How Ulster Can Close the Gap to Europe's Elite The Challenge Cup final may have ended in heartbreak for Ulster, but as Richie Murphy observed, "we're a completely different team" from where they were just 12 months ago.
This season's progress, though marred by defeat, marks a turning point for the province.
Ulster's incremental improvements are evident: they finished 14 points better off than the previous United Rugby Championship campaign and rose to ninth in the table.