Ulster are targeting their second win in eight days and getting such a result in the cauldron-like atmosphere of Stade Marcel Michelin would give them a huge boost for the rest of the season.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 5: Sunday, December 18
CLERMONT AUVERGNE (1st) v ULSTER (3rd), Stade Marcel Michelin, 4.05pm local time/3.05pm Irish time (live Sky Sports 4 HD/FR2/beIN Sports/BBC Radio Ulster MW/Newstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: Director of rugby Les Kiss has made just one change to the team for Ulster’s Champions Cup round 4 fixture away to Clermont Auvergne on Sunday.
Ulster will make the journey buoyed by their thrilling 39-32 victory over the star-studded French team, but will have it all to do once more against a side that has lost just once in 27 previous European Cup games at home.
Franco van der Merwe will come into the second row to replace fellow South African native Robbie Diack, who has been sidelined by injury and could be out for up to four weeks.
The rest of the province’s matchday squad remains unchanged, which means captain Rory Best and props Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst will make up the front row, with the Ireland trio of Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Sean Reidy retained in the back row.
Half-backs Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson are again joined in the back-line by Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Louis Ludik, Tommy Bowe and Charles Piutau.
Kieran Treadwell, who made his Champions Cup bow last weekend, features on the bench alongside fellow forwards Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Rodney Ah You and Clive Ross.
Jacob Stockdale could make his European debut at Stade Marcel Michelin after being named among the replacements, while Paul Marshall and Darren Cave complete the 23-man panel.
Meanwhile, Clermont Auvergne boss Franck Azéma has made five changes in personnel to the side that lost by seven points in Belfast.
Former All Black Isaia Toeava and Fijian-born French international Noa Nakaitaci have been added to the back-three, taking over from Scott Spedding and the injured David Strettle respectively.
Viktor Kolelishvili, who has 39 Georgia caps to his name, slots in at blindside flanker with captain Damien Chouly, a try scorer last week, reverting to number 8. Alexandre Lapandry, the third member of the back row, will make his 200th appearance for the club.
The two other changes are in the front five where 23-year-old loosehead Etienne Falgoux comes in for his first Champions Cup start, taking over from Raphael Chaume (thigh), and 22-year-old lock Arthur Iturria will make his tournament debut.
CLERMONT AUVERGNE: Isaia Toeava; Noa Nakaitaci, Remi Lamerat, Wesley Fofana, Nick Abendanon; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Etienne Falgoux, Benjamin Kayser, Davit Zirakashvili, Arthur Iturria, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Viktor Kolelishvili, Alexandre Lapandry, Damien Chouly (capt).
Replacements: John Ulugia, Thomas Domingo, Mickael Simutoga, Flip van der Merwe, Peceli Yato, Ludovic Radosavljevic, Pato Fernandez, Aurelien Rougerie.
ULSTER: Charles Piutau; Tommy Bowe, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Kyle McCall, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Peter Browne, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Sean Reidy.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Rodney Ah You, Kieran Treadwell, Clive Ross, Paul Marshall, Darren Cave, Jacob Stockdale.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Matteo Liperini, Simone Boaretto (both Italy)
Television Match Official: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Clermont Auvergne to win: 1/6; Draw: 20/1; Ulster to win: 7/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Tommy Bowe (Ulster) – “After the win in Belfast, it was the happiest I’ve been in a long time, the European games are the ones you really miss. After two years with injuries there has been a lot of hard work put in, and to be in a dressing room with that sort of atmosphere certainly made it seem all worthwhile.
“I’ve missed a lot of games (through injury), and there were times when you’re in the gym, looking at four walls and the knee isn’t great and you do wonder is this all worth it? But games like last weekend’s most definitely prove it’s worth all that rehab.
“It would be nice to get the ball in my hands and get a few tries now that’ll come, maybe Hendy will repay the compliment in France on Sunday! We’ve got to replicate the way we played last week, do our jobs in defence and in attack, play with real pace.
“We have to be wary of the threats of (Wesley) Fofana, (David) Strettle and the other great players. But, to be back, winning games with Ulster, and to be fully fit, sharp and happy is already a victory of sorts (for me).”
Neil Doak (Ulster) – “We are going into a very noisy stadium, a real cauldron, and we have to be ready for the welcome we’ll undoubtedly get, but we are looking forward to the return game, and go to France determined to get the win we need to keep our quarter-final hopes alive.
“We are going to have to bring the same pace, intensity and physicality to the game on Sunday, and we can’t allow Clermont to get a foothold in the match. Chasing down Clermont isn’t what we need, so we need to be precise, play at pace, make good decisions and make sure that while we concentrate on our game – we are aware of what Wesley Fofana, Nick Abendanon, Morgan Parra and the rest of the star players can do if we don’t do our jobs.
“What would I take from Sunday’s game? Being realistic I suppose two points – a try bonus and a losing bonus point – would keep us in the running for the final Pool 5 games in the New Year. But we do believe, and we offered the evidence last Saturday here in Belfast, that we can win, and that’s the target.
“We’ve made a few tweaks, worked on the things which didn’t go so well, and the boys are really up for this, we’re confident, with reason.”
Current Form – Clermont Auvergne – (Top 14 Championship): Drew 30-30 v La Rochelle (away), Won 26-22 v Montpellier (away), Drew 30-30 v Stade Francais (away), Won 47-10 v Racing 92 (home), Won 40-16 v Bordeaux-Bègles (home), Lost 23-21 v Toulon (away), Won 29-19 v Castres Olympique (home), Won 29-25 v Toulouse (home); (Champions Cup): Won 35-8 v Exeter Chiefs (away), Won 49-33 v Bordeaux-Bègles (home); (Top 14 Championship): Won 40-16 v Brive (away), Won 21-20 v Grenoble (home), Lost 22-14 v Bayonne (away), Won 16-13 v Lyon (home), Lost 40-35 v Pau (away); (Champions Cup): Lost 39-32 v Ulster (away)
Ulster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 29-8 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), Won 22-11 v Benetton Treviso (away), Won 19-8 v Scarlets (home), Won 22-17 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 9-7 v Ospreys (home), Lost 30-25 v Connacht (away); (Champions Cup): Lost 28-13 v Bordeaux-Bègles (away), Won 19-18 v Exeter Chiefs (home); (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 15-14 v Munster (home), Lost 28-17 v Edinburgh (away), Won 35-22 v Cardiff Blues (away); (Champions Cup): Won 39-32 v Clermont Auvergne (home)
Top Scorers – 2016/17 European Champions Cup: Clermont Auvergne – Points: Morgan Parra 37; Tries: Wesley Fofana 3; Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 41; Tries: Luke Marshall 2
Previous European Meetings: 3
Saturday, December 10, 2016 – Pool 5 – Ulster 39 Clermont Auvergne 32, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday, January 21, 2012 – Pool 4 – Clermont Auvergne 19 Ulster 15, Stade Marcel Michelin
Saturday, November 12, 2011 – Pool 4 – Ulster 16 Clermont Auvergne 11, Ravenhill
European Cup Records:
Clermont Auvergne –
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2014/15: Runners-up
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Runners-up
2011/12: Reached the semi-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2009/10: Reached the quarter-finals
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2002/03: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
1999/00: Reached the quarter-finals
Ulster –
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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