After huge disappointment for Ulster fans, players, and management, and despite the best efforts of Kingspan Stadium grounds staff against the freezing elements, Ulster found themselves at an empty Aviva Stadium, against La Rochelle.
Ulster were also looking to bounce back from last week’s disappointment, but the opening exchanges showed that the French side were not going to take a backwards step. As a kick battle developed, Ulster found themselves offside, offering an early opportunity for fly half, Antonie Hastoy, to kick three points.
With a huge pack, a strong scrum would be important for Ulster. At the first set piece, Rory Sutherland, making his first start, was impressive holding the 25 stone, French international, Uini Atonio.
A penalty against Mike Lowry for losing his footing at the breakdown, after Stuart McCloskey was uncharacteristically knocked back in attack, allowed La Rochelle to kick back into the Ulster 22. Vermeulen tried to remove the threat of the monstrous Will Skelton in the maul, but referee Luke Pearce blew his whistle against the South African, allowing Hastoy to kick a second penalty and double the visitors lead.
Two penalties rapidly became three, as a good kick off the restart into space meant John Cooney had no option but to try and clear from a tight angle. But with his toe on the whitewash, the French side found themselves back on the attack. Shifting the ball wide early put Ulster on the back foot, and straying offside. Hastoy made no mistake once again and with 25 minutes played Ulster found themselves 9-0 down.
La Rochelle were trying some adventurous play, with an attempted cross field in their own 22. Billy Burns did well to gather the kick and Ulster started to build one of their first opportunities. However, inaccuracies led to a knock on and La Rochelle back on the ball. Returning captain Iain Henderson may have thought he had come up with a turnover of his own but found himself on the wrong side of the whistle, offering a fourth opportunity for Hastoy. The difficult shot was pulled wide and the scores remained the same.
Billy Burns was lost to the HIA process, meaning Nathan Doak was thrown into the deep end at the unfamiliar fly half, with a lot of rugby still ahead.
Another chink of light for the Ulstermen in the half as Rob Lyttle made an excellent take in the air under pressure, allowing Ulster to win back penalty at the ruck and clear down field. Off the line out, hooker Tom Stewart attempted a long throw but this was picked off at the tail by his opposite number, Pierre Bourgarit, who showed some pace to work his way up the pitch. With the defence scrambling, Henderson spotted a loose ball out of the tackle, but was penalised and shown an unwelcome yellow card for not retreating behind the back foot. Hastoy made no mistake this time, a fourth successful penalty for the fly half.
La Rochelle found themselves back in possession and in attacking territory. This time they turned to the boot, propelling a soft grubber kick into the big dead ball area. On rushing Dillyn Ledys was unable to get to the ball but ever alert full back, Brice Dulin, was able to dive on the ball for the first try of the game. Hastoy was successful with the tricky conversion, and suddenly Ulster were 19-0 down against the champions.
Luke Marshall found himself in an offside position off Doak’s up-and-under as it failed to make the intended ground and this time La Rochelle kicked into the Ulster 22 and set up a maul. They turned on their winning power game, but a knock forward off an Ulster hand brought play to an end. Off the back of the scrum, Duane Vermeulen won back a huge penalty after Sam Carter did well to slow play. Henderson returned to the field and Ulster could receive the pressure.
The tide seemed to be turning a little, as Ulster picked up another quick penalty allowing Cooney to try and spark something was a quick tap. Clever defence, as the visitors did well to leave him for ten metres and French International Greg Aldritt winning back a penalty over the ball. Once again, the ball was kicked back to the Ulster 22, and the pressure returned. The phases were now coming thick and fast, Danty looking dangerous. Another penalty given away under the posts allowed Hastoy extended the lead by three points once again.
With half time moments away, Ulster couldn’t afford any more scoreboard pressure, but after an error between McCloskey and Marshall trying to connect in midfield, the loose ball was gathered and kicked through by Hastoy, Cooney did well to retreat but couldn’t gather as Hastoy collected his own kick to dive in for the try. He swiftly converted, and Ulster retreated to the changing rooms to come up with a plan.
