Captain Best calls for 'special' Ulster performance vs La Rochelle
Squad named for tomorrow's big game at the Kingspan
Last updated 12th Jan 2018
Ulster captain Rory Best says the players will need to 'shock' La Rochelle this weekend in the European Champions Cup.
Between injury and international commitments, his provincial appearances have been limited to the bigger stage, which is unfortunately where Ulster have struggled recently.
As a result, Best's last victory in an Ulster shirt came all the way back in December 2016 against Connacht.
"It's been a fairly horrific run for me, but I suppose I haven't played in too many games.
"You probably forget what that feeling is like, when you walk in to that changing room when everyone is absolutely shattered because they've given absolutely everything they have, and you've produced one of those special performances," said Best.
Best's last outing in white was during Ulster's most recent defeat, a 38-7 humbling at the hands of Leinster.
"We can't forget about it. It did happen. We need to learn something from it. There's no point in having a reaction in training - it's ultimately about Saturday.
"We've got to take the feeling from the dressing room after the Leinster game, and try to channel that into a performance," said Best.
Ulster's European performances have certainly been more positive than their showings in the PRO14.
As the tournament now reaches the crucial stage of the final 2 rounds in the Pool, Ulster remain well positioned in 2nd place, 2 points behind La Rochelle, who come to Kingspan Stadium on Saturday for Round 5.
"If you lose this, you're really on the back foot and you're asking yourself to go to Wasps and get a result.
"We've been in that position before and we've lost out with teams scoring in the last minute, and other teams you'd expect to win not winning. It's not where you want to be - you want to keep your destiny in your own hands," said Best.
"It's up to us now to make sure we take a step forward. While our season as a whole isn't in the balance, our European season reaches that crunch time. Rounds 5 and 6 is when everyone is jostling for position, and this is where teams can take a big step forward."
Although the French are formidable at home, their recent away form has been short of their high standard. Best believes Ulster's hopes lie in controlling the pace of the game.
"It's about making sure we dictate things, that we don't stand there and see what they do and see how much they offload. We've got to go and we've got to test where they are and we've got to shock them with how tough it's going to be to come to Belfast and win."
Meanwhile, the Ulster squad has been named.
Craig Gilroy and Louis Ludik return to the backline after missing the PRO14 interprovincial derby with Leinster last weekend, while John Cooney returns to start at scrum-half following a replacement appearance in the RDS Arena.
Christian Lealiifano, who will be playing in his last home match for Ulster before returning to the Brumbies later this month, will partner Cooney at half back.
Ludik joins Stuart McCloskey in midfield, while Gilroy, Jacob Stockdale and Charles Piutau, who leads the way for metres made in this year's tournament (454), will make up the back three.
Rory Best will again lead the side and he will combine with Callum Black and Rodney Ah You in the front row.
Johnny McPhillips could make his European debut after being included among the replacements. He will be on the bench with Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Chris Henry, Dave Shanahan and Darren Cave.
Kane, who was initially named in the Ulster A team for this evening's British & Irish Cup tie, has been called up to the senior squad as Wiehahn Herbst is ruled out due to a slight calf issue.
Ulster Rugby team to play La Rochelle, Kingspan Stadium, kick-off 1.00pm:
(15-9): C Piutau; C Gilroy, L Ludik, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; C Lealiifano, J Cooney;
(1-8): C Black, R Best (captain), R Ah You, A O'Connor, I Henderson, M Rea, S Reidy, N Timoney;
Replacements (16-23): R Herring, K McCall, R Kane, K Treadwell, C Henry, D Shanahan, J McPhillips, D Cave