Ulster went down to Leinster 38 points to 19 at home at the Kingspan Stadium, but the main talking point of the game was how bad Cork referee Frank Murphy was. It wasn’t just the red card for Ulster’s Andrew Warwick but the inconsistency in his refereeing that frustrated everyone watching and playing the match. Twitter as you can expected had it’s say on the Irish referee’s performance and it wasn’t a kind place.
RED CARD:
31 mins:
Ulster 12-17 Leinster.
Ulster's Andrew Warwick sent off for leading with the elbow on Ed Byrne.#ULSvLEI #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/uzHGU37L1U
— eir Sport (@eirSport) March 6, 2021
Another inter-pro game that, unfortunately, has run away from Frank Murphy
Too many penalties. Too many cards.
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) March 6, 2021
As a Connacht fan, it's kinda nice to be a neutral witness other Irish provinces bear witness to Frank Murphy's inconsistent shithousery #ULSvLEI
— Éanna (@eanna_e) March 6, 2021
"I'm certainly going to talk about them, but that will be done in private.
"But I've got a lot to say."
FT: Ulster 19-38 Leinster.
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland hints he is unhappy with referee Frank Murphy's failure to show a red card to Leinster tonight.#ULSvLEI pic.twitter.com/p6GnyguzXF
— eir Sport (@eirSport) March 6, 2021
"I think Rhys Ruddock could make the decision to get away.
"You are obviously in disagreement."
FT: Ulster 19-38 Leinster.@TommyBowe and @Gordonwdarcy disagree over whether referee Frank Murphy was right to disallow Robert Baloucoune's try on 50 minutes.#ULSvLEI pic.twitter.com/IrJlC9u91c
— eir Sport (@eirSport) March 6, 2021
Leinster are now through to the final where thy will take on Munster, but you can understand Ulster’s frustrations. Anytime Frank Murphy referee’s the game it tends to be about him rather than rugby and it was no different on Saturday night up in Belfast.
Some of his decisions effectively killed the game as a competition and made it a bad watch and a disappointing watch for everyone watching the game, questions will have to be asked of Frank Murphy.