Biarritz ... 25 Ulster ... 20: The came in expectation and left harbouring hopes of what might have been.
Munster and now Leinster have already mastered winning in France, while Ulster returned from Biarritz yesterday defeated but buoyed by the feeling they had rocked the French champions on their own turf and despite being outplayed for most of the contest could easily have secured a famous victory.
Two second-half tries, by Jan Cunningham and captain Andy Ward, brought Ulster within five points and a remarkable victory looked on the cards as Alan Solomons' side pushed hard in the closing minutes.
But a knock-on by outhalf Adam Larkin, who deputised admirably for David Humphreys, a late withdrawal because of a hamstring strain, saw Ulster's last attack peter out and allow Biarritz to hang on for a crucial victory.
Such a finale had seemed a million miles away when substitute centre Jeam-Emmanuel Coussin touched down just before the hour in controversial circumstances. The Frenchman had made a superb incursion and rounded full back Bryn Cunningham but seemed to have a foot in touch as he touched down in the corner.
The absence of a video referee left Ulster without the right of appeal and at 25-13, all seemed lost for the former champions.
But following a raft of substitutions by Solomons, who went for fresh legs in the pack, Ulster sniffed victory when a series of forward drives allowed Ward to score following a break by Larkin.
For the first time in the match Biarritz looked ragged but Ulster's final rally had come too late.
Their lack of self-belief in the first half had been understandable given the late loss of Humphreys and a fifth-minute injury to Jonny Bell, who departed with a suspected shoulder dislocation, which left the visitors with almost an entirely second-string backline.
Ulster had gone into the game missing Ryan Constable, Tyrone Howe, Shane Stewart, Paddy Wallace and Humphreys, with Queen's scrumhalf David Spence called up as their last registered back.
The disruption to the backline had left the visitors without confidence and direction in the opening exchanges and Biarritz happily made hay.
After Dimitri Yachvili and Neil Doak had swapped penalties, the French champions took control with tries by John Isaac and David Couzinet taking them to a commanding 15-3 lead at the break.
With Andy Ward in the sin-bin, the game looked set for Biarritz to romp home, but Ulster had other ideas.
Doak narrowed the gap and although Biarritz stretched their lead with Cassin's try and a further penalty by Yachvili, Ulster mounted a stirling comeback which, unfortunately, was too little too late.
Ulster's quarter-final qualification hopes are now seriously dented but not yet quashed. With a trip to Cardiff and then Northampton in Belfast, eight points are still possible and the contest between Northampton and Biarritz in January will be key.
Scoring sequence: 9 mins: D Yachvili pen, 3-0; 16mins: N Doak pen, 3-3; 24 mins: J Isaac try, Yachvili con, 10-3; 35 mins: D Couzinet try, 15-3; 46 mins: Doak pen, 15-6; 55 mins: J-E Cassin try, Yachvili con, 22-6; 59 mins: J Cunningham try, Doak con, 22-13; 61mins: Yachvili pen, 25-13; 68 mins: A Ward try, Doak con, 25-20.
BIARRITZ: N Brusque; P Bidabe, G Bousses, J Isaac (J-E Cassin 32), M Stcherbina; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; E Menieu (D Minassian 65), J-M Gonzalez, D Avril, D Couzinet, O Roumant, T Soucaze, C Miliheres, J-P Versailles (O Tonita 45).
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, J Cunningham, J Bell (S Coulter 4), S Young; A Larkin, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick (S Best 61), M Sexton (P Shields 61), R Kempson, G Longwell (M Blair 61), J Davidson, W Brosnihan, N McMillan (T McWhirter 61), A Ward.
Referee: D Pearson (England).
