Ulster start their crucial stretch of seven matches at the Twickenham Stoop this afternoon, with Les Kiss’ men hunting a win against Harlequins that could set the tone for a big few weeks ahead.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 1: Sunday, December 10
HARLEQUINS (4th) v ULSTER (3rd), Twickenham Stoop, 1pm (live BT Sport 3/beIN Sports/BBC Radio Ulster MW/RTE Radio 1/highlights TG4)
Team News: Returning Ireland internationals Iain Henderson, Jacob Stockdale and Rob Herring will start for Ulster in this afternoon’s Champions Cup round 3 match against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.
Versatile forward Henderson starts in the number 6 jersey in London and will captain the province in the absence of regular skipper Rory Best, who is ruled out because of a foot infection.
Sean Reidy and Nick Timoney will join Henderson in the back row, with Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell retained in the second row. Wiehahn Herbst, who missed Ulster’s recent games against Benetton Rugby and the Dragons due to a calf injury, is selected in the front row alongside Herring and Callum Black.
John Cooney and Christian Lealiifano will once again combine in the half-back positions, while Stuart McCloskey and Tommy Bowe are retained in midfield. Stockdale, one of Ireland’s stars of the recent GUINNESS Series, joins Craig Gilroy, who scored a brace of tries last weekend at Rodney Parade, and Charles Piutau in a potent back-three.
Ballymena forwards John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane and Matthew Rea are named on the bench, along with Chris Henry, Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson and Louis Ludik. Today’s Pool 1 clash will be televised on BT Sport 3, with live radio commentary on BBC Radio Ulster and RTE Radio 1.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old England prospect Marcus Smith will start at out-half, following his late withdrawal before last weekend’s 20-19 Aviva Premiership win over Saracens, in an otherwise unchanged Harlequins back-line.
‘Quins director of rugby John Kingston is minus the services of Will Collier (shoulder) and James Horwill (knee) up front, so Kyle Sinckler and Charlie Matthews get the nod at tighthead prop and in the second row respectively. In Horwill’s absence, England full-back Mike Brown will captain the hosts.
Brown is joined in the back-three by Tim Visser and Charlie Walker, who both touched down against Sarries, while 2017 Lions Joe Marler and Sinckler combine with Samoan youngster Elia Elia (21) in the front row, and the powerful back row of former England skipper Chris Robshaw, Namibian international Renaldo Bothma and New Zealander Mat Luamanu retain their positions.
HARLEQUINS: Mike Brown (capt); Charlie Walker, Alofa Alofa, Jamie Roberts, Tim Visser; Marcus Smith, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Elia Elia, Kyle Sinckler, George Merrick, Charlie Matthews, Renaldo Bothma, Chris Robshaw, Mat Luamanu.
Replacements: Dave Ward, Lewis Boyce, Phil Swainston, Dino Lamb, Archie White, Ian Prior, Winston Stanley, Ross Chisholm.
ULSTER: Charles Piutau; Craig Gilroy, Tommy Bowe, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Christian Lealiifano, John Cooney; Callum Black, Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (capt), Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Matthew Rea, Chris Henry, Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson, Louis Ludik.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant Referees: Maxime Chalon, Jean-Luc Rebollal (both France)
Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Harlequins to win: 1/2; Draw: 16/1; Ulster to win: 17/10
Pre-Match Quotes: John Cooney (Ulster) – “These games are huge – they are the ones that you love playing in. For me and the players, we are licking our lips and really looking forward to them. There are two big back-to-back games, Harlequins away and then home.
“Then we have Connacht away which is huge for me personally, we have Leinster away which is the same, Munster at home, another team I love to play. Then another two quality teams in La Rochelle and Wasps. For me, I can’t wait.
“Aspects of our game have let us down at a few key points in the last few games. We are working on that, we are working on the collective and the individual improvements. It’s something we are working on a lot but I think we’ve let teams play a bit too much against us. We have the right structures in place so we need to make sure we are a bit more switched on and I think we will be this weekend.
