D’Arcy magic inspires Ulster

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin admitted he was totally exhausted and mentally drained after his side came back from the dead to get their Heineken Cup challenge off to awinning start.

Thanks to a piece of individual brilliance by replacement full-back Adam D’Arcy, Ulster made it nine straight European wins at Ravenhill, leaving visitors Clermont Auvergne kicking themselves at the thought of one that got away.

Trailing 11-9 with 10 minutes left, D’Arcy, who had come on for a dazed Simon Danielli, took off on a mazy run from deep inside his own half and just before he was flattened by Clermont captain Aurelien Rougerie, he slipped a pass to his fly-half Ian Humphreys, who skipped joyfully over the line at the corner. Humphreys converted from wide out — game over.