Pool 1’s two winners from the opening round have a Sunday date at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, as Ulster play Champions Cup newcomers La Rochelle for the first time in their history.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 1: Sunday, October 22
LA ROCHELLE (1st) v ULSTER (2nd), Stade Marcel-Deflandre, 4.15pm local time/3.15pm Irish time (live Sky Sports Action/FR2/beIN Sports/BBC Radio Ulster MW/Newstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: Andrew Trimble will become Ulster’s most-capped player of all-time this afternoon when he lines out in the Champions Cup round 2 encounter with La Rochelle at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
Trimble will earn his 222nd cap, surpassing the record of 221 that he currently shares with Roger Wilson. The Coleraine native has scored 74 tries for the province since he made his competitive debut against Cardiff Blues in September 2005.
Robbie Diack could become just the third player to reach 200 Ulster appearances after he was named among the replacements by director of rugby Les Kiss. The Ireland-capped forward moved to Belfast in the summer of 2008 and made his debut against the Scarlets in September of that year.
Ireland captain Rory Best has also been included on Ulster’s bench and is set to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in training last month.
Iain Henderson, who captained Ulster for the first time during the 19-9 home win against Wasps last Friday, will again lead the side. He will line out in the back row alongside Chris Henry, who has recovered from a larynx injury, and number 8 Sean Reidy.
Callum Black will join hooker Rob Herring and Wiehahn Herbst in the front row, with recent Ireland debutant Kieran Treadwell and Alan O’Connor occupying the second row berths.
Paul Marshall will partner Christian Lealiifano at half-back, with Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Darren Cave combining in midfield. Trimble will link up with Tommy Bowe and Charles Piutau in an all-international back-three.
Ballymena clubman Matthew Rea could make his European debut if called upon from the bench, while Kyle McCall and Rodney Ah You will provide further forward cover along with Diack and the returning Best.
John Cooney, Luke Marshall and Jacob Stockdale, who all started against Wasps in the opening round, are also named in the matchday squad and will offer plenty of attacking threats as the reserve backs.
Meanwhile, La Rochelle coaches Patrice Collazo and Xavier Garbajosa have made three personnel changes and two positional switches to the side that started last week’s exciting 34-27 bonus point victory away to Harlequins.
Gabriel Lacroix and Pierre Aguillon are added to a French-dominated back-line which is marshalled by well-travelled former England Saxons out-half Ryan Lamb. Vincent Rattez reverts to full-back and Geoffrey Doumayrou, who touched down twice in round 1, moves to outside centre to accommodate Aguillon’s inclusion.
Fijian international Botia Veivuke comes in at blindside flanker in the only change up front. Captain Jason Eaton and fellow former All Black Victor Vito, the Top 14 Player of the Year last season, also start along with heavyweight France tighthead Uini Atonio.
LA ROCHELLE: Vincent Rattez; Gabriel Lacroix, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Pierre Aguillon, Jérémy Sinzelle; Ryan Lamb, Alexi Bales; Dany Priso, Hikairo Forbes, Uini Atonio, Jason Eaton (capt), Jone Qovu Nailiko, Botia Veivuke, Kevin Gourdon, Victor Vito.
Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Mike Corbel, Vincent Pelo, William Demotte, Romain Sazy, Jean-Victor Goillot, Paul Jordaan, Elliot Roudil.
ULSTER: Charles Piutau; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy Bowe; Christian Lealiifano, Paul Marshall; Callum Black, Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (capt), Chris Henry, Sean Reidy.
Replacements: Rory Best, Kyle McCall, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Matthew Rea, John Cooney, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Simon Rees, Jon Hardy (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Sean Brickell (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): La Rochelle to win: 1/4; Draw: 20/1; Ulster to win: 16/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Jono Gibbes (Ulster) – “From my experience last year in France with Clermont, La Rochelle are individually one of the most skilful, X-factor teams in France. Toulouse who have Maxime Medard and Gael Fickou, players who can create things…La Rochelle seem to have one to 15 who can do all sorts of things.
“So, certainly, the threat is pretty real. I’d compare them to the Scarlets. Not in the same way that they play, but the Scarlets have built a style of play and you can see that they are comfortable with it and has come to fruition by winning the title last year.
“La Rochelle have built in the course of the last year, 18 months a style they are pretty comfortable with. They are different to the Scarlets but they are happy and they have had some fantastic away results.
“They finished first of the Top 14 last year, and they were the top attack and second best defence after 26 games. So they’ve built on good framework of team work and they are pretty comfortable with that.
“You can see already it’s going to be tight. La Rochelle getting five (points) away to Harlequins, that’s a pretty clear message. We have to fight for every point but we knew that coming in. It’s a big game, it’s a big challenge but one to get excited about. They’re up for it.
“This group is starting to build more understanding from each game. We’re understanding a bit more from each game about ourselves, about what we can do, where our strengths lie, what we’re good at. Four points was a good start (against Wasps) as we’ll try to build on that this weekend.”
Chris Henry (Ulster) – “I just had an elbow in the throat when I was tackling (against Connacht), these things happen in a match but it was very painful at the time, I lost my voice straight away so it was hard to communicate with the referee.
“After getting scans there was far too much swelling and they didn’t want to take the risk (against Wasps last week) in case I got another knock. With a week’s rest my voice has come back – it’s still a bit raspy but a lot better that it was.
“The fact we have won on French soil before is brilliant but La Rochelle are a side that have built this up for a long time, and what a journey they have had. We know they are going to be bouncing off the walls on Sunday and we need to come and try to match that the best we can.
“They have home advantage and we know what it is like to play against big French teams. I’ve never played La Rochelle but I’m guessing it is going to be a similar atmosphere to Clermont where the fans don’t stop and with the noise you can’t even hear your own call.
“We have to be really focused and clear in our game-plan but obviously bring the passion and ferocity that they are going to bring, and if we can weather that storm and get parity in certain areas we’re confident when we get going and firing we can challenge any team.”
Current Form – La Rochelle – (Top 14 Championship): Won 19-10 v Brive (away), Lost 35-24 v Stade Francais (home), Won 51-20 v Clermont Auvergne (home), Won 20-15 v Agen (away), Won 57-12 v Oyonnax (home), Lost 26-20 v Toulon (away), Won 16-9 v Racing 92 (home); (Champions Cup): Won 34-27 v Harlequins (away)
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)
Top Scorers – 2017/18 European Champions Cup: La Rochelle – Points: Ryan Lamb 14; Tries: Geoffrey Doumayrou 2; Ulster – Points: Christian Lealiifano 6; Tries: Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey 1 each
Previous European Meetings: 0
Match Facts –
– Ulster have lost their last two games away to Tiop 14 opposition, both in last season’s campaign, this after winning four of their previous five away games in France
– At home, La Rochelle have won their last five European pool games (all in the Challenge Cup), with four of those victories coming by 20-plus points
– Ulster were one of just two teams that did not concede a try in the opening round. Bath were the other side to enjoy a try shutout
European Cup Records:
La Rochelle –
N/A
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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