Former Ulster centre Darren Cave has described some criticism of Dan McFarland’s facet as “nonsensical” after heavy defeats by Leinster and Sale.
Ulster misplaced 38-29 to rivals Leinster within the URC earlier than a 39-0 defeat by Sale within the Heineken Champions Cup on Sunday.
Cave mentioned requires McFarland to lose his job as head coach went too far.
“The quantity of nonsense I have been unlucky sufficient to learn – it is 10 occasions as nonsensical as what was produced on the pitch,” he mentioned.
Cave, chatting with BBC Radio Ulster’s Sportsound Further Time, mentioned he had learn that “McFarland ought to lose his job, the Ulster staff goes backwards, the supporters ought to be provided refunds and gamers are paid an excessive amount of”.
“The usual of European Rugby is exceptionally excessive on the minute,” he added.
“The Premiership may be very robust and we’ve taken out two or three of the worst Welsh groups and put in South African groups.
“Ulster, on the minute, usually are not adequate to win that trophy and it is so simple as that. They would not say that, however that is the actual fact.”
Ulster raced right into a 22-3 lead over 14-man Leinster early in December however conceded 35 factors with out reply as their Irish rivals pulled off a crushing 38-29 victory regardless of their man drawback.
McFarland’s males struggled from the off at Sale and a 39-0 defeat leaves their hopes of development hanging by a thread.
Heavy snow and ice meant Ulster solely arrived in England on the morning of the sport after their authentic journey plans had been cancelled, and Cave imagine it “wasn’t supreme” however cannot be blamed for the end result.
“They will not be utilizing that as an excuse,” he mentioned, earlier than describing the Sale defeat as a “capitulation”.
“Leinster, the day earlier than, had run into some issues with journey preparations of getting over to France and so they pulled off a end result [a 42-10 victory over Racing Metro].
“I believe off the again of what occurred within the RDS the week earlier than, it definitely was the worst back-to-back – I believe it was 120 minutes if you happen to embody the second half in Leinster – that I’ve seen from Ulster in a very long time.”
Ulster can beat La Rochelle
Former Eire centre Cave added that whereas “this Ulster staff is just not able to being high of Europe, it’s a staff that ought to be aggressive in Europe”.
“They’re higher than producing performances and outcomes like that however, for me, this was a staff that was a whisker away from profitable the league final yr,” he mentioned.
“Proper now, they’re sitting OK within the league and a number of the stuff I’ve learn has been nonsensical, to be sincere.
“With the way in which the Champions Cup is now, being two huge swimming pools, to not solely to lose the sport however to have a -39 factors differential and no dropping bonus factors – these are the issues that can make it arduous to overturn.
“If Ulster did not get to the final 16 in Europe however acquired to a different the ultimate within the league or pushed to win one other league, I do not assume that may be a foul season for them, though it could be a bitter tablet to swallow.”
Reigning champions La Rochelle, coached by former Munster and Eire fly-half Ronan O’Gara, journey to Belfast for the second spherical of European fixtures however Cave believes it could not be a shock to see Ulster come away with a victory.
“Typically that may be a good factor to get straight again on the horse towards a very good staff,” he mentioned.
“The opposite facet of it’s, and I have been fairly blunt about it, the highest groups in Europe are higher than Ulster.
“In saying that, would I be astounded if we beat La Rochelle on Saturday? Completely not.
“Ulster are greater than succesful, and it’s within the DNA for the previous 20 or 25 years – beating huge French groups, normally at house, so they’re greater than able to turning this round.
“If I used to be in that Ulster group what would I need? Effectively, you have the European champions, coached by Ronan O’Gara, coming into city.
“I do not assume it could be that a lot of a shock if Ulster turned them over.”
