Ulster suffer last-minute Champions Cup defeat to La Rochelle

Ulster suffered Heineken Champions Cup heartbreak after a last-minute La Rochelle try gave the holders victory at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Nathan Doak kicked a 63rd-minute penalty to put Ulster ahead but the French side snatched it at the end as replacement prop Joel Sclavi crashed over.

Antoine Hastoy landed the conversion and Ulster will feel hard done by following a heroic defensive display.

Dan McFarland's side produced an impressive performance, adapting to the driving wind and rain better than their hosts, and had two first-half tries ruled out.

Ulster head coach McFarland made eight changes to the side that lost 31-29 to Benetton in the United Rugby Championship last week, and he was forced into another change when Billy Burns was injured in the warm-up. Ben Moxham took his place on the bench.

The tough conditions in France were evident after Hastoy’s early low penalty into the wind was held up and hit the post.

Scrum-half Doak’s attempted penalty for Ulster from deep inside his own half then fell just short to demonstrate how strong the wind was at his back.

Flanker Nick Timoney looked to have scored the game’s first try for Ulster but dropped the ball before he crashed over the home side’s line.

Wing Rob Lyttle suffered the same fate after he appeared to score a try but it was ruled out for a knock-on earlier in the move, leaving Ulster having crossed the whitewash twice with both scores ruled out and the score 0-0 at half-time.

After the break, the home side adapted better to the weather but the game was still dominated by the conditions with little rugby played by either side.

Doak landed his penalty just after the hour mark when La Rochelle were penalised to give Ulster the lead, but they were denied right at the end