Ulster face a tough task to progress in Europe after losing 39-0 to Sale Sharks on Sunday
Former Ulster center Darren Cave has called some criticism of Dan McFarland’s side after heavy defeats by Leinster and Sale “nonsensical”.
Ulster previously lost to rivals Leinster 38-29 in the URC a 39-0 loss to Sale in the Heineken Champions Cup on Sunday.
Cave said asking McFarland to lose his head coaching job went too far.
“The amount of nonsense I have unfortunately read – it is ten times as nonsensical as what was produced on the pitch,” he said.
Cave, speaking to ` Radio Ulster’s Sportsound Extra Timesaid he had read that “McFarland should lose his job, the Ulster team is going backwards, fans should be offered refunds and players are being overpaid”.
“The level of European rugby is phenomenal at the moment,” he added.
“The Premiership is very strong and we eliminated two or three of the worst Welsh teams and used South African teams.
“Ulster aren’t good enough at the moment to win that trophy and it’s as simple as that. You wouldn’t say that but that’s the fact.”
Ulster took a 22-3 lead over 14-man Leinster in early December but conceded 35 points without reply as their Irish rivals, despite their man disadvantage, clinched a crushing 38-29 victory.
McFarland’s men struggled from the start at Sale and a 39-0 loss has left their hopes of progressing hanging in the balance.
Heavy snow and ice meant Ulster only arrived in England on the morning of the game after their original travel plans were canceled and Cave believes it was ‘less than ideal’ but cannot be held responsible for the outcome.
“You’re not going to use that as an excuse,” he said, before calling Sale’s defeat a “surrender.”
“Leinster had some issues preparing for the trip to France the day before and they got a result [a 42-10 victory over Racing Metro].
“I think given what happened the week before at the RDS it was certainly the worst straight line – I think it was 120 minutes if you factor in the second half at Leinster – that I’ve seen from Ulster a long time.”
Ulster can beat La Rochelle
Former Ireland center Cave added that “while this Ulster team doesn’t have the capability to be at the top of Europe, it is a team that should be competitive in Europe”.
“They are better than such performances and results, but for me this team was just a stone’s throw away from winning the league last year,” he said.
“They’re sitting well in the league at the moment and some of what I’ve read has been nonsensical to be honest.
“The way the Champions Cup is now that it’s two big pools, not only to lose the game, but to have a -39 point difference and not lose bonus points – those are the things that make it difficult to knock him over.
“If Ulster didn’t make the last 16 in Europe but got through to the league final one more time or were pushing to win another league, I don’t think that would be a bad season for them, although it would be a bitter pill to swallow .”
Ulster have endured two heavy defeats in consecutive weeks
Reigning champions La Rochelle, coached by Ronan O’Gara, former Munster and Ireland semi-finalist, travel to Belfast for the second round of the European games but Cave believes it would not be a surprise if Ulster walk away with a win would.
“Sometimes it’s good to get right back on the horse against a good team,” he said.
“The other side of that is, and I’ve said it quite bluntly, the top teams in Europe are better than Ulster.
“Saying that, would I be amazed if we beat La Rochelle on Saturday? Absolutely not.
“Ulster are more than capable and it’s been in their DNA for 20 or 25 years – beating big French teams, usually at home, so they’re more than capable of turning things around.
“If I were in this Ulster group what would I want? Well you have the European Champion coached by Ronan O’Gara coming to town.
“I don’t think it would be a huge shock if Ulster turned her over.”
Comments are closed.