Ulster Rugby vs Ospreys-134642

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CLUB STATS
Location
Swansea, Wales
Founded
2003
Ground
Liberty Stadium
Capacity
20,570
Last Game
Leinster Rugby (A) 31 - 19 (L)
Friday 23rd Sep 2016, 19:35
Next Game
Cardiff Blues (A)
Friday 7th Oct 2016, 19:35
Recent Form
WWWL
STAFF
Coach
Steve Tandy
Captain
Alun Wyn Jones
CONTACT
Liberty Stadium
Landore
Swansea
Wales
SA12FA
T+44 1792 616 500
E
TICKET OFFICE
T+44 844 815 6665
OPPOSITION
After watching the Ospreys go down fighting at
the RDS on Friday night, Steve Tandy says that
the team will be ‘positive’ coming to Belfast to
face Ulster.
Following a cagey opening at the RDS, Leinster were able to roar
into a 24-0 interval lead and Tandy’s frustration was evident.
“It was bitterly disappointing,” he said.
“The first half performance wasn’t what we wanted. There was
indiscipline, we didn’t look after the ball and that meant we were
inviting Leinster on to us. We couldn’t get any respite and the
pressure told. We gave ourselves too much to claw back.
“I know that people will ask about complacency but that wasn’t
a factor. We knew that we weren’t world-beaters after three
games. If anyone did think that, then they’ve had the answer.
You can’t come to the RDS and give away possession, cheap
turnovers and penalties, and expect to get anything.
“Leinster are a decent team, they grind you down if you let
them and it takes its toll. We didn’t deal with the game as it was
playing out, we didn’t understand where we were at times and
the outcome was pretty clear.
“Ultimately, we are bitterly disappointed. We felt that we were
going there to perform but, in that first half, we didn’t. It was
more or less dead by half time, then they scored straight after
half time.
“If you look back at Connacht two weeks ago, we were in control
right from the start, we kept the ball for long passages, we were
disciplined in what we were doing and we were worthy winners.
The exact opposite of how we started the game tonight against
Leinster.
“You know that you will always have a tough game when you
come to the RDS, we’ve come here and played well but left with
nothing. Tonight wasn’t one of those occasions, we were pretty
big in our own downfall.”
Ahead of tonight’s game against PRO12 leaders Ulster, Tandy
said that there will need to be improvements:
“It wasn’t about a lack of effort, that was there, but some of the
detail was out, some of the discipline, and we made it difficult for
ourselves. It doesn’t get any easier with Ulster.
“We knew it was a strange start to the season with two home
games and three away trips to Ireland. We’ve won one of the
two Irish trips to go with the home games so we can’t be too
downhearted. It’s still a solid start to the season but as we’ve
said all along, that’s all it’s been, a start. We’ll be positive going
to Ulster but well aware that we need to be much better right
from the first whistle.”
TANDY WANTS
POSITIVE RESPONSE
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