Ulster need 'honest conversations' after winless start

Ulster hooker Tom Stewart admits "I don't think I've come to the party well enough" and says the squad must have "honest conversations" after an underwhelming start to the season. Tom Stewart captained Ulster in Saturday's thrilling draw with Irish rivals Munster Successive draws with Glasgow and Munster after a loss to Edinburgh leaves Ulster winless in the United Rugby Championship before starting their Challenge Cup campaign away to Zebre next week. Head coach Richie Murphy said he was "bitterly disappointed" after his side were forced to fight back for a 26-26 draw with Munster, while Stewart questioned his own contributions to the game in Belfast. "From a personal point of view, I'm not happy with my performances about it.

I don't think I've come to the party well enough, I don't know if it's my preparation or the mental side to the game," said Stewart, who captained Ulster against Glasgow and Munster in the injured Iain Henderson's absence. "It's something I really need to have a look at and plan better or whatever it is, but I need to start understanding why that is the case." Stewart, who marked his seventh Ireland cap with a try against Japan over the summer, added: "From my own point of view, I need to properly watch back my intent in some of