Challenge Cup semi-final: Ulster 29 Exeter 12
Juarno Augustus is man of the match, speaking on Premier Sports. He looks emotional: “I’m just happy we won, we had a tough two weeks, but we focused on today and we got the win and we are grateful for it. We knew we backed our gameplan, we played with heart, thanks to the fans, we are truly grateful for them.
“It was nice to lead to physical charge. We stayed in the fight, we have good backs and we got over the line a few times.”
Here was his opening try:
Try for Exeter! Well deserved try for Ridl to finish it off, but too little too late. The conversion is missed.
Full-time: Ulster 29 Exeter 12
Ulster are in the Challenge Cup final! What a day for Irish rugby.
78 mins: A moment that sums up Ulster today as Nathan Doak heroically beats Skinner to the ball in behind against the odds to touch it down and save a try.
76 mins: Looked like there might be another Ulster try to put the icing on the cake but a great bit of defence from Exeter, then Ridl does a fine kick and go to speed well up the pitch but he didn’t have the numbers with him and he’s turned over.
73 mins: Another Ulster turnover, Bryn Ward showing his strength and then McIlroy does a superb kick chase from his own ball, but it just bounces into the corner, but that’s just fine. McCloskey goes off to a great ovation.
Yellow card for Exeter! Hammersley has struggled all game and tries to intercept illegally and he’s in the bin.
70 mins: A disastrous time on the lineouts for Dweba, as Exeter lose yet another one in this second half from an attacking position and Ulster clear it. A few minutes later then he throws one over everyone in the lineout as Ulster collect it.
67 mins: Exeter penalised for offside after another great Postlethwaite carry, he’s been good today. Fantastic kick by Murphy right into the corner with a swerving one and the atmosphere is electric in Belfast. And momentum was coming.
Try for Ulster! Tom Stewart breaks off from the maul and finishes sharply. Doak converts this time.
Ulster 29 Exeter 7
64 mins: Another mistake in a lineout for Exeter as the game is getting away from them. A few changes for Ulster as star man today Augustus goes off, as does captain Henderson. Bryn Ward and Eric O’Sullivan come on.
59 mins: Try for Ulster! Excellent try after Postethwaite had a great hand-off, McIlroy nearly got there and finally McCann finishes it off. Doak hits the post with his conversion.
Ulster 22 Exeter 7
57 mins: Brilliant kick by Doak into the corner from the middle of the pitch, putting pressure on Exeter, who then are penalised for not throwing a lineout straight. Dweba with the error.
Five-metre try then for Ulster, Augustus picks it up and nearly gets there. But then incredible defence by Exeter on Augustus’ second attempt as he’s held up.
51 mins: Big chance for Exeter slips by after a great line break by Campbell Ridle, Varney’s pass was too long for Hammersley to control and finish, Ulster get away with it.
47 mins: Try for Ulster! Jack Murphy from the wing accelerates to score after big work from the Ulster forwards. Big carries by Augustus and Henderson. Superb conversion from near the sideline by Doak.
Ulster 17 Exeter 7
45 mins: Big turnover by Izuchukwu gets a big cheer for the crowd and wins Ulster a penalty, good chance to the first score of the second half.
The second half is under way. Stockdale has been subbed off for Ethan McIlroy at half-time.
40 mins: Ulster win a penalty as Stockdale comes back onto the field after the yellow card. To get out of the last period with something, they opt for the posts.
Penalty scored by Ulster! Never in doubt really from close range, Ulster back ahead.
Half-time: Ulster 10 Exeter Chiefs 7
Took a while to warm up this one but Ulster have been finding their way into it and deservedly lead at the break. All to play for in the second half.
38 mins: Back for a penalty advantage but Exeter turn it over and give it the big ‘un with the celebration. Another scuffle which the referee is happy to let happen to blow off steam as it’s an Exeter scrum and they win a penalty from it. Frustrating for Ulster not to score from all that.
Or maybe it’s not over yet as Slade misses touch from the penalty and Ulster go again steaming forward.
37 mins: Mistake by Varney to knock it forward from the restart and gives Ulster a scrum in an advanced position. Ulster going through the phases with little short passes, they get to within five metres.
Very slow ball as McCann tries to go, then Augustus again. So close but just couldn’t get it over in a deluge of bodies, goal-line dropout.
32 mins: Try for Exeter! Originally, they didn’t take advantage of men over, Hammersley should have done better to finish, but it came back for a penalty advantage and Ross Vintcent overpowers Ward to score a try. Slade converts. Back level.
Ulster 7 Exeter 7
30 mins: Exeter win a penalty for what looks like a bad tackle by Stockdale on Feyi-Waboso. TMO will check for further punishment.
Yellow card for Stockdale! Can’t really argue with that and Ulster down a man for a spell.
Tap and go for Ulster and another penalty advantage.
Try for Ulster! Juarno Augustus powers over under the posts after considerable pressure. Doak taps over and we get a score after 28 mins!
Ulster 7 Exeter 0
27 mins: A very physical match so far as Henderson and Hooper square up to each other after Ulster win a penalty. A chance for Ulster now with an attacking lineout.
