Ulster 61-7 Racing: Jacob Stockdale stars as Ulster put Parisians to the sword

After a hectic start, Racing 92 drew first blood. Ulster had had all the territory in the opening few minutes, but Antoine Gibert picked off a loose pass from James Hume to run the field, before converting his own score. Stockdale walked in Ulster’s reply after multiple redzone phases saw the Ulstermen hit the wide channel, where the fullback had plenty of space.

Gibert lined up a kick at the posts to calm down the carnage, but missed the opportunity to hit the front. With half-time looming, Ulster had a lineout on the five-metre line, which they decided to try and maul their way in: skipper Rob Herring going over the line. However, Racing hit back quickly to try and get their own before the break, having two tries denied in the process.

Ulster started the second half much like the first, but came away with a score this time. Tom O’Toole powered his way over to give Ulster some breathing room; Murphy missed for the extra two. Tom Stewart scored his own try after the strong Ulster maul couldn’t be stopped approaching the try line, giving them their second in under ten minutes.

The hosts couldn’t stop scoring, Scott Wilson pushing over the line for Ulster’s fifth of the night, allowing them to tally up a comfortable lead. It just kept getting better as Jake Flannery finished off a breakaway run from Stewart Moore to take Ulster’s points tally to 40, with the conversion. Zac Ward got a late try, set up by his brother Bryn, as Ulster were steamrolling the Parisian outfit with ease. Stockdale ran in his second of the night in the closing seconds, as Ulster scored their half-century.

Ward scored his second with the clock in the red, putting a cherry on top of the Ulster performance that saw them take all five points in the Challenge Cup opener. They will aim to do the same damage away to Cardiff in the next round, as Racing will hope to bounce back against a tough Exeter Chiefs in Paris.

Ulster: 61

TRIES: 9 (Stockdale 15’, 79’, Herring 35’, O’Toole 41’, Stewart 47’, Wilson 58’, Flannery 67’, Ward 74’, 82’)

CONVERSIONS: 8 (Murphy 16’, 36’, 48’, 58’, 67’, 75’, 80’, 83’)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

15. Jacob Stockdale 14. Rob Baloucoune 13. James Hume 12. Jude Postlethwaite 11. Zac Ward 10. Jack Murphy 9. Nathan Doak 1. Sam Crean 2. Rob Herring 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Harru Sheridan 5. Charlie Irvine 6. David McCann 7. Nick Timoney (Captain) 8. Juarno Augustus

Replacements: 16. Tom Stewart 17. Angus Bell 18. Scott Wilson 19. Joe Hopes 20. Bryn Ward 21. Conor McKee 22. Jake Flannery 23. Stewart Moore

Racing 92: 7

TRIES: 1 (Gibert 7’)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (Gibert 8’)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Sanconnie 50’)

RED CARDS: 0

15. Geronimo Prisciantelli 14. Nolann Donguy 13. Sam James 12. Vladi Ashvetia 11. Wilfried Hulleu 10. Antoine Gibert 9. Kleo Labarbe 1. Edouard Jabea Njocke 2. Yanis Basse 3. Gia Kharaishvili 4. Junior Kpoku 5. Will Rowlands (Captain) 6. Fabien Sanconnie 7. Noa Zinzen 8. Lekima Tagitagivalu

Replacements: 16. Diego Escobar 17. Herman Coetzee 18. Lehopoame Leota 19. Maxime Baudonne 20. Jonny Hill 21. Auguste Albuisson 22. Leo Carbonneau 23. Arthur Espeut

With injuries creating debate around the 15 shirt for Ireland, a return for the 2018 Six Nations Player of the Tournament would bring a tear to an Irish fan’s eye. Stockdale most recently played for his nation during the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, featuring in their win over Fiji. With the option to play across the back three, Andy Farrell could find a good use out of the 29-year-old to reclaim their Six Nations crown.

Having been selected on Ireland’s summer tour earlier this year, the scrum-half is still yet to get his first Ireland cap. Having played for the Ireland A squad against Spain in the Autumn, Doak is still involved at the representative level. With his game management helping Ulster take a convincing win, Andy Farrell could consider the 23-year-old for his first team to gain some valuable experience.

Much like Doak, he has been selected for the French squad before, but is still yet to play a minute for the team. The half-back started in the 10 shirt in all but four of the 24 matches he played last year for the Parisian club, leading them to the Top14 playoffs. His electricity going forward could make him an exciting option for the national team, should Romain Ntamack not be fit to play in the ten shirt.

The prop has 17 caps already for the men in green, but was omitted from the squad for the recent Autumn internationals. Having also played for Ireland A in the Autumn, O’Toole is far from finished representing Ireland at international level. Tonight’s performance saw a strong carrying, and set-piece dominant, front-rower that could see the Ulsterman make his way back into Andy Farrell’s squad for the Six Nations.

Even at 35 years of age, Rob Herring can still play at the elite level. The hooker last featured for Ireland in their last Six Nations campaign. His reliable set-piece, which was the catalyst for plenty of their tries tonight, might be a valuable asset for Farrell’s Ireland squad come the Six Nations. With plenty of competition for the number 16 shirt, Herring may still prolong his 11-year international career.