McLaughlin keeps focus on top four

Connacht grabbed their first interprovincial win over Ulster since 2005, but Brian McLaughlin is not giving up hope just yet for a RaboDirect Pro12 top-four place.

“We came down to Galway with a lot of hope,” the Ulster boss said. “We leave very disappointed with the result, but with a bonus point, which allows us to push up to Glasgow, and we still have two very big games to come.”

That bonus point in Saturday’s 26-21 loss to the Westerners was enough to close the gap on fourth-placed Glasgow with Munster doing them the favour in their victory over the Scottish outfit at Musgrave Park.