Ludik: players take responsibility for Ulster woes

Ulster's Louis Ludik says the players are taking responsibility for the province's poor run of form.

They were hammered on the road in interpro defeats away to Connacht and Leinster, while it took a late try, and a red card, for Ulster to find a way past Munster in Belfast.

This faltering run has resulted in an increasing pressure bearing down on Director of Rugby Les Kiss and his backroom staff - an assessment Ludik doesn't feel is fair.

"The players take a lot of responsibility. I think Les and the staff take a lot of pressure off us. They don't filter it through to us, but obviously as players, we have our pride.

"We take the responsibility on the chin. At the end of the day, we know that we can be dropped, and there are contracts on the line. There are a lot of things we have to deal with, but I think at the moment the coaches are taking the pressure off us," said Ludik.

Things don't get easier for Ulster, though, in their next fixture.

They get back to work in the European Champions Cup this weekend. Although the province have generally performed well on the European stage this season, Ulster welcome a La Rochelle team that can secure their place in the next stage with victory in Belfast.

"If we feel that pressure, and we take it onto the field, then we won't be able to perform.

"We know, when we train well and we play well, what we can do. We need to get momentum going, keep the ball in hand. When we're frivolous with the ball we make it easy for other teams," said Ludik.

Despite their poor run, a win for Ulster would be a huge step towards a place in the quarter finals of European Champions Cup.

"Since I've been here, we haven't done that so it would be a massive achievement for us. It would help a lot to put some confidence back in the team," said Ludik.

Ulster kick off against La Rochelle at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday the 13th of January at 1pm.