By Adam McKendry
Ulster Rugby 28
Barbarians 43
In an entertaining post-season clash at the Kingspan Stadium, the mercurial Barbarians bested a development Ulster side, winning 43-28 in a rain-soaked clash.
As well as their standard free-flowing rugby, the Barbarians showed plenty of forward grunt through three maul tries and a penalty try off a scrum as they finished their two game summer tour with victory.
Although they faded at the end, Ulster started stronger and had two early scores - Stuart McCloskey the architect of both, finishing the first one with a powerful run and kicking through for debutant Mark Keane to score the second.
Glasgow hooker Corey Flynn got the Baa-Baas on the board from a maul, and they added a second soon after when an overlap on the right gave rampaging Fijian centre Waisea Nayacalevu a walk in try.
Running rugby ✅
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) June 1, 2017
11 tries ✅@RogerWilson8 conversion ✅@TitiDusautoir conversion ✅
This game had it all. Thanks @Barbarian_FC#ULSvBAR
Another maul try followed soon after, this time Chris King emerging from the bottom, but Ulster retook the lead through a maul try of their own through a surprise scorer in centre Callum Patterson.
That would prove the end of Ruan Pienaar's Ulster career, the Springbok nine kicking the conversion and departing to rapturous applause.
But the touring side would lead at the break, King again popping up at the back of a maul that went over the line for a slender one point lead at the interval.
Ian Madigan starts proceedings in the 2nd half. Two changes: @rickylutton & @kmccall3 for Rodney Ah You & @WarwickAndy #ULSvBAR #SUFTUMLive
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) June 1, 2017
After the restart Ulster regained the advantage, scrum half Paul Marshall tapping a quick penalty and offloading to lock Alan O'Connor who bashed his way over for the seven-pointer.
It was then the turns of Ulster number eight Roger Wilson and Ireland prop Mike Ross to leave the field to standing ovations - their marked careers coming to an end a few minutes apart.
After that the Barbarians took control of the tie, their dominant pack coming to the fore again in winning a penalty try and then a clever screen move put Nayacalevu over for his second of the game and the Baa-Baas' sixth.
Ulster should have got another one back when a brilliant move put Marshall in only for the replacement to inexplicably drop the ball right at the line.
At the other end the Barbarians thought they had a seventh when a brilliant length of the field effort saw Alex Goode the end recipient and scorer, only for the TMO to bring it back for a high hit by Chris Masoe, a tackle that saw the Racing 92 flanker sin binned.
But it didn't matter, and they added some gloss to the final score as they counter-attacked late with pace, a move that saw Joe Tekori go over for the seventh try they thought they had a few minutes prior.
FULL-TIME
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) June 1, 2017
We win 43-28
Thanks @UlsterRugby for hosting us & to everyone for their support 👏👌💯#rugby #rugbyunited
Man of the Match Thierry Dusautoir converted, a fitting way for the legendary France flanker to cap off his final ever rugby appearance.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: McCloskey, Keane, Patterson, O'Connor
Cons: Wilson, Pienaar (2), Herron
For Barbarians
Tries: Flynn, Nayacalevu (2), King (2), Penalty, Tekori
Cons: Agulla, Madigan (2), Dusautoir
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Peter Nelson, Mark Keane, Callum Patterson, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy, Brett Herron, Ruan Pienaar; (1-8) Andy Warwick, Rob Herring, Rodney Ah You, Alan O'Connor, Peter Browne, Matthew Rea, Clive Ross, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Ross Kane, Stephen Mulholland, Chris Henry, David Shanahan, Callum Smith, Ricky Lutton.
BARBARIANS
(15-9) Alex Goode, David Smith, Waisea Nayacalevu, Robbie Fruean, Horacio Agulla, Ian Madigan, Rory Kockott; (1-8) Chris King, Corey Flynn, Mike Ross, Paul Willemse, Patricio Albacete, Joe Tekori, Thierry Dusautoir, Facundo Isa.
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Vincent Pelo, Census Johnston, Jeremy Thrush, Chris Masoe, Kahn Fotuali'i, Brock James, Jean-Marcellin Buttin.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Man of the Match: Thierry Dusautoir (Barbarians)