Clermont’s mauling of Ulster may drive them

CLERMONT 53 ULSTER 14

A humbling on French soil, as Ulster’s Challenge Cup bid came to a humiliating end in the quarter-final stage at the Stade Marcel-Michelin at the hands of a rampant Clermont.

Seven tries conceded, including 33 unanswered points after the half-time break, in what was hoped to be another step forward for Richie Murphy’s men. It turned into a galling reflection on the size of the task he has on his hands at Ravenhill if he is to turn Ulster around.

It is bizarre to say that Ulster had been legitimately in the tie just six points down at half-time thanks to Nick Timoney’s brace of tries, but after the break they were torn apart at will.

And while Murphy did not shy away from admitting they were a long way off the mark required to win the game, he instead opted to try and focus on the positives of what he is trying to build with the province.

“You look at the team that finished on the pitch, it’s a young team,” opined the interim coach of his side which, at the final whistle, featured 11 players aged 26 or under, including 21-yearold tighthead prop Scott Wilson.

“With the injuries we picked up throughout the game, we had to make a few changes, but the experience of being here [will be good]. Yes, we’re coming off a big loss, but that hurt will hopefully drive the lads on a little bit. We’re very aware of where we are at this moment in time.

“These games can swing on a moment and their try after halftime gives them the confidence to go on and win the game, whereas at 7-0 if we’d got another score after that then it could have been a very different day. The scoreboard pressure swings the crowd pressure and that swings on top of you.

“We weren’t good enough today, a lot we need to look at. There’s loads of improvements but we knew that before today.” Scorers — ASM Clermont: P Yato, PG Sowakula 2 tries each; A Newsome, R Simmons, J Jurand try each; A Belleau 2 pens, 4 cons; Delguy, Bezy con each. Ulster: N Timoney 2 tries; J Cooney 2 cons.

Clermont: A Newsome; B Delguy, L Darricarrere, J Heriteau, A Raka (J Jurand 68); A Belleau (T Giral 68), B Jauneau (S Bezy 56); G Beria (D Bibi Biziwu 54), Y Behergaray (E Fourcade 50), R Slimani (G Dzmanashvili 54); T Lanen (R Simmons 54), T Lavanini (A Fischer 68); K Tixeront, P Yato (A Fischer 50-62 HIA), P-G Sowakula.

Ulster: S Moore (E McIlroy 6); R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, M Lowry; N Doak (J Flannery 65), J Cooney; S Kitshoff (A Warwick 56), R Herring (T Stewart 40), T O’Toole (S Wilson 51); A O’Connor (C Izuchukwu 65), I Henderson (D Ewers 40); H Sheridan, D McCann, N Timoney (Marcus Rea 54).

Referee: C Ridley (England)