Ulster match winner Wilson 'has huge potential'

Scott Wilson made a match-winning contribution off the bench and was named player of the match

Prop Scott Wilson, Ulster's match winner against the Dragons, "has a huge ceiling" in terms of his potential says the Irish province's assistant coach Dan Soper.

Ulster avoided a defeat that would have severely dented their hopes of finishing in the play-off places in the United Rugby Championship thanks to the replacement's impact off the bench.

Trailing by six points with nine minutes to play, Wilson, 22, made a tackle, turned the ball over and burst over for what would be a match-winning score in Newport.

John Cooney added the simple conversion and secured the 34-30 victory with a late penalty.

"He has a lot of potential, we know that and Scottie knows that," Ulster's assistant coach Soper said on Premier Sport.

"He is working really hard at the nuts and bolts of his game.

"That's awesome for a tight-head prop to be doing, there's no doubting his impact was massive, but his scrum, maul and line-out role - they are going to be the things to create an opportunity for Scottie to nail down a spot in this team and go on to greater things."

The result moves Ulster from 14th to ninth in the table, with the top eight teams qualifying for the URC play-offs and a place in the Champions Cup rugby next season.

On the whole, Ulster have had an injury-hit and disappointing campaign, but have now picked up back-to-back wins over Scarlets and Dragons.

The Welsh side led 24-14 at half-time and only relinquished that lead for the first time when Cooney converted Wilson's superb solo try.

Soper admits it was a "nervy" win and but says Ulster have "never had an easy game" away to the Dragons - who are bottom of the URC with one win in 13 matches.

"We've got a habit of being in games like that, where there is no clear margin either way.

"It was nervy, but we're delighted that the guys found a way in the last quarter of the match to get the job done."

Soper added that Ulster kept "feeding the Dragons opportunities" with errors and poor discipline, and says that will have to change if they are to continue their push for the top eight.

Ulster play Stormers, who are one point ahead of Richie Murphy's side in the crucial eighth place, at home on Friday before their last-16 tie in the Investec Champions Cup away to Bordeaux.

"That's something we are trying to address because the league is so tight. The swing of a penalty here or there can decide the game," added Soper.

"We just keep giving teams opportunities through indiscipline."