Muller: If we lost fairly I’d take it . . . to lose like this really hurts [Irish Independent Story]

Johann Muller’s facial expressions mapped the course of a night they’ll never forget in Ravenhill.

The steel that met Billy Vunipola’s challenge twice in the ferocious opening exchanges was replaced by a mixture of pleading, shock and dread when Jerome Garces showed Jared Payne a fifth-minute red card after his clumsy challenge on Alex Goode.

After that, there was a grim determination from the soon-to-retire Springbok before he fought back tears as he was called from battle with 11 minutes left.

In between, there were the moments reserved only for his team-mates as the captain exhorted every last drop of energy from them in what was ultimately a heroic defeat as Ulster exited the Heineken Cup in the quarter-finals for the third time in four years………. for the full story follow this link http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/muller-if-we-lost-fairly-id-take-it-to-lose-like-this-really-hurts-30161152.html