“I am looking forward to it, he (Danny Care) is playing well. It’s something we have been watching. He’s an exciting player, but I am going to try to put pressure on him. Harlequins have a very talented back-line. They have Mike Brown at full-back, Marcus Smith at 10, Jamie Roberts at 12 who is a good carrier. They have an awful lot of good players in that back-line and it is something we are going to have to negate. That’s the main plan.”
Dave Ward (Harlequins) – “Ulster are a really great side, a very dangerous outfit. They will come at us all guns blazing and we have to make sure we are on it from minute one. It is absolutely not an impossible task for us to qualify.
“If you win four games in Europe you will qualify, and we have four games left. It’s a cup situation for us now and we have to go on a decent cup run. There’s no better place to start that than home at the Stoop.
The atmosphere last week (for the Saracens game) was truly unbelievable. To hear it that loud is absolutely fantastic and we are looking a repeat performance, from not only us but the fans as well.”
Current Form – Harlequins – (Aviva Premiership): Lost 39-29 v London Irish (away), Won 28-17 v Gloucester (home), Won 24-21 v Wasps (away), Lost 31-28 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 30-22 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 42-26 v Sale Sharks (home); (Champions Cup): Lost 34-27 v La Rochelle (home), Lost 41-10 v Wasps (away); (Aviva Premiership): Won 41-35 v Worcester Warriors (home); (Anglo-Welsh Cup): Won 30-29 v Saracens (away), Won 45-37 v Worcester Warriors (home); (Aviva Premiership): Lost 31-17 v Exeter Chiefs (away), Lost 38-14 v Bath (away), Won 29-19 v Saracens (home)
Ulster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 42-19 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), Won 21-14 v Benetton Rugby (away), Won 27-20 v Scarlets (home), Won 52-25 v Dragons (home), Lost 27-23 v Zebre (away), Won 16-8 v Connacht (home); (Champions Cup): Won 19-9 v Wasps (home), Lost 41-17 v La Rochelle (away); (GUINNESS PRO14): Lost 25-10 v Leinster (home), Won 43-36 v Southern Kings (away), Won 23-22 v Benetton Rugby (home), Drew 32-32 v Dragons (away)
Top Scorers – 2017/18 European Champions Cup: Harlequins – Points: Marcus Smith 17; Tries: Charlie Matthews, Joe Marchant, Will Collier, Francis Saili 1; Ulster – Points: Christian Lealiifano 16; Tries: Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey, Christian Lealiifano, Tommy Bowe 1 each
Previous European Meetings: 3
Saturday, January 17, 2009 – Pool 4 – Ulster 21 Harlequins 10, Ravenhill
Saturday, October 18, 2008 – Pool 4 – Harlequins 42 Ulster 21, Twickenham Stoop
Wednesday, October 16, 1996 – Pool C – Ulster 15 Harlequins 21, Ravenhill
Match Facts –
– Aviva Premiership side Harlequins are propping up Pool 1 with a solitary point to their name following successive defeats in the opening rounds of European competition, losing to La Rochelle and Wasps
– It is a crucial game for both sides if they are to progress to the knockout stages, with Ulster currently six points behind pool leaders La Rochelle having won one and lost one so far in the Champions Cup
– Harlequins enter round 3 of European action buoyant having defeated reigning Champions Cup winners Saracens in the Premiership last weekend, while Ulster lost in the GUINNESS PRO14 last time out as well as being thumped 41-17 by La Rochelle in their last Champions Cup outing
– Sunday will be the fourth meeting between the sides with Harlequins having the edge in previous fixtures, beating the 1999 European Cup winners twice
European Cup Records:
Harlequins –
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2012/13: Reached the quarter-finals
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
1997/98: Reached the quarter-finals
1996/97: Reached the quarter-finals
Ulster –
2016/17: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Reached the quarter-finals
2011/12: Runners-up
2010/11: Reached the quarter-finals
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2002/03: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1998/99: Champions
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool C
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool B
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