Rúaidhrí O'Connor

I think if Montpellier were cherry-picking players from the Ulster squad, they wouldn't take that many of them.

They have such resources.

They're backed by a multimillionaire who was on TV nearly as much as the players last night, apparently.

They have a big budget.

They've...

that kind of freedom to go and cherry-pick players from all over the world.

They've got the Lions scrum half, they've got, you know, Biddy Vinopolo.

Yeah, Price was very good, Biddy Vinopolo was absolutely superb.

Yeah, but they have such good players, like the Argentinian out half, he just facilitated really well, kicked most of his goals.

It's a different model, and it's a very difficult model to keep up with when you're trying to grow your own.

And I think the scale of the task ahead for Richie Murphy and Rory Best, who want to be back in the Champions Cup, that was the goal.

But there's one thing getting to the Champions Cup.

Last night, you saw what the level of the Champions Cup is because Montpellier will be in that competition next year.

And Ulster are way off that level.

Yeah, I think Augustus is going for back surgery at the end of the season, and Bell...

Like, you're thinking, this guy, it's his last ever game for Ulster.

They could easily have him go 80, especially because there's a bit of a drop-off to Eric O'Sullivan coming off, but he was spent.

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.