Hopefuls give Schmidt plenty to ponder

In the end, it was Ulster who got the bragging rights — just.

Ulster’s 29-19 victory moved them up into the top four again, helped with 19 points from the boot of Ruan Pienaar. But boy, one must give credit to Munster who came from 20-0 down to come within a dismantled scrum of possibly drawing the game and a try-scoring bonus-point to go with it.

So who were the pugs and who were the poodles? To be honest, there were not too many little pets running around Ravenhill. For a start it was rugged with bone-crunching tackling, a couple of near misses, some sweet running lines and a lot of frustration. That was Ulster in the first half as they began to run away with the game.

As for Munster, well, it is usually opposition sides pummelled in such a fashion. In those opening 40 minutes, though, the Pro12 pace-setters got a taste of their own medicine.

But at least, they showed their own doggedness with a score right at the death of the first half. If Ian Keatley had not agonised over his kicking form, there would have been only seven points between the sides at the start of the second half.

Then we had that fight we always knew was in Munster’s make-up. They sharpened their claws, were first to score in the second half as David Kilcoyne rumbled to the line. Keatley discovered his kicking boots and it was game on. That try was replicated when James Coughlan finished a similar effort.

The final few minutes must have been agony for Ulster coach Mark Anscombe who must have thought another lineout rumble was imminent. For a change he saw his pack step up and win a penalty at a scrum. Then, when Paul O’Connell was yellow-carded, pleading with Alain Rolland to overturn a penalty decision, it was game over.

In the Memorial Stand, Ireland Head coach Joe Schmidt was flanked by his assistant Les Kiss, and Wolfhounds manager Joe Miles. They were viewing potential candidates for the Six Nations campaign starting on February 2 against Scotland and Ireland’s second string fixture with the England Saxons in Gloucester on January 25.

Apart from the usual diet of games in the Heineken Cup and Pro12, that solitary Wolfhounds game will give Schmidt his only chance to see just who is coming through the ranks.

There were a plethora of candidates on Schmidt’s iPad hoping to stick their chests out and impress. In that opening 40, there were plenty of men in white sticking up their hands. Ulster’s Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack and of course Jared Payne, all impressed, though Kiwi Payne will not be wearing green until next autumn.

Diack had a rare old battle with his opposite number Peter O’Mahony, who showed a little frustration on the park until calmed down by the old warrior O’Connell. O’Mahony will still play for Ireland, but Diack could end up leading the Wolfhounds as a stepping stone to bigger and better.

Munster loose-head David Kilcoyne was bidding to grab back his place in the Ireland match-day squad, as was Tom Court, who has been a key ingredient of Ulster’s European success this season. Kilcoyne shaded it.

Of course there is that all-important vacancy left by the injury to Sean O’Brien. Cahir-born Tommy O’Donnell or Belfast’s Chris Henry? The 29-year-old Henry was the man brought in as cover for the Tullow Tank during the autumn internationals, but a hamstring injury against Samoa saw him only return to action last night.

O’Donnell has also been injured, but maybe just a little ahead of the Ulsterman in the fitness stakes. The nine-times capped Ulsterman did his usual groundhog work, but as expected ran out of puff.

O’Donnell, Munster’s Player of the Year last season, was also back recently after injury but had more game time under his belt and it showed.

There is also the moot point of cover for Jamie Heaslip, yet to decide on his future. Following his absence through injury last season after his return from Northampton, Roger Wilson is having an outstanding season and it does seem a tad odd that he has only that solitary cap, earned against Japan nearly nine years ago.

James Coughlan, 33, is still looking for his Ireland debut, and has plenty doggedness in him, but alas one fears his day has passed. Schmidt, though will have been happy to see he has plenty of options coming from both sides.