Tommy Bowe has backed Aaron Sexton after last week's costly error against Leinster.
Sexton missed out on what could have been a pivotal try in the 20-13 defeat after failing to ground the ball following a last-ditch hit from Charlie Ngatai.
Former Ireland and Ulster star Bowe says he has sympathy for the 22-year-old former sprint champion, but insists the Malone star's time will come.
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Bowe told BBC's The Ulster Rugby Show: "Of course a lot of fingers are going to be pointed at him.
"He should have grounded the ball, absolutely. But I think the man who is accountable for that is Mike Lowry. Mike took too much out of the ball and could have given it to him quickly and Aaron would have got in without anyone putting a finger on him.
"I think the quick throw-in was obviously an error for Leinster's second try.
"But Aaron Sexton plays for Malone in Division 1B in the AIL. It is hard to play at that level and then step up to play against Leinster.
"The levels are insane."
Bowe also hit out at the Emerging Ireland squad selections, which saw Ulster players including Robert Baloucoune, Tom Stewart and Nathan Doak travel to South Africa.
He believes the tour would have better suited the development of a player like Sexton, who starts on the bench for Ulster's United Rugby Championship clash with Ospreys on Saturday night..
"Listen, in my opinion the big gripe over this whole thing is the Emerging Ireland. Aaron Sexton should have been in South Africa carving it up," Bowe added.
"We in Ulster are so fortunate to have a player like Aaron Sexton. He is the fastest rugby player in Ireland. Faster than Robert Baloucoune, faster than Jordan Larmour, faster than Keith Earls and Shane Daly down in Munster.
"He is rapid. But in a game with rain coming in like that (against Leinster), for one of his first opportunities, just wasn't fair.
"If he played for Emerging Ireland against the Griquas he probably would have scored a hat-trick and Robert Baloucoune, who shouldn't be there, should have been playing here last weekend where he could show exactly his worth.
"It frustrates me this tour because you think of Robert Baloucoune who would have started for Ulster, Tom Stewart would have been on the bench, Nathan Doak would have been on the bench.
"Then all of a sudden you are talking about Ulster's strength in depth and would have been so much stronger coming off the bench and would have really taken it to Leinster even more.
"Yes, Leinster had seven players over there but Max Deegan would probably have been the only player who might have started. Chances are he wouldn't.
"That's another reason I know Dan McFarland must be frustrated. Leinster come to Ulster and it's the biggest game of the season, apart from European Cup, and we didn't have a full deck of cards.
"And of course you're missing Iain Henderson and Duane Vermeulen who are two big guys up front.
"It is brilliant for those guys to play and try and impress in front of the Ireland squad, but I thought this was a better test for them to put their hand up here."
Ulster team to play Ospreys
- (15-9): Michael Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle, Ian Madigan, John Cooney;
- (1-8): Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor (Captain), Sam Carter, Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Duane Vermeulen.
- Replacements: Declan Moore, Andy Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Frank Bradshaw-Ryan, Marcus Rea, Dave Shanahan, Billy Burns, Aaron Sexton.
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