Northampton dealt European blow as damaging Ulster defeat leaves their Champions Cup hopes hanging by a thread… but Chris Boyd hints the result may prove irrelevant amid rugby’s Covid crisis

  • Northampton were beaten 27-22 by Ulster in the Champions Cup on Friday night
  • The Saints’ campaign now appears doomed after back-to-back defeats
  • But Chris Boyd isn’t sure ‘winning or losing games is going to count in the end’ 
  • Michael Lowry was electric for Ulster and will now hope to earn an Ireland cap

By Chris Foy for the Daily Mail


Northampton fought the good fight this time, but their European hopes are hanging by a thread, after they failed to contain Michael Lowry and the rest of Ulster’s dazzling young backs last night.

Chris Boyd’s side earned a losing bonus point, thanks to Courtnall Skosan’s late try in this Heineken Champions Cup encounter, at what used to be known as Ravenhill. 

A week after they were humbled at home by Racing 92, there was spirited resistance from the Saints this time, but a second successive defeat means their campaign is surely doomed, already.

Northampton's 27-22 defeat against Ulster has left their European hopes hanging by a thread

Northampton’s 27-22 defeat against Ulster has left their European hopes hanging by a thread

Ulster ran out bonus-point winners to build on their momentous victory at Clermont Auvergne

Ulster ran out bonus-point winners to build on their momentous victory at Clermont Auvergne

Ulster ran out bonus-point winners to build on their momentous victory at Clermont Auvergne

Asked about the implications of this result, Chris Boyd hinted at the turmoil caused by COVID when he quipped: ‘I don’t think winning or losing the games is going to count in the end.’ 

Ulster’s head coach, Dan McFarland, added: ‘We’re pretty grateful that we’ve managed to play two games. A bonus-point win in Europe is great, any time.’ 

George Furbank’s goal-kicking kept Northampton in touch, against the run of play, and Alex Mitchell scored a darting, diving try in the closing stages, but by then Ulster were all but out of sight. 

Northampton's season already appears doomed after suffering back-to-back defeats

Northampton's season already appears doomed after suffering back-to-back defeats

Northampton’s season already appears doomed after suffering back-to-back defeats

Lowry, the home full-back, was electric. On this evidence, it is an injustice that the 23-year-old has not been capped by Ireland. He should be a contender for the Six Nations, along with the graceful, classy and combative centre, James Hume.

Ulster were well worth the bonus-point win which built on their momentous victory at Clermont Auvergne. 

Rob Herring and Ethan McIlroy touched down either side of a first-half penalty try, then Craig Gilroy struck from a Billy Burns cross-kick just before the hour mark.

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