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Ulster lift gloom with thumping Challenge Cup win over Montpellier

Ulster's James Hume (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Ulster have lifted the gloom hanging over the Irish province with a thumping 40-17 win on the road over Montpellier that has secured their spot in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

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Richie Murphy’s men staged an extraordinary comeback; the Ulstermen overcoming a 14-point deficit through a series of eye-catching tries.

With a CEO, head coach and a star signing all leaving or about the leave, there have been plenty of negative headlines following the Belfast-based side in recent weeks. Ulster shoved their off-field strife to the side however with the convincing victory over the Bernard Laporte-coached Top 14 side at the GGL Stadium.

Montpellier’s early lead – built on tries by Paul Willemse and Aubin Eymeri and the boot of Louis Foursans-Bourdette – crumbled following Willemse’s red card when the scoreline read 17-7 in favour of the hosts.

The French team’s discipline further deteriorated and it at one stage saw them temporarily reduced to just 12 men.

Indeed, the home side’s shocking discipline helped the visitors make a comeback with tries from Will Addison, Robert Baloucoune, Scott Wilson, David McCann, and Stuart McCloskey, overturning. A penalty try in the dying moments of the game sealed what was a comprehensive victory.

Fly-half John Cooney slotted home four conversions to add to the tally.

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Ulster’s triumph sets up an encounter against ASM Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel-Michelin next weekend.

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J
JW 16 minutes ago
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Good reads again John. I feel some moments at still within the team to improve, and hopefully some individuals to shine through. After Super Rugby where we were shown you can’t drop your guard at kick off several times in this series have the Lions caught their opposition out with quick throws and restarts, letting the ball go out in this game was a shocker (though the kick was honesty good enough to find the touch had they been ready). Tate tried to strip the try scored just before the half, where he could easily have just dove over the line with him and that pretty much would have been them going into the half with a 10 point lead or so. And in the last play they just didn’t work hard enough, especially one player, I forget who, when back into the ruck area given the Lions too much space wide.


I feel they also didn’t seem to show the same killer instinct once they were in front, playing it safe on a couple of breaks/momentum carries.


I also don’t really understand why Donaldson on the bench. I would much rather have someone you want on the pitch like Pietsch available in a 6/2 split with Gordon or Wright more than able to cover 10 imo. Tate was wonderful on the wing though. And of course lots more positives also present.


I really enjoyed how they were running onto the ball in close in around the ruck. Wilson was playing a different role I thought, he was more the one out man design for quick ball and he presented it as good as you can get all night. That said, he’s not first choice 8 is he, who is that again? Is Wright still injured? I worry that Joe is keeping him their and its dictating too much of the plan just because he has been given the captaincy role.


Will be interesting to see who he thinks might be work a shot in the first team this week, plenty of options. I watched the first quarter of last weeks midweek game and Tupou certainly wouldn’t be one on that list, might be worth a punt though. Think they have to try and work some plays for Bell too, hes got too much class just to be down on form, give him something to work with and I’m sure he’d be a standout as well.


Also seen enough to know Hunter isn’t suddenly going to turn into a class center, I would definitely stick with Joseph but maybe theres a window to put him onto the wing, despite what I said above, now? I think you also do him a disservice in his defending (like many are), he made the player go outside him. It’s the hardest backline spot, I’d be inclined to use him like a league back row and carry it from 12 more often, if that suits Len better.

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