Having pulled off a remarkable comeback against Oyonnax last week, Ulster’s next challenge is closing the gap on Pool 1 pacesetters Saracens as they look to avenge November’s heavy home defeat to Mark McCall’s men.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 1: Saturday, January 16
SARACENS (1st) v ULSTER (2nd), Allianz Park, 3.15pm (live BT Sport Europe/BBC Radio Ulster MW/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights TG4)
Team News: Jared Payne will start at full-back for Ulster in Saturday’s European Champions Cup encounter with pool leaders Saracens at Allianz Park.
Payne will be making his first appearance of the season for the province after overcoming a foot injury he picked up during last year’s Rugby World Cup.
The fit-again Ireland international is joined in the back three by Craig Gilroy and Andrew Trimble, who earned his 200th Ulster cap against Munster a fortnight ago. Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall continue their impressive centre partnership, while influential pair Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson occupy the half-back positions.
Kyle McCall, man-of-the-match and Kingspan MVP in last Sunday’s memorable 24-23 win over Oyonnax, is named in the front row alongside captain Rory Best and Wiehahn Herbst, who has recovered from a calf strain.
Franco van der Merwe and Alan O’Connor will reunite in the second row, with Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy and Roger Wilson selected in the back row. Chris Henry has been ruled out with a slight shoulder injury.
Rob Herring, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson and Clive Ross will provide cover for the forwards, while Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys and Rory Scholes are the back-line replacements.
Meanwhile, Mark McCall has names seven of the eight Saracens players who made England’s extended squad in his starting line-up. Full-back Alex Goode is the only absentee due to a slight knock.
In Goode’s place is Ben Ransom who joins England winger Chris Ashton and USA international Chris Wyles in Sarries’ back-three. Centre Brad Barritt continues to skipper the side in Alistair Hargreaves’ enforced absence, and will partner Marcelo Bosch in midfield.
Owen Farrell continues at out-half, linking up with Richard Wigglesworth at half-back, while Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Petrus du Plessis combine in the front row with Maro Itoje and George Kruis pairing up in the second row.
Will Fraser, who missed the November clash, will wear the number 7 jersey and joins Michael Rhodes and Billy Vunipola in the back row.
Sarries produced a strong second half display to run out 27-9 winners when the sides met in Belfast in round 2. Ransom, Bosch and George are the other personnel changes from that night.
SARACENS: Ben Ransom; Chris Ashton, Marcelo Bosch, Brad Barritt (capt), Chris Wyles; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Petrus du Plessis, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Michael Rhodes, Will Fraser, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Schalk Brits, Richard Barrington, Juan Figallo, Jim Hamilton, Jackson Wray, Neil de Kock, Charlie Hodgson, Duncan Taylor.
ULSTER: Jared Payne; Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Kyle McCall, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe; Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Clive Ross, Sean Reidy, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Rory Scholes.
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal, Mathieu Noirot (both France)
Television Match Official: Gilles Cogne (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Saracens to win: 1/6; Draw: 22/1; Ulster to win: 4/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Niall Malone (Ulster) – “We expected to win last Sunday and I guess we would have hoped to take a bonus point from that as well. We also expected Saracens to defeat Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership as well, but they lost their first game of the season.
“We are aware of the track record we have against Saracens, but that does not make it less likely we can win this weekend. We have real respect for how good they are and we want to be respected as a good team as well.
“If we could outplay or beat a team regarded so highly it gives us huge credit and that is our focus for this weekend. I think it is easier to focus for the better teams. We are underdogs this weekend but we feel we are in a really good position to play like underdogs with the players we have and some fresh faces coming back in. We have a good chance.
“Last year a team got through (to the quarter-finals) on 17 points. We are on 13 and only based on last year 17 could be enough, but if you look at the tables I do not really think it would be enough.
