If the Cheetahs believed their previous experience of a EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16 play-off was going to put them in good stead for Saturday's meeting with Clermont, they unfortunately remembered them too late.
Despite a short yet thrilling comeback effort in the final quarter, the men from Bloemfontein were simply too clumsy for the majority of their appearance at an atmospheric Parc des sport Marcel Michelin, suffering a 22-27 defeat that, in hindsight, might've been a lost opportunity.