Michael Sadlier

Ulster head coach rallies his players ahead of Bilbao showdown

Well, that was extremely painful viewing for Ulster. They ended up being cooked in the cauldron that was the San Mamés Stadium, where Montpellier's superior firepower and accuracy was just too hot to handle.

There wasn’t an awful lot to be said after that.

Seeking explanations seemed intrusive as Ulster came to terms with what had happened on a blisteringly hot and humid night in Bilbao.

He was one of the very few who showed a consistent capacity to live with his opponents, and this on Robert Baloucoune’s first game back since March.

Any capacity for the merest sliver of doubt surrounding this result had long since taken its leave of the stadium when La Marseillaise began to ring round the place.

At times he sat with head bowed, the relative sanctity of the team bus awaiting and a quick spin to the airport and out that night from this place.

Ulster Rugby’s frustrating season ends in URC heartbreak and a brutal Challenge Cup Final loss to Montpellier. Explore the full A-Z review now.