Big chance for Ulster after some typically deceptive passing by McCloskey, Lowry fizzes it too eagerly to Stockdale and the two were out of sync as Stockdale drops the ball. Back though for a penalty.
24 mins: Henderson tackles off the ball and is penalised, this time Exeter won’t go for the posts and look to use their pack to score from a lineout.
Ulster survive a powerful maul and Exeter recycle but the ball goes forward. Outstanding defence by Ulster to get out of that one.
19 mins: Penalty missed by Exeter! A surprise miss by Slade, who is one of the best in the business after a heavy tackle on Varney, who has been lively so far. Still no score in this one.
Ulster 0 Exeter 0
16 mins: Great carry by McCloskey as Ulster get on the front foot. Great hands by Stockdale and then Ulster get within five metres. Postlethwaite with some good play too as Ulster try to battle towards the line. Then Doak found Lowry who is as quick as ever, nimbly finds his way in between two defenders and finishes it off.
Try disallowed for Ulster. A neck roll in the build-up and TMO rules it out.
Ulster 0 Exeter 0
10 mins: Ulster drive hard and win a penalty, Stewart ran out of room on the sideline and it’s back for the penalty. Ulster opt for the posts.
Penalty missed by Ulster! Looked like the wind might have caught it and didn’t get purchase on it.
Ulster 0 Exeter 0
8 mins: Great acceleration by Varney finds a gap but again Ulster turn it over, with the match taking a rhythm of Exeter possession then turnover. Another knock-on and Ulster have a chance to get into the Exeter half.
6 mins: Several phases for Exeter as they recycle side to side but then Exeter scrumhalf Steve Varney takes his eye off the ball and drops it.
3 mins: Great atmosphere at Ravenhill as Exeter have some early possession but McCloskey steals the ball and they win a scrum. But Exeter win a penalty from the scrum and take it quickly, playing with great pace so far.
The teams are coming onto the field, here are the starting teams in Belfast:
ULSTER: Mike Lowry; Zac Ward, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Sam Crean, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson (capt), Cormac Izuchukwu; Dave McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus.
EXETER CHIEFS: Ben Hammersley; Campbell Ridl, Henry Slade, Len Ikitau, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; Harvey Skinner, Steve Varney; Scott Sio, Max Norey, Bachuki Tchumbadze; Dafydd Jenkins (capt), Andrea Zambonin; Tom Hooper, Christ Tshiunza, Ross Vintcent.
It’s a win for Leinster after a tense finish, 29-25 against Toulon, and they’re in the Champions Cup final. Can Ulster make it two Irish teams from two in European finals?
For the next while, I will be covering Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon, it’s well poised there at 14-11 at half-time. If you would like to follow along, click here.
Check out John O’Sullivan’s profile on Jacob Stockdale, and his transformation as a player over the years.
Jacob Stockdale broke try records in his 20s. Now, he has a new take on performance
Earlier this month, Jacob Stockdale said goodbye to his 20s, a decade in which he broke Six Nations and Ireland try-scoring records, won a Grand Slam (2018) and was voted player of the tournament, scored a match-defining try in a win over New Zealand, wore the green in a World Cup in Japan and crossed for 20 tries in 42 caps, all bar one in the starting team.
There were disappointments too. Stockdale won and lost his place on the national team, missed the 2023 World Cup in France, made just three starts in the Six Nations from 2021 to 2026 – he has a brilliant strike-rate of 11 tries in 18 matches in that tournament to date – and during the period languished in a quasi Test match purgatory, tantalised by the occasional summer or November series outing.
In Ulster colours he’s scored 51 tries in 148 games, on the left wing, at fullback and in the centre, suffered an injury that kept him sidelined for a season, and several more that were inopportune in timing and consequence, all the while seeking to be the talisman that his talent suggested.
The pain and suffering have been part of a maturation process, but perhaps too the realisation that being overly self-critical can be harmful, draining the reservoir of confidence to critical levels. When fit and focused, Stockdale has few if any peers in an attacking capacity. He invariably beats the first defender, engages multiple tacklers and is a premier exponent of the chip and chase tactic.
Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale makes a break past Owen Watkin of Ospreys. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ulster’s game against Exeter Chiefs in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup from the Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Ulster have a chance to win their first European trophy since 1999 and are well-placed with a home game against Exeter Chiefs. Who will prove a formidable challenge, having knocked out Munster in a previous round. But home advantage should count for something and Ulster have been boosted by some key players returning from injury. Kick-off is 5.30pm
Here are the teams:
ULSTER: Mike Lowry; Zac Ward, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Sam Crean, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson (capt), Cormac Izuchukwu; Dave McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus.
Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom McAllister, Charlie Irvine, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Ethan McIlroy
EXETER CHIEFS: Ben Hammersley; Campbell Ridl, Henry Slade, Len Ikitau, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; Harvey Skinner, Steve Varney; Scott Sio, Max Norey, Bachuki Tchumbadze; Dafydd Jenkins (capt), Andrea Zambonin; Tom Hooper, Christ Tshiunza, Ross Vintcent.
Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Ethan Burger, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Rus Tuima, Finn Worley-Brady, Tom Cairns, Will Haydon-Wood, Nick Lilley.