Rúaidhrí O'Connor

He had nothing left, and I guess that's the toll of mauling and scrummaging against a pack like Montpellier.

they take your legs and it's all well and good trying to have an impact with your carry but if you've got nothing left in that heat from it was like perfect storm stuff for Montpellier in terms of being able to take it now like they had to deal with the heat as well I know the weather's better in Montpellier than it is in Belfast but you know it's just easier when you're getting momentum in your carry when you're on the front foot at all times Ulster like had to go under the post and regroup so many times I'm sure Nick Timoney who I thought was absolutely brilliant in the press conference here afterwards and was one of

It really is, and he's one of the best players on the pitch as well.

He kept taking the fight to them, but I thought, he's run out of things to say.

What do you keep doing?

Anyone who's played rugby has probably been in that situation once or twice where you just keep conceding and it's not going your way, and it's so soul-destroying.

I thought they were still in touch at half-time on the scoreboard, 14 points down, but they looked like beaten men coming off.

They were so ashen-faced.

So it's a disappointing end to what was...

at times a thrilling season for Ulster, at times a season that promised a lot.

If they'd beaten Leinster the night that Leinster went up there, they would have been really in the hunt for a top two finish in the URC.

They obviously went for this competition.

They beat some good teams en route.

Their performance against Exeter was very good.

La Rochelle sent over a bit of a dummy team, but they still put them to the sword.

and yet they've come away with nothing.

It's a young group.

Murphy will learn a lot in terms of being his first head coaching job at this level.

He may approach the Challenge Cup very differently next year, but he has a bit of a job on his hands to try and pick up those players as well, doesn't he?

I mean, this could be a damaging night if they don't handle it the right way.