For 40 minutes Ulster threatened to make a mockery of the formbook and a season thus far steeped in mediocrity, offering a glimmer of the control and self belief that produced a European triumph last season. The mantle of champions and level of expectation engendered by that success no longer seemed an emotional millstone.
Ulster looked assured and controlled, smoothly running through the gamut of the playbook and stretching Bourgoin to breaking point: crucially though the visitors were unable to capitalise when presented with two or three gilt edged opportunities and as each try-scoring chance passed, hopes of an Ulster victory began to diminish.
Bourgoin, outplayed for large passages of the first half, gradually established a foothold in the match and by the end provided ample evidence of why they had lost only two games at the Stade Pierre Rajon in the last three years. They, however, enjoyed their fair share of good fortune, particularly the first of their two tries, three minutes into injury time at the end of the first half.
It highlighted a lack of communication between the Scottish officials as Ulster captain David Humphreys explained: "The touch judge indicated a knock-on in the movement preceding the try but the referee did not see it and took no action." Ulster led 12-9 at that juncture but with play allowed to continue, Bourgoin scrum-half Laurent Balue wriggled free of three tacklers to force his way over.
Out-half Alexandre Peclier, who had earlier kicked three penalties, added the conversion to provide the home side with an unlikely 1612 advantage at the interval. Ulster full back Simon Mason had posted four penalties from five attempts but it seemed scant reward as the visitors seemed the more accomplished performers. Despite the concession of the try, the mood in the Ulster camp remained positive.
"We were very upbeat at halftime," Humphreys admitted. "The rugby in the first half was as good as we have managed this season. We spoke about the need to take our chances but instead conceded an early try and then tried to play catch-up. We took some risks in shifting static ball but at that stage we had to do something. Every time they got an opportunity they took it."
Ulster's second half performance was lamentable, their demise accelerated by the concession of a soft early try. French international centre Stephane Glas easily broke Niall Malone's tackle to cross under the posts. Peclier converted. The French side had identified a weakness and set about exploiting the inside centre channel ruthlessly. The absence of Jonathan Bell and Riaz Fredericks suddenly became more pronounced.
Bourgoin also targeted the brittle Ulster scrum that had ominously creaked and groaned on a couple of occasions in the first half. The visitors' new Fijian prop Joeli Veitayaki received a yellow card four minutes after the restart as referee Rob Dickson sought a scapegoat for continual disruption in this area. Ironically it pre-empted Ulster's best bout of sustained scrumagging as they repelled Bourgoin at six consecutive five-metre scrums only to then concede Glas's soft try.
Ulster were then twice completely blow off their own ball, a situation that was partially redressed when Veitayaki was replaced by young tighthead Simon Best on 60 minutes. The Bourgoin pack couldn't wait for the next engagement. Denied a platform, Humphreys looked to keep proceedings fast and loose but handling errors and mistakes undermined Ulster's best intentions.
The introduction of Mark Edwards at scrum-half and James Topping's switch to the centre offered more penetration but Ulster just could not find chinks in their opponent's massed defence. While not faulting the application, the European champions are seriously hampered by injury. Hooker Allen Clarke hobbled through the match, while Dion O'Cuinneagain just seems jaded.
Next Friday night, when Wasps visit Ravenhill, more will be revealed about Ulster's character. The scrumagging certainly needs to be addressed, but Ulster should and will focus on the positives from their trip to France. As full back Simon Mason pointed out: "It's all about winning the home games and that is something that we can accomplish. Defeat here is not the end of the world as along as we learn from it."
Scoring sequence: 7 mins: Mason penalty, 0-3; 11: Peclier penalty, 3-3; 16: Mason penalty, 3-6; 19: Peclier penalty, 6-6; 22: Peclier penalty, 9-6; 31: Mason penalty, 9-9; 35: Mason penalty, 9-12; 43: Balue try, Peclier conversion, 16-12. Half-time 16-12. 45: Glas try, Peclier conversion, 23-12; 57: Peclier penalty, 26-12.
BOURGOIN: G Davis; L Leflamand, J McLaren, S Glas, E Tuni; A Peclier, L Balue; O Milloud, JF Martin-Culet, R Magellan; L Nallet, J Daude; J Frier, P Raschi, A Chazalet (capt). Replacements: P Peyron for Milloud (76 mins); S Chabal for Frier (77); R Mohr for Nallet (78).
ULSTER: S Mason; J Topping, J Cunningham, N Malone, S Bromley; D Humphreys (capt), S Bell; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, J Veitayaki; P Johns, G Longwell; E Miller, T McWhirter, D O'Cuinneagain. Replacements: S Best for Veitayaki (60 mins); T Howe for Malone (66); M Edwards for Bell (66); M Blair for Longwell (70); D Topping for O'Cuinneagain (77).
Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).