HALF TIME: Ulster 0-29 Stade Rochelais
Ulster needed, and demanded a good start to the second half. And what better way than a try from the skipper! It was exactly the start Ulster needed, as a clever one-two between Lowry and Cooney got the Ulstermen moving forward. Off a deft kick from Cooney, a workmanlike chase from McIlroy and Carter allowed Stewart to catch Dulin behind the try line giving Ulster a five metre scrum. Ulster and Vermeulen looked to play, and they soon picked up a penalty. The forwards set up a tap, and after a couple of phases Henderson stretched out to score on the line with less than five minutes played in the half. Cooney converted, and Ulster were on the board.
With the momentum starting the shift, McCloskey did well to get his arms free and release Nick Timoney into space. Despite playing with a penalty advantage, referee Pearce took exception to the words of McCloskey and reversed the decision. A disappointing end to a promising attack.
A period of indiscipline by Ulster, reminiscent of the first half, and from last week’s performance meant La Rochelle found themselves right back on the Ulster line with a throw in to the line out. Ulster looked to have made a good steal, but the loose ball was gathered by Pierre Bougarit who ran in unopposed for the visitors third converted try, restoring the lead to 7-36.
Ulster were determined to change the momentum again with Henderson leading by example with a huge carry. The pressure led to penalties for Ulster and an opportunity five metres out. The French wouldn’t go down easy, stopping the maul and knocking Ulster back in attack, but another penalty allowed Doak to pop the ball back into the corner. Time to roll up the sleeves. Ulster kept their cool, holding onto possession despite advantage being called multiple times. Cooney squeezed around the side of the ruck for second, and much needed try. The indiscipline cost centre Jonathan Danty a yellow card too, before Cooney slotted the conversion. The score now 14-36 with 60 minutes played.
Ulster were now playing heads up rugby with a spark that had been missing. Stuart McCloskey spotted some space behind the defence and put in a perfect chip into the corner for Duane Vermulean to chase. The number 8 made no mistake, grounding the ball in the corner! Cooney was unable to convert this one, but Ulster were now back into the game, 19-36 with three tries on the board.
Fast play was making dividends as La Rochelle continued to give a number of penalties away. With a line out set up in the 22, the Ulster maul started to trundle forward, and again produced another penalty. Off the newly formed maul Tom Stewart peeled off the back and powered his way over for a bonus point try! With Cooney accurate with the conversion, Ulster found themselves just ten points behind with five minutes remaining. 26-36.
Could they salvage another bonus point? A dangerous tackle on Gareth Milasinovich allowed Doak to put in a monstrous kick into the La Rochelle 22. The pressure again meant another penalty in favour of the Ulstermen. With the win out of reach, Henderson and Cooney knew three points would mean two match points for Ulster. And would you ever doubt him. John Cooney slotted it straight through the uprights, as the game drew to a close.
What an incredible match. Ulster were 29 points adrift at half time, looking into the abyss, but real heart and rugby nous from the Ulstermen in the second half denied the champions four tries and scored four tries of their own, finishing only seven points adrift. Still Disappointed with a home defeat, this will be a response that Ulster will remember and may be crucial as the tournament progresses.
FULL TIME: Ulster 29-36 Stade Rochelais
Scorers
Ulster
Tries: Henderson, Cooney, Vermeulen, Stewart
Conversions: Cooney (3)
Penalties: Cooney
Yellow Card: Henderson
La Rochelle Scores
Tries: Dulin, Hastoy, Bourgarit
Conversions: Hastoy (3)
Penalties: Hastoy (4)
Yellow Card: Danty
Line-Ups
(15-9): Mike Lowry, Ethan McIlroy, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8): Rory Sutherland, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter, Iain Henderson (Captain), Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Ben Moxham.
La Rochelle
(1-8) Reda WARDI, Pierre BOURGARIT, Uini ATONIO, Romain SAZY, Will SKELTON, Rémi BOURDEAU, Yoan TANGA, Greg ALLDRITT (cap),
(9-15) Tawera KERR-BARLOW, Antoine HASTOY, Pierre BOUDEHENT, Jonathan DANTY, Ulupano SEUTENI, Dillyn LEYDS, Brice DULIN.
Replacements: Quentin LESPIAUCQ, Thierry PAIVA, Joel SCLAVI, Ultan DILLANE, Paul BOUDEHENT, Thomas BERJON, Levani BOTIA, Raymond RHULE.