Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby Match Programme

THE LOWDOWN
THE FORM GUIDE
Ulster come into this game on the back of their
Challenge Cup semi-final exit last weekend,
going down 33-24 to Leicester Tigers, despite
leading 17-6 at half-time. Ulster scored two
tries in the last quarter, but it wasn't enough as
Leicester ended Ulster’s hopes of a place in the
final. Ulster had beaten Northampton Saints 35-
27 away from home in a gripping quarter-final
to advance on April 10.
Ulster finished second in Conference A of the
Guinness PRO14 this season, 7 points below
Leinster. Ulster’s impressive season saw them
win 14 out of 16 PRO14 games and concede 263
points, second behind Munster’s 250.
John Cooney is the club’s top’s points scorer this
season with 174 points across all competitions.
Marcell Coetzee is the top try scorer with 9 tries.
There are a couple of familiar faces in the ranks
with former Munster players Alby Mathewson
and Bill Johnston both Belfast-based.
THE COACHING TICKET
joining Gregor Townsend’s Glasgow Warriors
in 2015 and going onto assist Townsend with
the national side from 2017. Assistant Coach
Dwayne Peel joined the club in 2017 from
Bristol. A British & Irish Lion’s tourist in 2005,
the former scrum half played 76 times for
Wales, captaining the side at the 2007 Rugby
World Cup. Former Ulster, Ireland and Lions
full-back Jared Payne stepped into the role of
defence coach on his retirement in 2018 due
to injury. Also in 2018, fellow New Zealander
Daniel Soper joined as skills coach. Soper had
a very successful career coaching Ballynahinch
and Banbridge in the AIL and RBAI in the Ulster
Schools Cups. Forwards coach Roddy Grant
made 138 appearances for Edinburgh before
retiring due to injury in 2015. He coached in
the Scottish Rugby Academy before being
appointed Edinburgh’s assistant forwards
coach in 2017. He joined the Ulster coaching
team in 2019.
ONE TO WATCH
Position: Fly half/Full back
Age: 22
Born: Belfast
Appearances: 14
Tries: 4
Points: 34
Passes completed: 114
Metres gained: 593
Carries: 112
Defenders beaten: 35
Tackles: 65
Offloads: 4
Former Scotland and Glasgow Warriors
assistant coach Dan McFarland took the reigns
as head coach at Ulster ahead of the 2018/19
season. The former Stade Francais and
Connacht prop worked with Michael Bradley,
Eric Elwood and Pat Lam in Connacht before
MICHAEL LOWRY
*2020/21 Guinness PRO14 statistics only
MUNSTER v ULSTER | 07.05.21 | THOMOND PARK
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