With an intense period of fixtures in recent weeks, Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland made a number of changes to the side that lost to Benetton with Alan O'Connor, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen, Nathan Doak, Ian Madigan, Luke Marshall and Rob Lyttle all starting for the Ulster men.
The weather conditions were extremely harsh for both sides with the wind and rain swirling around.
It was weather more associated with Belfast than an evening on the French coast.
Despite being considered the underdogs against an in-form La Rochelle, Ulster began the match on the front foot. The difficult conditions were on show from the off as both sides struggled to get a grip on an extremely wet and slippery ball.
Ulster out half Nathan Doak spotted an opportunity to cause chaos with the swirling conditions by kicking the ball towards La Rochelle's 22 and inviting Ulster to crank the pressure on through chasing.
With the wind behind them Ulster piled on the pressure and were getting early opportunities to test the home side's big, physical defence.
Ulster were edging closer and in one play it looked like they had found space in the centre but Kieran Treadwell's pass to Nick Timoney was spilled as the conditions gave little room for any error.
Then a let-off for Ulster as a penalty led to the French out half, Antoine Hastoy, choosing to kick. His kick bounced off the post to leave Ulster unscathed in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
Ulster suffered an early setback as stalwart inside centre Luke Marshall had to come off injured and was replaced by Ben Moxham, a late replacement to the squad, after Billy Burns pulled up in the warm up.
Ulster thought they had the opening try of the match after great mauling after a line-out but a TMO check confirmed that the ball had just slipped out of Nick Timoney's control as he tried to ground.
Ulster's attacks and mauls were continuing to batter the French defence and forced three penalties in a row.
Referee Nika Amashukeli decided enough was enough and yellow carded La Rochelle's Boudehent, sending him to the sin bin.
Not long after Ulster thought again that they had gotten a try after Rob Lyttle kicked through the La Rochelle wing to touch down but his play wasn't be to rewarded as the TMO check showed that Jacob Stockdale's pass was forward.
At half time, Ulster had the dominant half in the awful conditions but with all the pressure in the La Rochelle half they would be disappointed to not have a score on the board.
HT: 0-0
As the second half started Ulster knew they would be facing against the wind and face a home side eager to get started.
Some good early field position meant they started the half well and their front foot showing forced La Rochelle into a penalty. The referee had to intervene after a scuffle broke out following a high tackle on Nathan Doak that left the young out half clutching his throat.
With temperatures raised on the pitch, Ulster were starting to come under pressure deep inside their own half. Captain Iain Henderson lead by example by relieving pressure after stealing a La Rochelle line-out that Nathan Doak booted clear.
Minutes later close to Ulster's whitewash, it was the captain again stepping up as Henderson had a huge jackal at the breakdown, managing to steal the ball from La Rochelle that saw his teammates roar in awe of his actions.
With the team fighting such a huge physical side, Ulster rang the changes which saw Harry Sheridan make his senior Ulster debut and Eric O'Sullivan on for Rory Sutherland. Iain Henderson's night came to an end after a HIA that saw David McCann replace him.
Ulster got points on the board after 63 minutes with Nathan Doak kicking a penalty to send the away side 0-3 up. Reward for their efforts in withstanding the pressure.
La Rochelle cranked up the pressure that saw Ulster batter off wave after wave of attack. La Rochelle were looking to use their huge front row to win scrums and drive them towards a try. The last few minutes turned into a nail biter for Ulster fans as Antoine Hastoy produced a 50-22 kick that placed a lineout in Ulster's territory.
But the intelligent kick wasn't to be rewarded as the referee adjudged the throw to be off line and Ulster got some breathing space.
It wasn't to last for long as Ulster suffered late heartbreak again, a late penalty in the 78th minute gave La Rochelle a lineout deep in Ulster's 22.
After trying to withstand the waves of French pressure, La Rochelle got the breakthrough as prop Joel Scalvi powered his way over the try line on the final play to break Ulster's resolve and settle a tightly contested match.
Ulster return to Belfast with a losing bonus point but with pride in their performance.
FT: 7-3
Scorers:
La Rochelle:
TRY: Scalvi
CON: Hastoy
Ulster:
PEN: Doak
Teams:
Ulster:
(1-8) Rory Sutherland, Rob Herring, Jeff Toomaga Allen, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (C), Nick Timoney, Duane Vermuelen.
(15-9) Mike Lowry, Rob Lyttle, Stewart Moore, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale, Ian Madigan, Nathan Doak.
Replacements: Andrew, O'Sullivan, Warwick, Sheridan, McCann, McDonald, Burns, McIlroy.
La Rochelle:
(1-8) Thierry Paiva, Samuel Lagrange, Georges Henri Colombe; Ultan Dillane, Rémi Picquette; Remi Bourdeau, Paul Boudehent, Grégory Alldritt (C).
(15-9) Brice Dulin; Teddy Thomas, UJ Seuteni, Jules Favre, Pierre Boudehent; Antoine Hastoy, Thomas Berjon.
Replacements: Lespiaucq, Wardi, Sclavi, Sazy, Hatherell, Kerr-Barlow, Popelin, Rhule.