Ulster know the significance of their 38-0 hammering of Toulouse will lessen if they do not back it up with a positive result in the return fixture, as the province try to take another step on the way to the Champions Cup’s last-eight.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 1: Sunday, December 20
TOULOUSE (3rd) v ULSTER (2nd), Stade Ernest Wallon, 2pm local time/1pm Irish time (live Sky Sports 3 HD/beIN Sports/BBC Radio Ulster MW/highlights TG4)
Team News: Director of rugby Les Kiss has named the Ulster squad to travel to Toulouse for Sunday’s European Champions Cup Pool 1 game at Stade Ernest Wallon.
There are two changes to the team that defeated the French giants 38-0 last weekend, both of which come in the back row, as Kiss carefully manages his playing resources during a busy fixture schedule.
Sean Reidy is set to make his Champions Cup debut after being named at openside flanker, while Roger Wilson will start at number 8 in place of Nick Williams. Chris Henry, one of the try scorers last time out, has been ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Rory Best will again captain the side from hooker and will be flanked in the front row by Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst. Alan O’Connor and Franco van der Merwe continue in the second row.
The back-line is unchanged from last week – Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson occupy the half-back positions, Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall start together in midfield and Craig Gilroy, Andrew Trimble and Louis Ludik make up the back-three.
Rob Herring, Andy Warwick and Ricky Lutton are the front row replacements for a second consecutive week, as Lewis Stevenson and Williams provide further cover up front. Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys and Rory Scholes complete the matchday 23.
Meanwhile, Toulouse boss Ugo Mola has made nine personnel changes to the side that slumped to a heavy 38-0 beating in Belfast last time out.
A new back-three combination is made up of Alexis Palisson, Kunatani Kunabuli and Timoci Matanavou, while England’s Toby Flood makes way for Florian Fritz at inside centre and Jean-Marc Dousain comes in for former All Black Luke McAlister at out-half.
Up front, Louis Picamoles’ place at numer 8 goes to Imanol Harinordoquy with Gregory Lamboley slotting in beside Yoann Maestri in the second row and Julien Marchand and Cyril Baille introduced into the front row.
Ulster will know that Toulouse are a much different proposition on home soil. Indeed, they have won five Top 14 fixtures on their own patch so far this season and also defeated Oyonnax 24-18 in the Champions Cup.
TOULOUSE: Alexis Palisson; Kunatani Kunabuli, Gael Fickou, Florian Fritz, Timoci Matanavou; Jean-Marc Doussain, Sébastien Bézy; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Census Johnston, Gregory Lamboley, Yoann Maestri, Yacouba Camara, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Imanol Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Christopher Tolofua, Gurthro Steenkamp, Gert Muller, Joe Tekori, Louis Picamoles, Gillian Galan, David Mele, Clément Poitrenaud.
ULSTER: Louis Ludik; 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, Andrew Warwick, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson, Nick Williams, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Rory Scholes.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant Referees: Darren Gamage, Paul Burton (both England)
Television Match Official: David Grashoff (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Toulouse to win: 4/9; Draw: 17/1; Ulster to win: 2/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Allen Clarke (Ulster) – “There were a lot of aspects we were very satisfied with (last Friday), but obviously being in this world you are looking at what you need to improve on and you need to have that ambition.
“The guys have been really honest about it this week and that is key. They want to improve. The confidence they showed last week to want to execute certain things is something which we want them to have. They have belief more than ever.
“We have full respect for Toulouse because they are a great side. We were fantastic last weekend, but it was parked over the weekend and the focus turned to what we have to do this weekend.
“First and foremost we recognised we played very well last week and we respect what it took to build that performance to get to that result. We have also recognised things that we need to do better this week.
“I know the scoreline is massive, but when you look at the game there were key moments in it where we took our opportunities and did well under pressure and defend resolutely against that.
“The key for us is recognising what it took to get the win and also respecting we are away from home this week, going to a place we have not won before and a team which has not been beaten at home this season.”
Current Form – Toulouse – (Top 14 Championship): Won 24-7 at home to Brive; Won 20-9 away to Agen; Won 37-20 at home to Castres Olympique; Lost 9-6 away to Pau; Won 39-22 at home to La Rochelle; Lost 12-10 away to Bordeaux-Begles; Won 33-25 away to Montpellier; Won 52-12 at home to Grenoble; (European Champions Cup): Lost 32-7 away to Saracens; Won 24-18 at home to Oyonnax; (Top 14 Championship): Lost 28-13 away to Racing 92; Won 27-3 at home to Oyonnax; (European Champions Cup): Lost 38-0 away to Ulster
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
Top Scorers – 2015/16 European Champions Cup: Toulouse – Points: Luke McAlister 9; Tries: Christopher Tolofua, Maxime Médard, Gael Fickou, Timoci Matanavou 1 each; Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 20; Tries: Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Nick Williams, Chris Henry 1 each
Previous European Meetings: 8
Friday, December 11, 2015 – Pool 1 – Ulster 38 Toulouse 0, Kingspan Stadium
Sunday, January 21, 2007 – Pool 5 – Toulouse 28 Ulster 13, Stade Ernest Wallon
Saturday, October 21, 2006 – Pool 5 – Ulster 30 Toulouse 3, Ravenhill
Friday, October 27, 2000 – Pool 3 – Ulster 25 Toulouse 29, Ravenhill
Sunday, October 22, 2000 – Pool 3 – Toulouse 35 Ulster 35, Stade Municipal
Friday, December 11, 1998 – Quarter-final – Ulster 15 Toulouse 13, Ravenhill
Friday, October 16, 1998 – Pool C – Ulster 29 Toulouse 24, Ravenhill
Saturday, September 26, 1998 – Pool C – Toulouse 39 Ulster 3, Stade Ernest Wallon
Match Facts –
– Ulster were the first team in European Cup history to keep Toulouse scoreless in a match when they beat them 38-0 in round 3
– Toulouse are still just 21 points shy of their 4000th in the European Cup
– Toulouse have lost just twice in 10 home matches against Irish opponents in the European Cup
– Toulouse have averaged the most (19) and Ulster the fewest (3.5) offloads per game this season in the Champions Cup
European Cup Records:
Toulouse –
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Reached the semi-finals
2009/10: Champions
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2007/08: Runners-up
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Reached the quarter-finals
2004/05: Champions
2003/04: Runners-up
2002/03: Champions
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Reached the semi-finals
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Reached the semi Finals
1996/97: Reached the semi-finals
1995/96: Champions
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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