
Racing 92: Geronimo Prisciantelli, Nolann Donguy, Sam James, Vladi Ashvetia, Wilfried Hulleu, Antoine Gibert, Kleo Labarbe, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Noa Zinzen, Fabien Sanconnie, Will Rowlands (c), Junior Kpoku, Gia Kharaishvili, Yanis Basse, Edouard Jabea Njocke; Replacements: Diego Escobar, Herman Coetzee, Lehopoame Leota, Maxime Baudonne, Jonny Hill, Auguste Albuisson, Leo Carbonneau, Arthur Espeut.
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wal)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (Wal), Carwyn Sion (Wal) TMO: Aled