What a fightback!
Munster have the Miracle Match and Leinster that final victory over Northampton, but Ulster have produced their own version of Mission Impossible this afternoon with a stupendous comeback to beat Oyonnax, 24-23.
Ulster’s (and Ireland’s) Champions Cup hopes rest on them getting results against the French side, with this rearranged fixture followed by another at Ravenhill in a fortnight’s time, sandwiching a daunting trip to pool leaders Saracens next week.
But the province looked down and out after a dismal first-half that saw the Top 14 strugglers dominate the game, building up a 23-0 interval advantage, with Uwanakoro Tawolo seizing on a mistake to run the length of the field on the stroke of the whistle to seemingly crush Ulster hopes.
Boss Les Kiss rang the changes at half-time, introducing half-backs Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson and back row Nick Williams, and the effect was instant.
Rory Scholes touched down within ten minutes of the restart to offer a glimmer of hope before Craig Gilroy touched down to make the score 23-14 as Ulster were transformed from the listless outfit of the first 40 minutes.
Another score from Kyle McCall cut the deficit to two and when Ulster won a penalty inside their own half with five minutes to go, they could well have kicked to corner in search of a more kickable chance.
But Jackson showed he was the man for the big moment by stepping up and whacking the ball over the bar – with plenty to spare – to keep Ulster’s hopes of a quarter-final place very much alive.
