Ulster 26-19 Stade Francais: Ireland bolter Rob Balocoune stars in Challenge Cup triumph

“It’s nice to look back at it knowing we still have the win, still top of the table, and moving on to the next stage.” Stated head coach Richie Murphy after the game.

​Ulster started the game on the rise, winning a penalty off the kickoff that took them up to the 50. They played through the phases, quickly opening the Stade Francais defense out wide with a fantastic break from Ireland hopeful Zac Ward. A few phases later, Prop Tom O’Toole crashed over the line to open Ulster’s half with a flying start.

Ulster’s kickoff success continued as Nathan Doak kicked the Northern province up to the 50, retaining possession before an awry cross-field kick handed Stade Francais their first attacking opportunity of the game.

Locking out the scrum outside the Ulster 22, the Parisians’ first entry into the 22 ended with a phenomenal turnover from the Ulstermen. However, Stade continued to batter the Ulster 22, with the Ulstermen’s elite goalline defense forcing another turnover.

Attack coach Mark Sexton’s influenced flair continued to reap rewards for Ulster, as the Ireland contingent back three continued to split open the physical Stade defense, with another break from Ulster’s superstar talent, Ward. Earning a penalty in the Parisians’ half, Ulster spread it out wide for Balocoune to inevitably crash over.

Balocoune’s charge continued as Ulster forced another turnover in their own half, quickly spreading the ball out wide with a line break from their young back row. The Ulster winger set up Nathan Doak to crash over on his 99th cap. However, the pass was ruled forward, as the Parisians avoided going down by 21.

Stade Français’s joy was short-lived, as Irish veteran Iain Henderson turned the ball over near the Parisians’ 22. Sexton’s elite attacking play was once again on show, as the Ulstermen played through the phase, setting up Stuart McCloskey to crash over wide for an easy score.

Turnovers were paramount to the Northern side’s game plan today, turning it over 3 times in their own 22. Stade Francais could barely string successive passes together before Richie Murphy’s young backrow were all over them.

Ulster’s number 14 continued his elite performance, breaking the line with his pace and leaving two defenders behind him to set up Doak once again, not to be denied by the TMO on this occasion.

The Ulstermen’s defense continued to hold firm, nearing the end of the first half, with Stade squandering a third opportunity going into the 22, attempting to get on the board. Following a forward pass, Ulster secured the lineout before kicking the ball out to end the half up by 27.

Going into the end of the half, the Irish back three had been a point of hot contention. Both Ward and Balocoune had a try assist a piece as the stars of the first half. The Ireland squad is due to be announced next week.

Ulster continued their run the same way they opened the first half, securing the ball on the kickoff, and they managed to break into the Stade 22 to start the second half, an opportunity that went awry.

Despite a near-perfect performance, one part of Ulster’s game that continued to let them down today was the set piece. With the loss of Angus Bell an hour before the game, Stade turned a scrum penalty on halfway into an attacking set piece in the 22.

Following the conceded penalty, the Parisians secured the lineup before battering the Ulster 22 through the phases, allowing Georgian prop Melikidze to crash over for the French side’s first try of the game.

Following a series of poor scrums, Ulster decided to completely switch out the front row, with Tom O’Toole, Tom Stewart, and Sam Crean coming off for Scott Wilson, Rob Herring, and Eric O’Sullivan.

The Parisians continued their second-half fightback. After Ulster’s discipline let them down once again, Stade were granted a lineout in the 220. After securing it, Irish international Jacob Stockdale was caught out following a kick in behind to allow Charles Laloi to dive on the ball in the corner. 26-12.

After having a try disallowed in the first half, Ulster had another in the 60th minute. After finally locking out the scrum, replacement Jude Posthelwaithe played a kick in behind that was eventually grounded by Stockdale following a competition between Ward and the Stade defender.

However, after a review from the TMO, it was deemed that Ward had obstructed the defender in his effort to secure the ball, and the try was called back for a Stade penalty.

With turnovers being paramount to Ulster’s success in the first half, the Parisians managed to find a foothold in the game as the turnover game struggled. However, Irish international Nick Timoney finally got it going again with a crucial effort in the 60th minute.

It was not enough to stop the Parisian fightback, however. Following another poor decision from Stockdale, Stade once again drove it to the corner into the 22. Securing the ball of the lineout, replacement prop Peyresblanque managed to find a gap in Ulster’s defense to crash over to make it a one-score game.

