Yahoo Sports 'Panic mode' - Why do Ulster 'snowball' in games?
"Instead of conceding points, regrouping and working your way back into the game, it's almost like a panic mode hits in."
As Ian Humphreys sums up, and in a familiar story of Ulster's season, it was a disappointing night at the office against Leicester in the Investec Champions Cup.
It had started well for Ulster, too, as Richie Murphy's youthful side - chasing their first points in Europe this season - raced into a 10-point lead at Welford Road.
But after Leicester hit back, Josh Bassett scored in the final play of the half to give the English side a lead they would not relinquish.
What followed has become a worrying trend as Leicester scored five more tries to make it 38 points on the board without reply.
It is familiar territory for Ulster. Against Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship in October, they conceded 21 unanswered points as they squandered a 19-0 lead to lose 21-19.
After a hammering by European champions Toulouse, Bordeaux scored 26 points on the bounce to hand Ulster another defeat, despite Murphy's side having been in the game for much of the contest.
"It will be very disappointing, especially after such a good performance away to Connacht last week," Humphreys said on BBC Radio Ulster.
"They came here with high hopes and the first half looked really good. For me, the frustrating and concerning thing is how quickly they seem to snowball.
"I'm not sure if it's panic or a lack of experience in certain positions.
"They concede a try, they concede a penalty, they concede a try and then the game is gone within the space of five or 10 minutes."
This season has, at times, been brutal for Ulster and their Champions Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after three heavy defeats.
There is, of course, one clear and obvious reason as to why Ulster have struggled so badly this season.
Injuries have crippled the squad. Not only the number of them, but the experience of players who have been impacted - particularly in the backline - is impossible to overlook.
Ireland internationals Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey, Robert Baloucoune, Michael Lowry and James Hume were all missing through injury against Leicester.
In the forward pack, international hookers Rob Herring and Tom Stewart were also absent, while Tom O'Toole is suspended.
Of the back line that started the game, full-back Ethan McIlroy and wing Zac Ward were also forced off with injury. Sprung from the bench against Leicester were Rory Telfer, Corrie Barrett, Jack Murphy and James McCormick, all of whom are new to this level of rugby.
"That little bit of inexperience showed at the back end of the game and it got away from us," Murphy told Premier Sports.
"It's a big part of it. We're missing quite a lot of experienced players. We finished the game with a back line, where if you take the scrum half and a winger out, the rest of them are 21 years of age.
"They are very inexperienced at this level but they'll grow from it. It's not going to be our Champions Cup this year but there has been some really big learnings in it for these young lads."
While the experienced Iain Henderson returned from injury to captain the side, former European Cup winner Tony WcWhirter questioned the decision to withdraw the Ireland second row and veteran prop Andrew Warwick when Leicester's lead stretched to double figures.
"Our concern after half-time was if Leicester scored first it could get away from them and that's where the experience would be needed," McWhirter said.
"To take those guys off left Ulster quite callow in terms of the experience they had up front. "
With every cloud there is a silver lining. Despite a retched European campaign, victory over Exeter in their final Pool 1 match in Belfast could lead to a Challenge Cup campaign in Europe's second tier.
Even progression in the Champions Cup is still on the cards, even if those hopes are somewhat slim.
Exeter are also pointless, and have just one win in the Premiership all season.
"We just bounce every week and whoever we have available, we go with it," added Murphy.
"We'll dust ourselves off, see who is fit and come up with a plan to try and beat Exeter.
"If we beat Exeter we might end up in the Challenge Cup, so that's our new goal."
