Ulster were undone by a strong second half display from Biarritz Olympique as last season’s Heineken Cup runners-up broke clear for a bonus point 35-15 victory over Brian McLaughlin’s men.
Ulster’s unbeaten run this season came to an end in sunny conditions at Parc des Sports Aguilera, with second half tries from Takudzwa Ngwenya (2), Manuel Carizza and Sylvain Marconnet doing the damage for Biarritz.
Having gone in level at half-time (3-3), Ulster’s collective performance dipped in the concluding 40 minutes – the only consolation being tries from Ireland duo Andrew Trimble and Stephen Ferris.
Ferris’ effort came in injury-time, just three minutes after Ngwenya had cantered over for the hosts’ bonus point-clinching try, which has moved the French side three points clear of Bath at the top of Pool 4. Ulster, who face Bath twice in December, are a further point behind.
Allowing Biarritz to gain a flattering bonus point was particularly disheartening for an Ulster side that was quietly confident of getting at least a losing bonus point out of this tie.
Their form in recent weeks – five wins and a draw – suggested that Rory Best and his team-mates, wearing their blue European jerseys for the first time, could put it up to Biarritz.
Ulster had the better of the early exchanges. A Pedrie Wannenburg kick through put Biarritz on the defensive and Trimble wrigged his way past two tacklers, drawing a penalty for the first shot at goal. Ruan Pienaar stepped up to take the 11th minute kick, but he missed the target from the right.
The South African opened the scoring two minutes later, from a penalty from a similar position. A run into the home 22 from Simon Danielli, who was later forced off with an injury, put Biarritz on the back foot and Carizza was pinged for tackling Ian Whitten without the ball.
Biarritz claimed the restart and immediately made ground through their forwards, led by talismanic captain Imanol Harinordoquy. Play moved quickly between the 22s, but defences were most definitely on top.
Ulster were looking the more potent, bursts from first-time Heineken Cup starter David McIlwaine, Ferris and Wannenburg took the visitors close the Biarritz try-line.
Danielli’s replacement Adam D’Arcy, another newcomer to the competition, was then pulled back for an earlier infringement after linking well with Ian Humphreys in midfield.
Ulster maintained a territorial advantage, soaking up some Biarritz pressure after BJ Botha’s high tackle on Charles Giminez.
Shortly afterwards, Humphreys sparked a mass breakout from a quick turnover, hacking the ball downfield and he was quick on the scene to tackle Iain Balshaw behind the posts and win a five-metre scrum.
Ulster looked poised to strike, a solid set piece offering Robbie Diack and Pienaar the chance to work a move off the base. The scrum half looped a pass out to the right but Balshaw redeemed himself with an interception and a subsequent penalty allowed Biarritz to clear their lines.
A knock on by Trimble gave Biarritz decent field position and Yachvili levelled the tie in the 37th minute, punishing D’Arcy for coming in at the side of a ruck straight in front of the posts.
Ulster should have been ahead at the break and they were left ruing a missed opportunity in the dying seconds. Number 8 Diack charged down Yachvili’s attempted box kick, gathered the loose ball and galloped towards the right corner – only for Biarritz full-back Dane Haylett-Petty to get across and make a terrific try-saving tackle on the big South African.
If Ulster were right in the hunt for the match points in the opening half, the game took on a completely different complexion in the third quarter.
The visitors’ hopes were left shredded on the Parc des Sports Aguilera pitch as Biarritz scored 20 points in a clinical 17-minute spell.
Showing the sort of form which got them to the final last season, the Basque outfit went ahead for the first time in the 46th minute. With the Ulster defence sucked in, a deft pass out of a tackle from Magnus Lund sent Ngwenya scampering in at the left corner for his first try. Yachvili tagged on the difficult conversion, aided by the right hand post.
American international Ngwenya had launched a superb counter attack some minutes previously, making 50 metres as he ran back a kick. His influence needed to be curbed, along with that of the Biarritz forwards who were beginning to force the issue up front.
Ferris used his brute strength to wrestle the ball away from Jerome Thion’s grasp, as Ulster tried to establish a foothold and regain their composure. But a ruck offence, called against Botha, led to Yachvili making it 13-3.
Errors were creeping into Ulster’s game and their discipline was slipping against a tide of consistent Biarritz attacks. Johann Muller was punished for a high tackle, and Yachvili split the posts again.
In the 62nd minute, Biarritz moved the margin to 23-3 and there looked to be no way back for Ulster. Some neat interplay between backs and forwards preceded a try from lock Carizza, which Yachvili converted.
Possession was paramount for Ulster at this stage and their forwards made the hard yards, five minutes later, for Trimble to respond. After a series of close range rucks, Pienaar attacked the short side and popped a simple pass for Trimble to run in from the right. Pienaar’s conversion attempt went wide.
Yachvili’s influence was increasing by the minute, however, and he showed his ability on the ball before Biarritz scored a third converted try through replacement Marconnet.
Ngwenya added a gloss to the scoreline with his second try, finishing off a slick passing move out to the right where Ulster lacked numbers. Most importantly for the vocal home crowd, it signalled a bonus point return for their side.
Ulster, who had their fair share of fans present, bounced back from that setback to register a last-gasp try from Ferris, who took a quick tap penalty to go over.
Pienaar’s quickly-taken conversion was the game’s final act, leaving Ulster to mull over those missed chances in the opening half and what might have been.
The province’s operations director David Humphreys admitted afterwards: “The game really showed the difference of experience in Europe between Biarritz and ourselves.
“We should have been 12-15 points clear but it was a different game in the second half. They came out, scored a good try and then Yachvili dominated the game.
“The mentality of the lads in the dressing room at half-time was we’d created opportunities in the first half but we had not taken them.
“In the second half we needed to get a break or a little bit of luck. But Ngwenya grabbed a high ball and they eventually scored after a series of plays.
“The margins are so small at this level. But if you do not take your chances you will be punished. Biarritz took their opportunities and then showed everyone why they are one of the top sides in Europe.”
The result makes it a frustrating 12 defeats and one draw for Ulster on French soil, with their qualification hopes now hinging on December’s home-and-away clashes with Bath. A repeat of last season’s double over the Englishmen would do nicely.
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