Ulster interim head coach, Richie Murphy, said that despite a positive start in the contest, a number of errors allowed the home side to get vital momentum in the game and take control in the second half.
Clermont Analysis
“Obviously we had a pretty good start that got us 0-7 up, we then didn’t look after the ball well enough and our own exit. There were times where we tried to play out rather than just getting the ball further up the park. Before half-time we probably gave away 13 points on the back of that then we got ourselves back in the game at half-time. But we weren’t accurate enough in the second half, we struggled with the power of Clermont and anyone who has been here can tell you how tough it is when they get on top of you.
Once the momentum goes against you, we lost a few set pieces too, coughed up a bit of ball under defensive pressure from Clermont and they punished us on the back of that."
Young team
"You look at the team that finished the game, it’s a young team. With the injuries we picked up during the game, we had to make quite a few changes. That experience of being here and although we are coming off a heavy loss, that pain of experiencing the loss can drive the guys on.
We are aware of where we are at this moment. These games can swing on a few different moments, their try just after half-time gives them the confidence to go and win the game. If we scored after the early 0-7, it could have been a very different day but the scoreboard pressure swings the crowd pressure and it all got on top of us. We weren’t good enough today and there are a lot of stuff we need to look at and make those improvements."
Cardiff focus
"We have a different competition now, we have to try qualify in the top 8 of the URC. We have two home games, we have played four away games over the past four weeks. To have two home games in a row is a new focus and we will have to rotate some of our players because they have been through a tough few weeks. There will be an opportunity for other guys to come in and stake a claim for the jersey."
Nathan Doak said that the match showed the areas of Ulster's game that need improvement but that focus would quickly turn to the URC and Cardiff at Kingspan Stadium.
Clermont thoughts
“Humbling for us, we had a lot of travel coming into this game and I was confident that we could come over and do something here, as we all believe in ourselves. It didn’t work out for us today but there is a game this week, we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We need to improve, go again, get better and make sure when we get back back in front of our fans that we make it a lot better than this weekend.
Errors
“First and second half, the small details that aren’t there yet. It will take a bit of time. If we can tidy up a few things we can stop putting as much pressure on ourselves and we can stay in games more. We struggle a bit in transition, there a number of things we can pick out but it’s important to try and stay positive. We can see the things that we are trying to work on and we want to keep going down that route.
This game is done and we have to prepare for Cardiff. The target is the play-offs, that’s how this team will grow and find out more about ourselves. "
Fan support
"We have to stick together, try get better and the fans stick with us, I know they will, the travelling support over here was great and the fans had a lot of time for us at the end of the game. It’s great to feel that support and going back home we have to deliver something for ourselves and our fans."