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Gareth Fullerton

Ulster lose again as Stephen Ferris offers damning verdict

Stephen Ferris was ready for the airport after watching Ulster's shocking run of form continue with a 31-29 defeat to Benetton.

Dan McFarland's side were expected to get back to winning ways in Italy but were found wanting once again.

Ulster have now lost five of their last six games across all competitions, leaving under-fire coach McFarland with plenty of work to do ahead of back-to-back European games against La Rochelle and Sale.

Read more: Context key for Dan McFarland as Ulster bid to get season up and running again

"I am away to get the plane. I can't take any more of this," Ferris initially joked on Viaplay after watching Saturday's defeat.

"Really disappointing. As an Ulster fan and someone who watches them week in, week out, that rut is getting deeper.

"Take out their maul, they are offering nothing in attack. They can't hold onto the ball well.

"Their multi-phase seems to be all over the shop. Defensively, just not sound.

"So I can't just point my finger on one thing that isn't making Ulster click. There are so many things."

Ferris added: "Rob Herring scored off the back of a maul. You see this so many times.

"And the chat around fans, former players and pundits is, Ulster have a really good maul. That's all we're sort of talking about in recent times.

"They have to move away from that. They need to find another gear to their game and they just don't have it."

Ulster scored four tries in Italy to secure two bonus points, but it was little consolation as they fell short against a Benetton side who have proved tough to beat at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

Ferris was left feeling deflated after Ulster threatened a comeback win before being denied by Rhyno Smith's late penalty which went over via the inside of the post.

Benetton’s Sebastian Negri and Michele Lamaro celebrate (INPHO/Luca Sighinolfi)

"It was (Mike) Lowry that was the spark to get Ulster back into the game and he did well for his try. We haven't seen it much recently, the back three players getting involved and trying to create something," Ferris added.

"Lowry just put the head down and he barrels over for a score. This was the lifeline, but could they hold onto it? Unfortunately not.

"The penalty try was an easy one and at that stage I thought there was only one team that was going to win it.

"Then there was a costly offside from John Cooney who I thought played very well today."

Next up for Ulster is a huge European showdown with La Rochelle before another Champions Cup outing against Sale.

Ferris said: "It won't get any easier for Ulster. They have a couple of big games coming up.

"They just need to regroup and you have to stick together in moments like this. If you don't, it can become very fractured, very quickly.

"You start pointing the finger at coaches and players, and it will be very intriguing to hear what Dan McFarland's post-match interview will be this week, because it wasn't great last week."

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