ULSTER TAKE on Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle this weekend in the second round of the Champions Cup pool stage.
Dan McFarland's side take on the current European champions in a mammoth test for the Irish province.
The sides have played each other twice in their history, with the scores 1 win apiece
The game on Saturday can be viewed on BT Sport 1.
Here's more detail on the game today.
Belfast , United Kingdom - 8 October 2022; Stuart McCloskey of Ulster in action during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. (Photo By John Dickson/Sportsfile via Getty Images)When is it on?
Saturday, December 17th
What TV station is it on?.
The game is on BT Sport 1. It is also being streamed live on the BT Sport Player.
What time does it start?
Kick off is at 17.30pm Irish time
What time does coverage start?
The coverage starts from 5.15pm
Where is it on?
Not decided yet. If Ulster can't over a frozen pitch then it could be played in Dublin at the RDS
Tickets for the game
Odds for the game
https://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/european-rugby-champions-cup/ulster-v-la-rochelle/winner
Teams for the game
Ulster
Fullback: 15. Mike Lowry
Winger: 14. Ethan McIlroy
Centres: 13. Luke Marshall, 12. Stuart McCloskey
Winger: 11.Rob Lyttle
Outhalf: 10.Billy Burns 9,. Scrumhalf. John Cooney;
Front row: 1., Rory Sutherland, 2. Tom Stewart, 3. Marty Moore,
Second row: 4. Alan O’Connor, 5. Sam Carter,
Backrow: 6. Iain Henderson (Captain), 7. Nick Timoney, 8. Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Ben Moxham.
Full team news 👉 https://t.co/v9VAYg5Zht 👉
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 16, 2022
La Rochelle
Fullback: 15. Reda Wardi
Winger: 14.Pierre Bourgarit
Centres: 13. Uini Atonio, 12. Romain Sazy
Winger: 11.Will Skelton
Outhalf: 10. Rémi Bourdeau 9,. Scrumhalf. Yoan Tanga
Front row: 1.,Greg Alldritt (cap), 2.Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 3. Antoine Hastoy
Second row: 4.Pierre Boudehent, 5. Jonathan Danty
Backrow: 6.Ulupano Seuteni, Dillyn Leyds, Brice Dulin
Replacements: Quentin LESPIAUCQ, Thierry PAIVA, Joel SCLAVI, Ultan DILLANE, Paul BOUDEHENT, Thomas BERJON, Levani BOTIA, Raymond RHULE.
💛 Une charnière inchangée aller défier l'@UlsterRugby ! 🫵 #ULSvSR | #ChampionsCup | #FievreSR https://t.co/rGMK07adgF
— Stade Rochelais (@staderochelais) December 16, 2022
Where are both teams in their domestic tables?
La Rochelle are fourth in the top 14
Ulster are also fourth in the the URC table.
What happened last time the sides met ?
La Rochelle recorded an impressive bonus-point win over Ulster in their first-ever home game in the competition in 2017.
The French side won 41-17 that day.
Ulster went onto get revenge in the same pool the following year by beating the Top14 side 20-13 in 2018 that year.
What have the people said ?
Dan McFarland: “We’ve got to be smart, have the right mindset, and work harder than them. It’s important that you don’t let the juggernaut get up and running.
“There is no doubt that we will go at it hard. The level of competition in the Champions Cup is such that everyone raises their game.”
See More: La Rochelle, Rugby, Ulster