“If we can win this weekend then so be it, if we cannot, then we would hope it would be with a losing bonus point. I still think we could get enough out of the final game against Oyonnax to get through. But it all guesswork at the moment, we just have to focus on what we can do.”
Mark McCall (Saracens) – “This group in the past has been pretty good at dealing with the odd setback. We’ve got a big game to get our teeth stuck into against Ulster (after losing in the league to Harlequins) and we’ll get stuck into it this week.
“They have players all over the field who are capable of winning games on both the domestic and international stage. In the past few seasons Ulster have always been tough opponents for us, and they have made some real strides under Les Kiss in the last four or five weeks.
“Earlier this season they provided us with a really difficult game at Kingspan Stadium and we are expecting the same again this Saturday.”
Current Form – Saracens – (Aviva Premiership): Won 41-3 at home to Sale Sharks; Won 17-15 away to Gloucester; Won 24-14 at home to London Irish; Won 12-6 away to Northampton Saints; (European Champions Cup): Won 32-7 at home to Toulouse; Won 27-9 away to Ulster; (Aviva Premiership): Won 48-18 at home to Worcester Warriors; Won 38-3 away to Newcastle Falcons; (European Champions Cup): Won 45-10 away to Oyonnax; Won 55-13 at home to Oyonnax; (Aviva Premiership): Won 26-16 away to Wasps; Won 26-6 at home to Leicester Tigers; Lost 29-23 away to Harlequins
Ulster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 28-6 at home to the Ospreys; Lost 22-12 away to the Scarlets; Won 48-7 at home to Benetton Treviso; Lost 16-10 away to Edinburgh; Won 24-17 at home to Cardiff Blues; Lost 32-28 away to Munster; Won 19-12 away to Newport Gwent Dragons; (European Champions Cup): Lost 27-9 at home to Saracens; (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 8-3 away to Leinster; Won 14-7 at home to Edinburgh; (European Champions Cup): Won 38-0 at home to Toulouse; Won 25-23 away to Toulouse; (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 10-3 away to Connacht; Lost 9-7 at home to Munster; (European Champions Cup): Won 24-23 away to Oyonnax
Top Scorers – 2015/16 European Champions Cup: Saracens – Points: Owen Farrell 46; Tries: Chris Wyles 4; Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 39; Tries: Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall 2 each
Previous European Meetings: 7
Friday, November 20, 2015 – Pool 1 – Ulster 9 Saracens 27, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday, April 5, 2014 – Quarter-final – Ulster 15 Saracens 17, Ravenhill
Saturday, April 6, 2013 – Quarter-final – Saracens 27 Ulster 16, Twickenham
Saturday, December 17, 2005 – Pool 4 – Saracens 18 Ulster 10, Vicarage Road
Friday, December 9, 2005 – Pool 4 – Ulster 19 Saracens 10, Ravenhill
Friday, January 19, 2001 – Pool 3 – Ulster 13 Saracens 21, Ravenhill
Sunday, October 15, 2000 – Pool 3 – Saracens 55 Ulster 25, Vicarage Road
Match Facts –
– Saracens have won all four of their games so far this season in the Champions Cup, only once before have they won five in a row in the competition and never before have they won all their pool games
– Saracens have won 11 of their last 12 home games in the competition, including their last seven in a row
– Ulster have lost six of their seven games against Saracens, with their solitary positive result in this run coming in 2005
– Saracens have scored exactly 100 points in their three home matches against Ulster, conceding 51
– Ulster are the top tacklers in the European competition this season, having registered a total of 552. Their top tackler is lock Franco van der Merwe with 47
– Saracens top the points tally in this year’s Champions Cup having scored 159 in their four outings, averaging 39 points a game
– In all previous clashes between the two sides Saracens have scored a total of 175 points, while Ulster have recorded 107
– Both sides come into round 5 having won their last three Champions Cup fixtures
European Cup Records:
Saracens –
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Runners-up
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2007/08: Reached the semi-finals
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
Ulster –
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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