Ulster player ratings vs Montpellier | 2026 EPCR Challenge Cup Final

Ulster player ratings:  Richie Murphy’s men were on the hunt for their first bit of European silverware in 27 years, in what was their first finals appearance since their 2014 defeat to Leinster in the Heineken Cup.

But things were stacked against them. Sweltering heat in Bilbao and a big-spending Montpellier side on the hunt for their third Challenge Cup title in the end proved too steep a challenge.  You can’t help but feel the 30-plus degree heat they were playing in did more to drain their batteries than it did Montpellier, who ran out comfortable 59-26 winners.

Here’s how the Ulster players rated:

1 Angus Bell – 6
The Wallaby loosehead had his work cut out with Mohamed Haouas but he held his own at scrumtime. Very much limited here in terms of his carrying, with Montpellier getting the better of those exchanges.

2 Tom Stewart – 4
Arguably overthrew the lineout for Montpellier’s second try – a costly error when you’re camped on your 5-metre line. Was then unable to stop Billy Vunipola from two metres out in the same corner, but few, if any, could have.

3 Tom O’Toole – 5.5
A 50:50 contest with Enzo Forletta at scrumtime, although he was penalised 22 minutes in for an infraction against the Italian.

4 Harry Sheridan – 5
Thrown in the deep end following a ban for Iain Henderson, and did his best to swim. Appeared to have scored a rampaging try, only for referee Matthew Carley to rule a knock-on had occurred. Must take some of the blame for the botched lineout that led to MHR’s second try and for the turnovers he conceded.

5 Cormac Izuchukwu – 7.5
Was involved multiple times in the lead-up to Ulster’s first try and ran in a screamer from 30 metres out when given a sniff in the 25th minute. Penalised later for swimming up the side of a ruck and faded like the rest of the pack. Still Ulster’s best forward by a margin.

6 David McCann – 5.5
Battled hard in the first forty, managing to eke out a few metres here and there in traffic. It was tough going in the heat, though, and with a French pack unwilling to take a backward step, his efforts fell off.

7 Nick Timoney – 6.5
There were barely two minutes on the clock when he smashed his way over for Ulster’s first score, but his battery faded as wave after wave of MHR attacks broke against Ulster shores. He and the rest of the back-row struggled to contain the superb Vunipola.

8 Juarno Augustus – 5
Dived on a loose ball in the opening minute to springboard Ulster’s first attack. Doled out some crunching tackles, one such effort humbling the aforementioned ‘Billy V’ in the 25th minute. Unable to make a dent in attack though. Ulster probably needed more from him.

9 Nathan Doak – 6
His box kicking was on the penny accurate in the opening exchanges, and he probed the MHR defence with some smart, stabbing kicks that paid dividends in the greasy conditions. Probably could have done more to stop Donovan Taofifenua for his diving score in the corner just after the break.

10 Jack Murphy – 5.5
The 21-year-old’s biggest test to date and it will go down as a steep learning curve. Lacked any real authority and didn’t seem to be central to how Ulster wanted to play this game. With all that said, did little wrong and his touchfinding was decent.

11 Zac Ward – 4.5
The in-form finisher got off to a poor start, falling off a 1-on-1 tackle in the lead-up to Montpellier’s first try. Redeemed himself somewhat with big moments in contact, but it the good-bad balance wasn’t in his favour here.

12 Jude Postlethwaite – 5
Appeared to hyper-extend his leg in an attempted tackle but he hobbled on bravely. His combination with Hume had its moments, but Ulster’s backfield struggled to deal with the high ball in particular.

13 James Hume – 5
Had a clumsy moment chasing a 15th-minute highball, bumping Tom Banks in the air, but got away with it.  His midfield passing skills stood out, not least when he helped put Izuchukwu away, but, as with Postelewaite, things got leaky.

14 Robert Baloucoune – 8
Excellent under the high-ball at times, but got precious few opportunities to show what he can do in attack in the first half. Nearly got on the end of a flowing attack down the right flank on 51 minutes but it came to nothing. Finally got his just deserts when scampering over the line on 52 minutes. Ulster’s best back.

15 Mike Lowry – 5.5
Could do little to stop Montpellier hit back with a sucker punch on four minutes and was guilty of too many handling errors under the highball. Left chasing shadows most of the night, although he got on the end of a decent Baloucoune break to put a little polish on a painful scoreline.

Replacements

16 James McCormick – NA
Not on long enough to rate.

17 Eric O’Sullivan – 6
Could do little to effect a game that was already decided by time he entered.

18 Scott Wilson – 6
Got stuck in gamely, but as with O’Sullivan, there was little to be done.

19 Charlie Irvine – 5
Cannon fodder, really in the circumstances.

20 Bryn Ward – 6
Got a few carries in.

21 Conor McKee – 6
Given his moment in the sun and definitely increased Ulster’s tempo.

22 Jake Flannery – 6
Hardly on long enough to make an impact.

23 Ethan McIlroy – 5
Effectively an onlooker as Montpellier ran away with it, Ulster’s head going down.