Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Ulster’s Heineken Champions Cup game against Bath.

Dan McFarland’s side currently sit second in Pool 3, three points behind the already qualified Clermont, while Bath are rock bottom after losing all five of their games to date.

A win of any shape will see Ulster through to the quarter-finals, while a bonus point win coupled with Clermont claiming no more than a losing bonus point at Harlequins would see them top the group, although a home quarter-final looks unlikely given their points differential.

So in short, plenty to play for. 

Kick off in Belfast is at 3.15pm.

Here’s a reminder of the Ulster team today, with eight of Andy Farrell’s Ireland Six Nations squad in the starting 15. 

And of course it’s the Burns family derby, while Billy lining out at out-half for Ulster and older brother Freddie occupying the same position for the visitors. 

We’re up and running in Belfast as Billy Burns kicks-off.

Perfect conditions for rugby.

An early signal of intent from Ulster as Jacob Stockdale tries the chip over the top, but the bounce doesn’t fall his way and Bath are able to clear the danger.

TRY!

Marcel Coetzee gets the first try of the game for Ulster.

It all started from first scrum, with John Cooney collecting off the back as Ulster go wide.

The ball finds Jacob Stockdale and he goes for the chip through but it deflects out. From the lineout Ulster go right across the pitch, and a lovely disguised pass from Robert Baloucoune finds Will Addison, who is tackled out of play.

Ulster go for the lineout maul and Coetzee is on hand to peel off the back and dot down.

After a quick TMO review, the try is given and Ulster are up and running with Cooney kicking the extras.

A big carry from Stuart McCloskey as he batters Freddie Burns into the ground. 

McCloskey of course one of the more surprising omissions from Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad.

Robert Baloucoune has also started brightly here, and followed up that gorgeous offload earlier with some good defensive play to clear the danger as Bath opted for the kick in behind. 

A really well-timed tackle from Will Addison but the Ulster man goes down with a blood injury, so Craig Gilroy comes into the action to take his place.

MISS!

A poor effort at the posts from Freddie Burns sees Bath remain scoreless. 

Jordi Murphy is pinged for not rolling away around the half-way line. Ulster have conceded three penalties in the opening 17 minutes. Bath still with a clean slate.

TRY!

Try for Bath as Ruaridh McConnochie gets on the end of a Burns cross-field kick, as Ulster are caught a little narrow. 

Stockdale looked to have the danger covered but a horrible bounce of the ball allowed McConnochie swoop in, and Burns adds the conversion.

Bath have responded really well to that early Ulster try.

WHAT A CHANCE!

Coetzee bursts forward and produces a lovely dummy, but then he gets the pass wrong and fails to find the support run of Gilroy. 

We’re going to TMO as John Cooney appeared to be pushed to the ground just off Coetzee’s shoulder.

Yellow card

Ulster penalty and a yellow card for Bath’s Tom Ellis.

As Coetzee powered forward, Cooney was clearly pushed to the ground as he tried to offer Coetzee an option on his right shoulder.

Referee Alexandre Ruiz decides that while it was clear foul play, there wasn’t enough to award a penalty try. 

Will Addison is back on the pitch, sporting a very white scrum-cap after that earlier blood injury.

It’s getting a little bit sloppy from Ulster.

A crooked throw from the five-metre lineout is shortly followed by a scrum penalty before a loose pass behind Baloucoune kills an attack.

Tom O’Toole has also left the pitch and the word from Dan McFarland seems to be that it’s a tactical decision. Ross Kane comes in for O’Toole, who was named in Ireland’s Six Nations squad this week.

Elsewhere in the pool Clermont are in control at Harlequins as they lead 17-7.

Oh wait, try for Harlequins. 17-12.

Ulster go wide with a lovely quick pass from Stockdale to McCloskey, they move the ball back inside but a forward pass breaks the attack down.

Ulster have clarified that Tom O’Toole’s substitution was down to injury rather that tactical reasons. Hopefully it won’t effect his involvement in the Six Nations.

Ulster didn’t take advantage of their extra man at all while Ellis was in the sin bin. Very little territory for McFarland’s team over the last 10 minutes.

Half-time

A slow end to the first half as the sides head in to the dressing rooms with the score tied at 7-7. Ulster have faded since a bright start here, and will be really disappointed to not have taken advantage of Bath’s yellow card.

The second half has just kicked off. No changes at half-time for either team.

TRY ULSTER!

Robert Baloucoune goes over in the corner for Ulster.

Brilliant by Will Addison, as he holds off and throws the dummy before playing in Baloucoune with a wonderful one-hand pass, and the Ulster wing sprints over in the corner.

John Cooney adds the conversion. 

A perfect start to the second half for Ulster.

PENALTY 

Bath cut back Ulster’s lead with a Freddie Burns penalty, a well-struck effort from distance.

TRY!

Will Addison scores a third try for Ulster.

Ulster are flying now.

McCloskey did really well at the start of that move, holding off the pass to draw in the tackle before a great pass to help split open the Bath defence. Stockdale carries and plays in Addison who goes right along the sideline before diving over.

Cooney pulls the conversion just wide.

Addison playing himself right into contention for a place in the Ireland team. He’s having a stormer.

Will Addison leaves the pitch for Craig Gilroy. Might have picked up a knock but it looks more precautionary than anything. He certainly doesn’t look to be in any pain.

A couple of Ulster substitutions.

Jordi Murphy heads off for Nick Timoney and Jack McGrath is replaced by Eric O’Sullivan.

It’s a one-score game at Harlequins, Clermont leading 26-19.

The game has slowed down a little since Ulster scored that third try.

A rare error from Baloucoune as he dives forward to collect a Bath kick in behind, but he knocks the ball forward in the process.

Baloucoune is on 71 metres for 7 carries, with three defenders beaten and one try. Not a bad evening’s work so far.

Ross Kane receives some treatment on his back. It’s been a tough day for the Ulster scrum, something which Dan McFarland will be keen to address. 

TRY

Bath score a second try to make in 19-15.

That was all about brute force, as Ross Batty power over from a lineout maul. No conversion so it’s a four point game heading into the last 10 minutes.

Potential try

Kieran Treadwell dives over but we’re going to have a TMO check.

John Cooney’s pop pass to Iain Henderson is the one the referee wants to check.

No try

Alexandre Ruiz deems the pass to have been forward, so the decision is no try. 

A TMO check for a big hit on John Cooney by Ross Batty. This could be red.

RED CARD

Batty made no real effort to lower his body into the tackle, and caught Cooney – who has since been substituted – right on the jaw with his shoulder. 

Dangerous play, and rightly a red card.

PENALTY

Billy Burns nails the penalty to move Ulster into a 22-15 lead.

Ulster win a penalty after a brief period of Bath pressure and that should be that, we’re into the last two minutes of play.

FULL-TIME

Ulster 22-15 Bath

Ulster get the job done and qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup.

Some nervy moments but a decent performance, with Ulster’s best play coming at the start of the second half. Some areas of concern too, including a shaky scrum, which will be something for this team to work on.

For Bath, they end the pool campaign with six defeats from six games. Yikes.

Thanks for joining us, we’ll have a full report and reaction shortly.