Ulster 48-12 Cardiff: Welsh region leak seven tries as they are routed in Belfast

Cardiff were routed in Belfast as they conceded seven tries during a shocking performance.

Despite having 13 full internationals in their starting line-up, Dai Young’s team were very much second best in this United Rugby Championship clash at the Kingspan Stadium.

Their play was littered with errors while they were found badly wanting in defence, particularly in the second-half after turning around 22-0 down.

To make matters worse, they also lost outside-half Jarrod Evans to what looked like a nasty wrist injury.

They will have a lot to think about now as they head out to South Africa for rearranged back-to-back matches.

During the first half, they had their chances, but failed to take them, with a succession of mistakes undermining their efforts, whereas high-flying Ulster were far more clinical.

The hosts opened the scoring on eight minutes when, from a Billy Burns cross kick, the ball bounced back over the head of Hallam Amos into the hands of winger Robert Baloucoune, who showed his pace as he cut inside Owen Lane to reach the line.

Cardiff were then reduced to 14 men when Wales squad centre Willis Halaholo was yellow carded for putting in a tackle while in an offside position on his knees.

The resulting penalty was slotted over by Nathan Doak to extend Ulster’s lead.

Despite being a player down, the visitors looked set to hit back as an overlap beckoned after skipper Josh Turnbull broke away and the ball was moved left.

But then disaster struck as Jarrod Evans’ pass to James Botham was picked off by Ireland centre James Hume who ran in from 80 metres for a converted score.

It was a real 14-pointer.

Once restored to 15 men, Cardiff began to build pressure and had two more golden opportunities to get points on the