Despite a series of vital penalties from Ulster, including a scrum penalty near the Francais 22, the Ulstermen could not convert the visit as the Parisians drove it up to the 50 as time expired. However, the Ulster defence ultimately held out to guarantee them the top seeding going into the knockout stages.

Ulster: 26

TRIES: 4 Tom’O Toole (1’), Robert Balocoune (15’), McCloskey (23’), Doak (30’)

CONVERSIONS: 3 Jack Murphy (2’) (24’) (31’)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

15. Jacob Stockdale

14. Rob Baloucoune 13. James Hume 12. Stuart McCloskey 11. Zac Ward 10. Jack Murphy 9. Nathan Doak 1. Sam Crean 2. Tom Steward 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Iain Henderson 5. Harry Sheridan 6. David McCann 7. Nick Timoney (Captain) 8. Bryn Ward

Replacements: 16. Rob Herring 17. Eric O’Sullivan 18. Scott Wilson 19. Matthew Dalton 20. Sean Reffel 21. Conor McKee 22. Jake Flannery 23. Jude Postlethwaithe

TRIES: 3 Melikidze (46’) Laloi (54’) Peyresblanques (66’)

CONVERSIONS: 2 Foursans’ (47’, 67’)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

15. M Ibo, 14. C Laloi, 13. J Ward (capt), 12. T Vili, 11. L Etien, 10. Z Henry,9. P Abadie; 1. J Iscaro, 2.. A Garcia Albo, 3.. G Melikidze,4. P-H Azagoh, 5. J Botha, 6. J-M Scelzo,7. M. Hirigoyen, 8. Y Tanga.

Replacements: 16. L Peyresblanques, 17. Y Lux,18. S Abramishvili, 19. S Turagacoke, 20. T Halaifonua, 21. T Motassi, 22. L Foursans-Bourdette, 23. S Ezeala.

Ahead of the announcement of Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad next week, today’s game would be a last opportunity forseveralf Irish players to put their names forward for selection.

Following a return from injury, Balocoune continued his hot run of form during Ulster’s victory. With Calvin Nash dealing with recent injury issues, as well as what many consider to be a poor run of form from James Lowe, the winger position appears to be wide open for Andy Farrell’s Ireland.

​Thriving in the first half, the Ulster winger both went over in the 22, as well as setting up two tries for Scrum-Half Nathan Doak, two of which were disallowed. Thriving in the backfield, the Parisians were unable to deal with the wingers’ electric pace as they carved them open in the first 40 minutes.

​After a few seasons that have been dominated by injuries, it’s a testament to the form that the Ulster winger is in at the moment that he has been able to get himself into the conversation for the Ireland squad.

One of the most in-form players in the country at the moment, Ward has thrived on Ulster’s new electric attack under Mark Sexton. A physically dominant winger at 6’3, the Parisian struggled to bring the in-form winger down as he played vital roles in the buildup to two tries in the first half.

​However, after appearing to suffer a knock in the second half, the former Ireland Sevens player had a quiet second half. Unlike many options that Farrell has available, Ward’s inexperience in both kicking and under the high-ball may work against his favor ahead of the squad announcement next week.

With Ulster managing to hold on to victory in the dying minutes of the game, the Ireland international played a vital role in dragging them over the line. Securing a key turnover near the end of the game, the center’s work over the ball may have been the deciding factor in Ulster’s win today.

​With Bundee Aki clearly approaching the end of his career, the Ulster center will most likely find himself in contention with Leinster star Robbie Henshaw over the second 12 spot behind Aki in the squad. With his experience in and around the Ireland squad.

While Ulster’s dominant first-half attacking performance may have stolen all the headlines, the real key to today’s victory was the work by the likes of Timoney, Henderson, and Bryn Ward in the turnover game. Timoney has only won five caps since making his debut in 2021.

​"I've committed not to be too hung up on selections and stuff,” Timoney stated back in November, when he made his return to the Ireland squad against Eddie Jones’ Japan side.

Having recently penned a new deal with the side, Stewart has found himself in national discussions to emerge as the potential backup option behind Ireland star Dan Sheehan. With a similar style of athleticism and playing style to the Leinster star, Stewart may have the edge ahead of Kelleher in recent weeks.

​During today’s game against the Parisians, Ulsters’ set piece game fell apart in the second half, including the lineout. After Rob Herring came on for Stewart, the starters’ absence was noted. The Ulster hooker last appeared for Ireland in Ireland A’s win over Spain in November.