Ulster are already qualified courtesy of Connacht’s win last night but can also top their pool with victory in France. They have never won there in this competition, however…

Ulster: S Terblanche; A Trimble, I Whitten, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, R Best, J Afoa; J Muller (capt), D Tuohy; S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg.

A couple of familiar faces in the Clermont XV: L Byrne; S Sivivatu, A Rougerie, W Fofana, J Malzieu; D Skrela, M Parra; L Faure, B Kayser, C Ric; J Pierre, N Hines; G Vosloo, J Bardy, J Bonnaire.

England’s Dave Pearson is the man in green and blue. Clermont have to win this game, of course. And we’re off…

Ulster playing in a fantastic red shirt in honour of those who won this competition before them.

Sitiveni Sivivatu and Aurelien Rougerie combine for an early break for Clermont. The move gets the crowd on their feet.

Poor handling from Morgan Parra halts another Clermont attack. It’s frantic at the moment but Ulster need to clamp down on runners and get themselves into this contest.

Stephen Ferris makes himself known to Rougerie, tearing into the wing as he tries to break away down the right.

Half chance for Ulster but Andrew Trimble cannot retain possession as he attempts to sneak pass several Clermont defenders down the sideline. It’s the first time the visitors have been able to string a couple of passes together and, hopefully, should calm some nerves.

PENALTY CLERMONT: A quick free kick by Parra sees Clermont awarded a penalty and Dan Tuohy, rather harshly, shown yellow. The scrum-half runs into the Ulster man – but gets the penalty – and then takes all three points.

PENALTY ULSTER: Johann Muller is apparently (so not really) taken out in the line out and Ruan Pienaar slots the result penalty between the posts with Tuohy still on the bench. A great boost for the visitors.

PENALTY CLERMONT: John Afoa is the man penalised as Ulster’s scrum is ripped apart almost right in front of the posts. Parra, duly, converts.

Tuohy is back on the field. Humphreys looks for a penalty after kicking ahead and then being barged off the pitch by Sivivatu but Pearson said the province’s advantage was over just before contact was made.

Ohhh. What a chance for Ulster!

A mistake from Rougerie gives Craig Gilroy possession within sight of the line. However, a last-ditch tap tackle by by Lionel Faure (yes, the prop) is enough to bring the wing down and the opportunity is lost.

Ruan Pienaar misses a penalty kick from distance with a decent opportunity. It goes without saying that Brian McLaughlin’s men need to take every chance they get at the Stade Marcel Michelin, and they’ve fluffed two in the last few minutes.

Another chance for Trimble. A great break from Ferris and then Afoa sees ball recycled out wide. Only superb covering from Clermont keeps the visitors at bay, though they concede a penalty.

PENALTY ULSTER: Having just sent a similar kick wide, Pienaar nails his third attempt and the teams are level once again.

Superb cool from Stefan Terblanche. He brings Malzieu to the floor as the French international threatens to break away and score just before the interval. Incredibly, Ulster then earn a penalty and clear the danger from their own line.

The crowd isn’t happy as Pearson awards Ulster another penalty. It’s a kick from distance though and Pienaar’s effort fades to the right and away.

There’s still time for Terblanche to try and audacious attempt for a drop goal. It falls just metres short.

HALF TIME: Ulster’s efforts in France have not been fairly reflected on the scoreboard just yet. They could be further ahead as Pienaar has missed two kicks but what will really satisfy their coach is the fact that they successfully stifled a raging start from the home side.

Back underway in France.

Ulster win another penalty at the breakdown. Can they score early in the second half and really apply the pressure? We all know about unhappy French crowds and how they react!

PENALTY ULSTER: An incredible scrum from Ulster! They drive Clermont back right in front of their own posts and earn themselves a penalty. No error from Pienaar on this occasion and the Irish side are in front.

Robbie Keane gets a round of applause as he is substituted off at his old ground Molineux. He won the game for Villa today.

PENALTY CLERMONT: The response is instant. Brock James is introduced for Skrela and sets a relentless move in motion. Ulster eventually cough up a penalty, which Parra scores.

Lee Byrne gathers, calls for the mark and kicks a terrible ball forward. Ulster hoof possession right back to Clermont and James gathers on this occasion, calls for the mark and clears the danger. Class is permanent; disappointing from the Wales full-back.

PENALTY ULSTER: A lovely break from Humphreys draws another penalty from Pearson. Ulster push forward and then earn another kick. Pienaar converts on this occasion as the match referee puts himself in the spotlight for the French crowd.

Clermont’s attack come unstuck as Nathan Hines refuses to release Stephen Ferris and Wannenburg from the ruck and Ulster are awarded a penalty on their own line. Paul Marshall on for Humphreys.

TRY CLERMONT: The pressure eventually tells. Replacement prop Paulo goes over after another Clermont attack. Unlucky for Ulster; perhaps inevitable after the last few minutes though.

That try puts Clermont top of the pool courtesy of one additional try scored. That’s how tight this is!

PENALTY ULSTER: Another excellent scrum from Ulster in their opponents’ half leads to another penalty as Clermont players come out of the bind too soon. Pienaar converts and there’s only a single score between the sides…

Wannenburg is penalised for hands in the ruck as Clermont come forward again in the search for vital points. Give Parra a kick right in front of the posts and he will punish you…

Under three minutes left now and it’s an Ulster line-out in the Clermont half….

Arghhh! Tuohy fails to retain good possession before Johann Muller knocks on. It’s been a great showing from the Irish province already but they will feel like they left this one behind if they don’t get a result.

Ulster get a penalty and go for the line. Rory Best’s quick throw is not straight, however, and it’s Clermont ball. Likely to be game over…

FULL TIME: Clermont win and top the group. Ulster will play their quarter-final away from home but will test any side in the competition judged on their pool performances to date.

You’d have to feel for Brian McLaughlin and his men. Brock James’ introduction helped turn the tide at a crucial time – there was very little between them and their first victory in the competition on French soil.

That’s it for our coverage from France this evening. One more vital encounter – Northampton v Munster – coming right up.