ANOTHER hard luck story for an Irish team in France and a pattern Declan Kidney will not want to see continue when the game's aristocrats visit Croke Park in two weeks time.
Ulster enjoyed themselves in the sun and perfect playing conditions in Paris yesterday but ultimately fluffed the chance to deliver a first Heineken Cup victory on French soil.
Neither side could qualify for the quarter-finals but Ulster, fielding nine changes from last week's win over Harlequins, were brilliant in the first-half and should have led by a lot more than two points. When Stade Francais did wake up and decide to play, they dismantled the visitors in a ruthless third-quarter display which was a timely reminder of the havoc French teams can create