Ulster shaken to the core as Exiles hammer home a point

ULSTER now have little chance of emerging from the group stages of the Heineken Cup after a totally lethargic display at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday left coaches and players alike lost for answers.

It was thought Ulster would finally side-step the ghost of never having won on English soil in European competition. But when they were savaged by a fired-up London Irish outfit, Saturday’s trip to Reading proved just as unsuccessful as the previous eight.

Ulster knew this was their pivotal game of the season but they fell off the roundabout. Instead, it will be London Irish who will benefit from the bonus-point victory, and give them a psychological edge for next week’s return tie at Fortress Ravenhill, and finally kick-start their season.