Ulster 20-13 La Rochelle
Ireland internationals Rory Best and Jacob Stockdale scored first-half tries as Ulster beat La Rochelle 20-13 at Kingspan Stadium.
Nick Timoney also crossed in a win that keeps alive Ulster hopes of a place in the quarter finals of the European Champions Cup,
With 8 minutes on the clock, Ulster defenders strayed offside in their own 22; 60 seconds later, they were 3-0 down thanks to the boot of Alexi Bales.
In the 16th minute, Ulster's clumsy defending was again punished by the scrum half. This time the home side were guilty of pulling a man down from the lineout, and Bales slotted his kick from 30 metres.
Ulster were given the numerical advantage with 22 minutes played as La Rochelle replacement Paul Jordaan was shown a yellow card for tackling Piutau while the fullback was in the air.
The home province didn't waste much time in making it count, as captain Rory Best drove over from close range on the back of a maul to score the opening try in the 28th minute.
Ulster went ahead 4 minutes before the break, Jacob Stockdale somehow wriggling free of a couple of La Rochelle defenders to dive into the corner for a try to put the province 10-6 ahead.
However, the visitors were back in control early in the second half. In the 43rd Murimurivalu returned a deep kick before being tackled on the halfway line.
Victor Vito suddenly broke from the ruck, catching Ulster cold, before making 20 yards and then releasing Alexi Bales to score and convert.
Ulster hit back immediately though, with La Rochelle making a mess of defending in their own 22.
Darren Cave pounced on a loose ball and fed Nick Timoney who powered over from 10 yards. John Cooney's conversion made it 17-13 just 7 minutes into a frantic second half.
A Cooney penalty nudged Ulster a further 3 points ahead, and despite a long period of encampment in their own 22, the home side were able to weather the storm of the powerful La Rochelle scrum, and secure the win.