European Champions Cup: Ulster v Clermont Auvergne (today, 1pm, Kingspan Stadium, live on Sky Sports 2)
ULSTER will take on Top 14 league leaders Clermont at a sold-out Kingspan Stadium this afternoon knowing that nothing less than victory will keep their qualification hopes alive.
For the hosts, the return of international pair Rory Best and Paddy Jackson is priceless.
Jackson’s increased involvement with Ireland during the November series has damaged Ulster’s Pro12 campaign. Their other internationals have proved to be replaceable but they just lack anywhere near the same attacking fluency when Jackson’s not in the team.
The renewal of his partnership with Ruan Pienaar will only flourish if the Ulster pack can create opportunities for them, as returned flanker Chris Henry admits.
“We’ve done an awful lot of analysis on them already this week. Their backline and our backline are two of the best around.
“Whichever forward pack gets the ball and gets good quality ball and fast ball, is probably the three biggest aspects of who’s going to win this game. That’s where our mindset and focus is at the moment,” he said.
Ulster’s backline, though, is shredded by injuries. Louis Ludik’s early season form was impressive but he wouldn’t have been first in line for a spot on the left wing were it not for such a list of absentees.
Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy and Stuart Olding are all unavailable, so it’s Ludik who is chosen ahead of the fledgling Jacob Stockdale.
The physical presence of Stuart McCloskey in midfield will be invaluable as Ulster look to front up to a frightening Clermont attack.
The visitors will travel without French winger Noa Nakaitaci, who is ruled out through injury and is replaced by Nick Abendanon.
But in full-back Scott Spedding and the central pairing of Rémi Lamerat and the in-form Wesley Fofana, there are no shortage of threats for the Top 14 league leaders.
Up front, in the absence of the suspended Fritz Lee, Fijian number 8 Peceli Yato retains his place alongside skipper Damien Chouly. A titanic tussle between the two sets of forwards awaits, and Chris Henry can’t wait.
Sporting a black eye from his try-scoring return against Cardiff last weekend, he and Rory Best are the only two of the pack remaining from Clermont’s last visit to Ravenhill five years ago.
On that occasion Ulster claimed a 16-11 win, and the following year collected their first ever Heineken Cup win on French soil against Castre, a feat they’ve repeated three times since.
Two of them came last season as Ulster completed back-to-back wins over Toulouse and a thrilling comeback against Oyonnax.
“These European Cup games, no matter what, it’s the closest thing to test match rugby.
“Obviously there’s been talk already of the history of French teams coming to town and historically we’re very good, but that’s in the past,” said Henry.
“The players understand that it’s not just going to happen because it’s a French team. There’s aspects of last week I was happy about but ultimately I’m going to have to be a lot better, especially at the breakdown.
“There were chances at the weekend where I thought I could have stayed on the ball a bit longer and got a few turnovers.”
Yet even victory may assure Ulster of very little in terms of qualification. Failing to take even a losing bonus point from their opening round defeat in Bordeaux back in October left them facing an uphill climb from the start.
A last-gasp win over Exeter renewed hope but with trips to both Clermont and Exeter yet to come, and at least four wins needed to emerge from the pool stage, qualification is a huge ask.
Their form was at least arrested by a five-try victory in Cardiff. What will give Ulster heart is that, in spite of their good form, their defensive line has been porous.
“They're not afraid to kick, with Parra's left boot but it can offer you something if you're not afraid to go at them,” said Les Kiss.
“They've scored a lot of points, but there's been a lot of points scored against them too.
“You have to match them in the forward pack to get any leverage against them. The similarities are there, but that's were it stops.
“We know that's there but it's up to us to put something together as a collective. The pack really has to be a good eight and the backs have to be buzzing.”
