Johann Muller's joy at Ulster's progression to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup is tinged with regret after the Irish province threw away their chance of a home tie in the last eight of the competition.
Connacht's victory over Harlequins on Friday night ensured Brian McLaughlin's men would progress to the quarter-finals but they needed to beat Clermont Auvergne to be assured of a plum home draw.
Despite having numerous chances to defeat the French side, Ulster slumped to a 19-15 defeat and it was a loss that could prove costly with a daunting trip to Thomond Park up next for the 1999 champions.
Muller believes Ulster panicked in the latter stages of the match and he has spoken of his regret at their inability to take any of the chances they created in the final stages of the game.
"For me, as captain, it was the most disappointing part of the game," Muller said.
"There was an awful lot of experience associated with the squad and, despite all the growth we have shown over the last 18 months, we failed to deliver in the last 15 minutes.
"There was a lack of composure, and whenever we had chances to get back into the game near the end, we failed to take them. The week before, against Leicester, we had four chances and scored four tries, game over.
"But despite that, we have learned and grown in stature since this time last year. The type of rugby we have played in the last five weeks was never shown last year. We were delighted to have reached the quarter-finals then after a 12-year wait, but we are bitterly disappointed that we failed to get a home draw. That’s how we have come on."
The IRFU had hoped to move the quarter-final clash to the Aviva Stadium but Munster want the game to take place in Thomond Park and Muller knows it will be a tough ask for Ulster.
"It’s going to be a massive task. We all know they never go away. It’s amazing how they always manage to get a win when everything look down and out," he is quoted as saying in the Irish Examiner.
"It was either Leinster or Munster and it’s a pity it had to be another Irish team in the quarter-final. It is a carrot that we will get a home semi-final, but we want to concentrate on Munster and how we can stop them.
"I don’t think they played particularly well in the pool stages. Then again they have not been beaten, but that is Munster. It is not going to be easy."