Ulster have enough to keep qualification hopes alive

Just like Munster today, Ulster are in French must-win territory tomorrow. The difference is that although Oyonnax are only two places behind Stade Français in the Top 14, the scale of the challenge facing Ulster, even on the home team's new 3G pitch, looks altogether less daunting.

Located in a valley of the Jura Mountains in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France, Oyonnax was so difficult to find for visiting teams and fans that the home supporters gave rise to the chant adopted by many French clubs of: “Ici, ici, c’est Oyonnax.” “Here. Here. This is Oyonnax” was chanted with pride and celebrated their identity, while perhaps mocking visitors a tad.

Making the top six play-offs and qualifying for the Champions Cup in only their second season in the Top 14 was remarkable, although they may have overextended themselves last season.

It didn't help that Christophe Urios ended his eight-year reign as head coach, and his replacement Olivier Azam was sacked in October. Signs of an upturn under former scrum-half Johann Authier – they beat Stade Francais 25-22 in December – were put in perspective by last weekend's 24-17 loss to Grenoble.

They sit 13th and six points adrift of safety, and ahead of making 11 changes for this game, Authier made little secret that these next three European games would be used in readiness for the 12-game battle for domestic survival.

Rotation

As expected, Ulster have rotated a significant part of their squad after the core of their side had seen through the wins over Toulouse and both of their festive derbies.

Nonetheless, they welcome back Craig Gilroy from injury at fullback, with Louis Ludik on the bench. Twenty-year-old Academy centre Sammy Arnold will start his first European game on the right wing for the rested Andrew Trimble, while Paul Marshall and Ian Humphreys start at half-back after Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson started the last five games.

Up front, Ricky Lutton and Lewis Stevenson replace the hors de combat Wiehahn Herbst and Alan O’Connor while Roger Wilson replaces the rested Nick Williams.

At face value, that Kiss is making eight changes might suggest Ulster are taking this somewhat half-heartedly. But after their recent run, he had to rotate for both Ulster and Ireland’s sake.

Even so, Ulster will still start the in-form provincial midfield of Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall for the fifth game running, not to mention key men such as Rory Best, Robbie Diack and Chris Henry, and while their go-to ball-carriers Williams, Pienaar and Jackson were all due a rest, they can nonetheless be sprung from the bench.

Lack of interest

Like all French teams in Oyonnax’s position, the home team can afford to swing from the hip, all the more so if given any early encouragement, particularly at scrum time or on the scoreboard.

But if Ulster’s scrum holds up and they get the scoreboard ticking, that ought not only to quieten the crowd but expose Oyonnax’s mental lack of interest in this competition as well as their difficulties this season. It took Saracens a while to subdue Oyonnax, but once they did, they ran amok in the second halves of their back-to-back games, during which the French club conceded 14 tries and 100 points.

Typically, the foundations of Oyonnax’s success over the last two seasons has been their home form. Last season they won ten of 12, with only Toulon and Clermont claiming away wins. But the feeling is that their 3G pitch has somehow clipped their wings, and they have lost three from six.

With some big hitters on the bench, Ulster should have enough arrows in their quiver to cope with the rotation and augment those stunning wins over Toulouse to keep their qualification hopes alive.