Welcome to the Red Hand Podcast and happy new year!

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who listen, read, contribute and join in the chat and debate about all things Ulster Rugby. It is hugely appreciated.

The Red Hand is the most popular and, in my humble opinion, the best Ulster Rugby podcast out there. We have another big year ahead so please join us!

Anyway, The Red Hand’s trajectory is an arrow pointing upwards but Ulster’s trajectory is currently uncertain to put it kindly… it has been a tough few weeks and Ulster are in the midst of a crisis.

The game on Sunday finished 15-14 as Munster sealed a dramatic win on New Year’s day in Belfast. A late Ben Healy try and conversion completed the remarkable comeback after Ulster went in at half time up 9-0.

Dan McFarland lambasted his side after the final whistle saying they were ‘we were terrible… it’s a big issue. I’m very concerned.’

Ulster basically stopped playing and, full credit to Munster, they took advantage.

Dan himself is now under some pressure. Dan has been an unbelievable coach for Ulster but he’s desperately searching for answers to questions that didn’t exist a month ago when Ulster were riding high and up at half-time to Leinster. Their world has come crashing down since.

On this episode we’ll be talking about Ulster’s capitulation on Sunday (and in the last few weeks) and what they can do to sort it out as we look ahead to Benetton and Champions Cup fixtures in the coming weeks.

I’m joined by Nathan Johns, Jack Fogarty, Caolan Scully and Paul Mcintyre to discuss.