On a day that saw Ulster fall to the Lions 49-31 in the United Rugby Championship, Rob Baloucoune's hat-trick was a silver lining, demonstrating his sheer class and raising eyebrows back at Ireland's selection table. Despite the loss, Baloucoune, overlooked for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series, made a compelling case for inclusion with a standout performance at Ellis Park.
Baloucoune's return from injury has been nothing short of spectacular, showcasing his resilience and skill. His first try was a highlight reel in itself; breaking from his own half, he dodged the final defender to score near the posts. He followed up with a diving try on the right wing and capped the performance with a straightforward score in the second half. Richie Murphy, Ulster's head coach, couldn't hide his admiration.
"Incredible,"
he exclaimed, praising not only Baloucoune but his entire backline.
Murphy highlighted the depth in his squad, noting,
"We’ve an embarrassment of riches in the back three. Zac’s been on fire, Werner’s really good, and Mikey’s flying. Having Rob back is fantastic. He got through another full game, which is exciting for us, and long may that fitness level continue."
Ulster also saw contributions from James Hume and David McCann, securing a try bonus-point that left them fifth in the standings.
However, the match wasn't without its frustrations for Murphy, who lamented the errors his team made. "It’s a difficult one to take in the end, we’re in that game for 55, 60 minutes and let it get away from us," he reflected. The Lions' scrum dominance and Ulster's mistakes ultimately tipped the scales, despite the challenging conditions of playing at high altitude and under intense heat.
Looking ahead, Murphy is focused on recovery and improvement as Ulster prepares to return from their South Africa tour. "You’re never satisfied when you have lost a game that was in the balance at 60 minutes. Six points is a decent return, but we’re still hurting today," he admitted, setting sights on their next game against Benetton in Belfast, where the quest for redemption continues.
2,193 posts
On a day that saw Ulster fall to the Lions 49-31 in the United Rugby Championship, Rob Baloucoune's hat-trick was a silver lining, demonstrating his sheer class and raising eyebrows back at Ireland's selection table. Despite the loss, Baloucoune, overlooked for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series, made a compelling case for inclusion with a standout performance at Ellis Park.
Baloucoune's return from injury has been nothing short of spectacular, showcasing his resilience and skill. His first try was a highlight reel in itself; breaking from his own half, he dodged the final defender to score near the posts. He followed up with a diving try on the right wing and capped the performance with a straightforward score in the second half. Richie Murphy, Ulster's head coach, couldn't hide his admiration.
"Incredible,"
he exclaimed, praising not only Baloucoune but his entire backline.Murphy highlighted the depth in his squad, noting,
"We’ve an embarrassment of riches in the back three. Zac’s been on fire, Werner’s really good, and Mikey’s flying. Having Rob back is fantastic. He got through another full game, which is exciting for us, and long may that fitness level continue."
Ulster also saw contributions from James Hume and David McCann, securing a try bonus-point that left them fifth in the standings.However, the match wasn't without its frustrations for Murphy, who lamented the errors his team made. "It’s a difficult one to take in the end, we’re in that game for 55, 60 minutes and let it get away from us," he reflected. The Lions' scrum dominance and Ulster's mistakes ultimately tipped the scales, despite the challenging conditions of playing at high altitude and under intense heat.
Looking ahead, Murphy is focused on recovery and improvement as Ulster prepares to return from their South Africa tour. "You’re never satisfied when you have lost a game that was in the balance at 60 minutes. Six points is a decent return, but we’re still hurting today," he admitted, setting sights on their next game against Benetton in Belfast, where the quest for redemption continues.