FT: Montpellier 17-40 Ulster
Ulster secure place in European Challenge Cup quarter-finals
Rob Baloucoune (43 mins)
The impact of that red card is immediate.
Ulster spread the ball right on the edge of Montpellier's 22.
Stewart Moore with the final diving pass to the wing where the impressive Rob Baloucoune dives over in the corner for his first try in five months.
John Cooney's conversion hits the upright and goes wide. Game on.
Image source, InphoRob Baloucoune in action for Ulster against Montpellier
Paul Willemse (42 mins)
It is red.
Paul Willemse is sent from the ground.
Will Addison was coming down from leaping to catch a high ball, and Willemse, very dangerously leads with the head. 14 v 15 now
Montpellier 17-7 Ulster
Nasty leading head from Paul Willemse on Will Addison, he could be off...
Montpellier 17-7 Ulster
Nathan Doak gets things going in the second half.
HT: Montpellier 17-7 Ulster
So Ulster are 10 behind at the break.
They were in the game for long periods but will be frustrated at conceding so many points on the back of their own errors.
Will Addison scored for the visitors while Aubin Eymeri and Paul Willemse touched down for the French side.
Richie Murphy must inspire his side in the sheds.
Image source, InphoUlster's Steven Kitshoff
Louis Foursans (39 mins)
No mistake from the out-half, splits the uprights.
Montpellier 14-7 Ulster
Ulster collapse at the scrum and Montpellier will have a kick at goal from 40 metres out with only a minute remaining of the half.
Will Addison (30 mins)
Ulster back in the game
Nathan Doak passes out the back-door in midfield and Rob Baloucoune charges through a gap. The winger is pulled down just short of the line and the ball comes loose. But it goes backwards on the ground and Will Addison scoops up the loose ball and dives over from two metres.
Cooney makes it the full seven score.
Aubin Eymeri (24 mins)
Montpellier strike down the right flank. Stewart Moore makes a great tackle on winger Gabriel Ngandebe, but he offloads to Aubin Eymeri who chips through before regathering and the French U20 International scores on his first ever start for the side.
Louis Forsans is successful from the tee
Montpellier 7-0 Ulster
It comes to nothing once more.
Stewart Moore is slammed back and the hosts turn over.
Image source, InphoAubin Eymeri kicks as Ulster's Iain Henderson watches on
Montpellier 7-0 Ulster
Ulster win a free-kick from a scrum infringement on their own 22 line.
Now the visitors attack inside the Montpellier half.
Montpellier 7-0 Ulster
Big next 10 minutes now for Richie Murphy's side.
Ulster showing intent, but it's all a bit panicked looking as Nathan Doak kicks aimlessly from the halfway and Montpellier clear to safety. More control required.
Paul Willemse (10 mins)
It's the opening score and it goes the way of the hosts.
A number of heavy carries from the pack close to the Ulster line sucked in alot of defenders, before the ball is popped to Paul Willemse near the posts and the big lock runs straight through John Cooney and over the line to score.
Louis Forsans adds the extras.
Montpellier 0-0 Ulster
That's sloppy from Will Addison behind his own goal line.
As he reaches down to pick up a bouncing ball he knock-on.
Five-metre scrum for Montpellier
Montpellier 0-0 Ulster
Ulster escape by winning the lineout and Will Addison kicks an 80-metre clearance.
Some fast hands and attacking threat from the visitors but it ends in a Montpellier penalty in their own 22.
Encouraging from Ulster
Montpellier 0-0 Ulster
First infringement of the day, and it comes coutesy of captain Iain Henderson from the base of a ruck. Hands in where they shouldn't be.
Montpellier kick to touch on Ulster's 22
Montpellier 0-0 Ulster
Louis Foursans of Montpellier gets us underway at the GGL Stadium in the south of France.
Can Richie Murphy claim his first victory as interim boss of Ulster? Let's find out.
Montpellier v Ulster (12.30 BST)
As they seek a first trophy since 2006, however, Robert Baloucoune has said there is belief in the squad that they can go on a real run in the Challenge Cup this year.
"We definitely believe we're good enough to go out and win this competition," said the Ulster wing.
"Obviously, there's change but we're a tightknit group and we believe in each other."
Montpellier v Ulster (12.30 BST)
Skipper Henderson was also asked about Ulster's poor recent record in Europe.
They've won only two of their last ten games in continental competition, although those were all in the Champions Cup.
Moreover, they triumphed in only five of their 14 knock-out ties under Dan McFarland, a record they'll be desperate to improve under interim head coach Richie Murphy.
"We've won two of our last 10 games in European rugby and that's something that has stuck with me," said Henderson.
"It's not a record that we're proud of but one we have to stand with and take a step forward into our next game and look to right a few wrongs in our next game in European competition.
"We're not going to get ahead of ourselves or be too confident or cocky about where we should be."
Montpellier v Ulster (12.30 BST)
You could be forgiven for thinking that there's no other kind at Kingspan Stadium these days, but it's been another eventful week for Ulster Rugby.
After the somewhat encouraging performance in defeat against the Stormers last week, Ulster returned home with the news that Steven Kitshoff would soon be headed back in the opposite direction.
The two-time World Cup winner only arrived in Belfast back in November on what was announced as a three-year deal.
He'll depart after one season with that news coming soon after the exits of head coach Dan McFarland and CEO Jonny Petrie.
Before the news was confirmed, skipper Iain Henderson spoke about Kitshoff's impending exit. Read what he had to say here.