Heineken Champions Cup: Ulster hold on after late Clermont charge to claim 34-31 win

Ulster's maul proved once again to be a dangerous attacking weapon

Ulster survived an almighty late scare to secure second place in Champions Cup Pool A by beating Clermont 34-31.

The hosts led by 22 points with only 10 minutes remaining in Belfast but the French side scored three quickfire tries to set up a tense finish.

Ulster scored five tries, including a pair from Rob Herring and a first for Springbok Duane Vermeulen, in another impressive attacking display.

They will face the side that finishes seventh in Pool B in the last 16.

That spot is currently occupied by reigning champions Toulouse, whose final position will not be confirmed until games involving Stade Francais and Wasps are played on Sunday.

Clermont are currently sixth in Pool A, and will advance to the last stage if at least one of Glasgow or Montpellier do not win their final group-stage encounter.

For Ulster, their 19-point haul is impressive and they head into the next round with this season's undefeated European record in tact - however there will be concern over the manner of their late capitulation that nearly cost them a seemingly comfortable win on Saturday.

Herring and Burns shine as Ulster shade opening half

Already assured of qualification, and knowing only an unrealistic winning margin of 87 or more would see them overtake Pool A leaders Racing 92, Ulster's brief for the final group-stage match was to claim a win that would ensure a home tie in the second leg of the next round and home quarter-final should they reach that stage.

They started well, capitalising once more on their tried and tested formula of kicking for the corner from penalties and entrusting their dangerous attacking maul.

Herring scored from two at the start and end of a first half in which their control of possession and territory were somewhat nullified by poor discipline in their own half.

Morgan Parra kicked four penalties to keep his side in touch despite conceding three first-half tries and scoring none.

There were flashes of the backline flair that received so much praise in Ulster's win over Northampton last weekend, with Billy Burns stylishly dictating the play from fly-half.

Full-back Michael Lowry continued his excellent form and celebrated his inclusion in Ireland's Six Nations squad with another assured display under the high ball, and provided the spark and finish for his side's second try in the 23rd minute; accelerating through a gap after his side had worked it left.

Ulster streak ahead during Raka sin-bin

Wing Alivereti Raka was sent to the sin-bin in the final minute of the opening half for not rolling away with Ulster a metre short of the line; and the yellow card proved costly for his side.

From the resulting penalty the hosts went to the corner and Herring mauled over for a second to send his side into half-time in front.

After the break they made the numerical advantage count with Burns at the heart of the offensive charge - it was his flat pass to Lowry that saw the full-back sprint to within inches of the line allowing Vermeulen to pick up and drive over on the next phase.

Ulster scored 17 points in the 10 minutes that Clermont were reduced to 14, and when Baloucoune crossed untouched after another wonderful Burns pass in the 66th minute, the game appeared over.

Jaco van Tonder's 70th minute try sparked Clermont's late fightback

However Clermont, buoyed by the introduction of France internationals Damian Penaud and Camille Lopez, did not lie down and found their first try through Jaco van Tonder in the 70th minute.

When Raka finished off a move started by a wonderful Cheikh Tiberghein break three minutes later, nerves crept in all around the previously thrilled Kingspan Stadium.

The Top 14 side then turned the tables on their opponents, producing an unstoppable driving maul of their own for Judicael Cancoriet to crash over and bring their deficit, almost unthinkably, to just three points.

Ulster's crowd rallied once and roared their side to the finish line, as the hosts ran down the clock and greeted the final whistle with an overwhelming sense of relief.

Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, Curtis, McIlroy; Burns, Doak; O'Sullivan, Herring, Moore, O'Connor, Treadwell; Marcus Rea, Timoney, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Roberts, McGrath, O'Toole, Carter, Jones, Shanahan, Moxham, Gilroy.

Clermont Auvergne: Tiberghien; O'Connor, Barraque, Vili, Raka; Hanrahan, Parra; Falgoux, Beheregaray, Slimani, Jedrasiak, Lavanini; Cancoriet (capt), Dessaigne, Van Tonder.

Replacements: Fourcade, Bibi Biwizu, Ojovan, Vahaamina, Lee, Viallard, Lopez, Penaud.