After a winless run in recent weeks, Ulster are looking to make the most of ‘a fresh start’ as the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup brings Leicester Tigers to town for a Saturday evening showdown.
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 4: Saturday, October 13
ULSTER v LEICESTER TIGERS, Kingspan Stadium, 5.30pm (live BT Sport 2/Newstalk/highlights Virgin Media One)
Team News: Ulster have been boosted by the return of five players from injury ahead of their opening Heineken Champions Cup Pool 4 match against Leicester Tigers at Kingspan Stadium this evening.
Craig Gilroy, Jordi Murphy, Will Addison, Michael Lowry and Martin Moore are all included in the province’s matchday 23 after overcoming their respective injuries. Tickets for the much-anticipated European opener are available at ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.
It will be competitive debut for Ireland international Moore if introduced off the bench, while fellow summer signings Murphy, Addison and Billy Burns will make their Champions Cup bows for Ulster, having previously represented other teams in the competition.
The 20-year-old Lowry, a member of the Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy, and South African powerhouse Marcell Coetzee are set to make their European debuts after being named in the starting XV at full-back and blindside flanker respectively.
Rory Best will skipper the side from hooker and pack down in the front row alongside Andrew Warwickand Ross Kane. Coetzee and Murphy will combine in an explosive back row that also features Nick Timoney, a try scorer against Connacht last Friday, while Iain Henderson and Alan O’Connor are paired together again in the second row.
Burns and John Cooney will operate in the half-back positions, the latter having scored 49 points in his first European campaign with Ulster last season. The in-form Stuart McCloskey is joined by Addison in midfield, and Jacob Stockdale, who made a try-scoring return last week, combines with Lowry and Gilroy in the back-three.
Head coach Dan McFarland has selected Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Moore, Kieran Treadwell and Sean Reidy as the forward replacements. Dave Shanahan, Angus Curtis (20) and 19-year-old winger Angus Kernohan are his back-line reinforcements.
Meanwhile. Leicester Tigers welcome international duo Matt Toomua and Tatafu Polota-Nau back into the matchday squad for the trip to Belfast. The pair return from Rugby Championship duty with Australia and are included among the replacements as Tigers interim head coach Geordan Murphy makes just two changes to the starting XV.
Jonny May misses out with the shoulder injury suffered in the 23-15 win over Northampton Saints at Twickenham last Saturday, giving 20-year-old talent Jordan Olowofela an opportunity on the left wing, and there is a change in the pack where David Denton is ruled out and Brendon O’Connor returns.
Welsh native Gareth Owen returns to the matchday 23 after missing the Saints match in the Gallagher Premiership, while Wales Under-20 captain Tommy Reffell is also included among the replacements.
ULSTER: Michael Lowry; Craig Gilroy, Will Addison, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (capt), Ross Kane, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson, Marcell Coetzee, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Martin Moore, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Angus Curtis, Angus Kernohan.
LEICESTER TIGERS: Jonah Holmes; Adam Thompstone, Manu Tuilagi, Kyle Eastmond, Jordan Olowofela; George Ford, Ben Youngs, Greg Bateman, Tom Youngs (capt), Dan Cole, Mike Williams, Harry Wells, Guy Thompson, Brendon O’Connor, Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, David Feao, Joe Heyes, Sam Lewis, Tommy Reffell, Sam Harrison, Matt Toomua, Gareth Owen.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant Referees: Maxime Chalon, Jean-Luc Rebollal (both France)
Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ulster to win: 8/13; Draw: 17/1; Leicester Tigers to win: 7/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Marcell Coetzee (Ulster) – “I’ve been waiting two years for this, so yeah, it is great to be finally playing in Europe. Things didn’t go my way in the past couple of seasons but fortunately, I’ve been blessed to get the chance to play in this tournament now and hopefully it’ll be a good one this weekend.
