Alan O'Connor calls for more discipline from Ulster

In the defeat to Leinster Ulster received a red card, two yellows and conceded 17 penalties

In Saturday night’s 26-22 bonus point win over the Dragons Dan McFarland’s side had another two players sin binned and gave away another 17 penalties.

“It was a good start but I think we are our own worst enemy at times with our discipline,” said O’Connor.

“That is two weeks-in-a-row where you could say even if we chopped down our penalty count by four or five I think the game could be completely different.

“But in saying that whenever our backs are against the wall we do stand up, we do man up and we do get the job done.

“There are a lot of positives but I think a lot of us as individuals need to have a look at ourselves and change the way we do things a bit, so we don’t get ridden like that by the referees and the momentum of the game.

“It is hard because in some games they (referees) go really hard on one thing and then the next week they may have watched the game from before and go everybody is doing this wrong, so we’ll pin that.

“In terms of set piece, it is tricky because mostly it is 50/50, in mauls it is normally the team that is going forward gets the call.

“Probably in terms of set piece going forward, high tackles we are seeing it all over the place people leading with forearms that’s stuff that has been happening in the game forever, and now all of a sudden it is a massive issue.

“Maybe we need to put more responsibility on the tackler getting their height right.

“I can understand why it is an issue, it’s a two way street.”

Ulster have brought referees into training sessions to cut down on the penalty count.

“It is really good to see their point of view because as players and coaches we see the same things and we are all working towards the same goal and to get a different point of view maybe just to tweak our mind set is obviously very helpful,” said O’Connor.

“Chris Busby has been in with us a few times, Frank Murphy a few times, Andrew Brace in Ireland camp so it is really good to get their point of view because we are always thinking with the player-head, so it is good to know what other angles they are coming at.”

Rainey hooker Brad Roberts is the latest player to come through the club system to represent Ulster and O’Connor feels the All Ireland League is a great schooling ground for players going into the professional game.

“I think it is massively important, you can come through the system as a young guy leaving school and I think it is really important for them to experience the All Ireland League, the older players the guys that are tough it definitely hardens you up,” said O’Connor.

“Fair play to Brad coming in he is obviously as tough as nails.

“I think the things he worked on were the smaller details like his throwing and stuff, he came on and he has adopted to the pro game in such a short space of time it’s a testament to himself.

“In terms of All Ireland League it is massively important in terms of player development, the first season I came up here in the academy I think I played every All Ireland League game for Malone.

“I think it is massively important in terms of culture and team vibes, I think at the minute guys are missing that coming in as academy or sub academy and just doing drills they are missing the team buzz.

“I think it is really important for young and up and coming guys to feel the club game in all sorts of ways.

“There are no TMO’s so I think a few guys would be happy about that so maybe there is a bit of roughing up both side of the ball and that is needed sometimes as well.”

READ MORE:

Check out our Danske Bank Premiership Team of the Week

Rangers’ journey back to the top of Scottish football

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Irish and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you,

Alistair Bushe

Editor