ULSTER assistant coach Allen Clarke says his side has no intention of settling for anything less than victory in Toulouse on Sunday.
They head for the south of France with their qualification hopes back in their own hands following one of the great European nights at the Kingspan Stadium last Friday.
The four-time continental champions were kept scoreless for the first time in the history of the competition as Ulster ran in five tries in a 38-0 win. It quickly lifted the smog that had enveloped Ravenhill Park following a sobering 29-7 opening round defeat by Saracens.
They now head to Toulouse this weekend knowing that they will face a wounded animal. The tightest defence in the Top 14 was overwhelmed in Belfast, the backline starved by a broken front eight that was left to rue losing Louis Picamoles in the first-half.
Permutations are starting to creep onto the horizon, with the knowledge that even a losing bonus point on Sunday will leave Toulouse relying on either a favour or a miracle. But likewise, while even a losing bonus point may leave Toulouse floundering, anything less than an Ulster victory will leave their own hopes of claiming a best runner-up spot in the quarter-finals hanging in the balance.
For Clarke, the minute Ulster stop thinking about winning in the Stade Ernest-Wallon is the minute they will find their European dream in bits: “I think you have to be that way because, if you set your stall any lower, you go to Toulouse and you don’t do enough to get the win if you’re only aiming for one point," he said.
“For us, we have a really good, competitive group of players, who are buzzing at the moment. They’re really buying into how they’re being challenged, but also the empowerment that they’re being afforded through that challenge.
“As such, they’re going over there with the appetite to get the points. I stress, we respect the challenge, but we’re backing ourselves at the moment. It’s refreshing,” said the former Ulster and Ireland hooker.
It was the one bright spot on a disappointing weekend for Irish rugby. Munster and Leinster both neared the point of despair, particularly the latter, whose European campaign looks to be over already. But in a way, those two defeats painted an even bolder fluorescence on Ulster’s victory. Clarke admitted to enjoying the headlines.
“It was nearly as complete as you would get. It wasn’t perfect and we know that. But it was fantastic for the player group and Ulster," he added.
“I happened to have Sky News on afterwards and, if you listen to the announcements and how it was being advertised, I thought it was a great advertisement for Ulster, the people of Ulster and us as a rugby team.”
While Ruan Pienaar’s classy display from scrum-half stole the headlines, Clarke agreed that two youngsters in the pack had served Ulster well. Kyle McCall has taken his chance at loosehead in the absence of Callum Black and Andrew Warwick, while Alan O’Connor’s display in the second-row also drew praise as Clarke revealed his input in O’Connor signing for Ulster.
“I know them both well. Alan and I were on the plane back from South Africa from the Junior World Championship and I happened to ask him what he was doing next year. It’s funny how the world goes around," he said.
“I thought the two of them had tremendous games. They’re young guys. Kyle’s had a great run of form over the last month. That’s an opportunity that’s presented itself on the back of other peoples’ injuries but, also, he’s had a good run of training form, without being interrupted through injury.
“Alan O’Connor was really good considering that was his first top game of the season. His contribution on the night was fantastic. But that complimented the rest of the player group. It’s very difficult to identify two or three players from that performance.”