“(The European Cup) is a great tournament to be part of. You take the teams in it and it’s a good platform to measure where you are as a team. It’s definitely an electrifying atmosphere and we’re just looking forward to the challenge this weekend.
“If we play the way we want to play and cut down on mistakes, then we can be dangerous. It’s a new tournament, a fresh start. If there’s one tournament you want to stamp your authority on, it’s this one, and I think the whole mindset around the squad is one of excitement.
“There is a buzz to get out there, and luckily it’s at home as well so the crowd will be behind us and we can feed off that energy. I can tell you the guys are definitely looking forward to it.”
Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers) – “We’ve picked up a few bumps and bruises but we’re also starting to get a few other players back from injury. Jonny May got a bang on the shoulder last week and there is no major damage so it will certainly not be a long-term injury, but injuries also give opportunities to others to come in and make a claim to the shirt.
“Europe is always tough, Ulster have a very good record at home and we’ve not done well there in the past, but the guys want to test themselves at the top table and we’re looking forward to it.”
Current Form – Ulster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 15-13 v Scarlets (home), Won 30-29 v Edinburgh (home), Won 28-7 v Isuzu Southern Kings (away), Drew 39-39 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), Lost 64-7 v Munster (away), Lost 22-15 v Connacht (home)
Leicester Tigers – (Gallagher Premiership): Lost 40-6 v Exeter Chiefs (away), Won 49-33 v Newcastle Falcons (home), Lost 41-35 v Wasps (away), Lost 44-37 v Worcester Warriors (home), Won 19-15 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 23 15 v Northampton Saints (away)
Top Scorers – 2017/18 European Champions Cup: Ulster – Points: John Cooney 49; Tries: Jacob Stockdale 3; Leicester Tigers – Points: George Ford 56; Tries: Jonny May, Telusa Veainu 3 each
Previous European Meetings: 8
Saturday. January 24, 2015 – Pool 3 – Ulster 26 Leicester Tigers 7, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday, October 18, 2014 – Pool 3 – Leicester Tigers 25 Ulster 18, Welford Road
Saturday, January 18, 2014 – Pool 5 – Leicester Tigers 19 Ulster 22, Welford Road
Friday, October 11, 2013 – Pool 5 – Ulster 22 Leicester Tigers 16, Ravenhill
Friday, January 13, 2011 – Pool 4 – Ulster 41 Leicester Tigers 7, Ravenhill
Saturday, November 19, 2011 – Pool 4 – Leicester Tigers 20 Ulster 9, Welford Road
Saturday, January 17, 2004 – Pool 1 – Leicester Tigers 49 Ulster 7, Welford Road
Sunday, January 11, 2004 – Pool 1 – Ulster 33 Leicester Tigers 0, Ravenhill
Match Facts –
– Ulster’s four home victories in as many European Cup matches against Leicester Tigers have come by an average margin of 23 points
– Leicester are on a four-match losing run, their worst ever run in the European Cup
– Tigers have lost on seven of their last eight trips to Ireland in the tournament. A 31-19 victory over Munster in 2015 was their only victory in that time
– Only Exeter and Leicester conceded fewer penalties per game in last season’s tournament than Ulster (8.7). They were also the only side not to receive either a yellow or red card
– Jacob Stockdale was the province’s top try scorer in 2017/18 (3 tries). He also has more clean breaks (13) in the pool stages than any other player bar Montpellier’s Nemani Nadolo (16)
European Cup Records:
Ulster –
2017/18: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
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
Leicester Tigers –
2017/18: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2016/17: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2015/16: Reached the semi-finals
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Reached the quarter-finals
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2010/11: Reached the quarter-finals
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2008/09: Runners-up
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Runners-up
2005/06: Reached the quarter-finals
2004/05: Reached the semi-finals
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2002/03: Reached the quarter-finals
2001/02: Champions
2000/01: Champions
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1997/98: Reached the quarter-finals
1996/97: Runners-up
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