Murphy promises new focus after Ulster are demolished by Clermont

ULSTER interim coach Richie Murphy said they will regroup after a seven tries to two hammering in France and focus on nailing a knockout spot in the URC after bowing out of the Challenge Cup in dismal fashion.

All four of Murphy’s game in charge since he switched from the Ireland U20s following the sacking of Dan McFarland have been in South Africa and France and now he’s targeting successive home games against Cardiff and Benetton to rescue their season. Murphy said: “We’ll look at it as a chance to learn and improve but ultimately this doesn’t define our season. We’ve a totally different competition to go into and that’s where our focus will be.”

But he will go into those games with injury concerns around his skipper Iain Henderson, hooker Rob Herring, full-back Stewart Moore and double World Cup-winning prop Steven Kitschoff after the four went off injured at Stade Marcel Michelin.

Nick Timoney’s second try just before the break, just as the game seemed to be slipping away from them, gave Ulster a fighting chance as they went in trailing by 20-14.

But they were thrashed 33-0 after the break as Clermont took control against a rudderless Ulster side who faded dreadfully after Henderson and Herring went off at the break.

Such an outcome did not seem likely during

an opening half when Ulster had 66 per cent territory. Timoney’s 10th try in 17 appearances this season gave them a perfect start after 13 minutes when he forced his way over in the fourth phase off a tapped penalty.

Clermont hit back and Fijian flanker Peceli Yato cantered through after a good blindside snipe from scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau and the boot of Anthony Belleau pushed the lead to 13-7 after 33 minutes.

Twice capped All Black Pita-Gus Sowakula scored off a lineout, before Timoney gave Ulster some hope when he scored with the clock deep in the red after a penalty to the left corner.

However, it was a false dawn as Ulster fell to pieces after the restart. Full-back Alex Newsome scored down the left after a neat offload from the superb Alivereti Raka as the three-time Challenge Cup champions Clermont took control.

Sowakula, who was also capped at basketball for Fiji, again supplied the finish after a good drive from a lineout.

Clermont, who will now face the Sharks at The Stoop in the semi-finals, didn’t relent and they completed the rout as Yato got his second and experienced Aussie Rob Simmons and Joris Jurand scored off the bench.