Getting basics right is still key to winning or losing with Ulster proving that in their win over Munster in the URC

After a disappointing defeat against Connacht, Ulster exacted their interprovincial revenge on Munster in Belfast on Friday night.

The game itself was a bit of a stalemate at the breakdown. Both sides struggled to get meaningfully quick ball which meant that the attacking structures throughout weren't altogether exciting.

There were moments where we saw the shape of both teams. All of the Irish provinces are playing with similar structures to the national side during the World Cup, so there were sweep passes and backs swinging around to create overloads. However, the ball was never consistently quick enough to cause major damage.

It was Jack Crowley’s kicking game that got Munster into the game, gaining territory from Stockdale’s dropped ball. Munster used their scrum to get a foothold in the game, something that would later go against them. After three scrum penalties and another penalty advantage in the scrum, Craig Casey dummied and danced his way towards the first of his two tries in the opening quarter.

Ulster pulled a try and penalty back, again using their attacking kicks from Stewart Moore and Billy Burns for Stockdale to score in the left corner.

Alex Nankivell showed his strength in Munster’s midfield. In similar fashion to World Cup winner and ex-Munster centre Damien De Allande, Nakivell won a number of penalties through his poaching ability and strength in the breakdown.

Ulster certainly targeted the Munster breakdown, McCloskey and McCann were the most disruptive to the flowing attack of Casey and Crowley on Munster’s side. The breakdown is becoming increasingly difficult to interpret, and there could be arguments for some illegal actions at the breakdown for both sides.

The ruck has become the winning and losing