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Ulster ready to forget form as they move in for pool-deciding clash with Clermont

Dan McFarland’s men could book early passage to the quarter-finals if they can raid one of the great fortresses.

‘STOP MENTIONING THE streak,” smiles Dan McFarland. He’s not joking.

A core part of his work with the northern province has been to convince his players that every bite, snap and snarl is absolutely vital. So idle chat about 19 home wins on the trot might give the impression that winning is becoming routine for Ulster.

In Europe they have certainly made a habit of digging out results and so they deservedly sit top of Champions Cup Pool 3 approaching the final two rounds of fixtures. But standing between them and a fifth straight win in Europe and a guaranteed quarter-final berth is the team who have erected the grandest edifice of all the rugby fortresses.

“We go to probably the most famous home-streaker of all time next week in Clermont,” says McFarland, noting the 77-match run at Stade Michelin that ended with a Top14 Barrages loss to Castres in 2014.

While the Massif Central club are  shy of the quality they possessed when challenging for titles on dual fronts, they continue to show a brilliant ability to overawe opponents on their own patch with 52 and 53-point hauls in their two home pool outings this season.

“The biggest thing when you go to a side like that,” said McFarland, “it’s got to be your collective that is strong. You have to work well as a team. Because the moment any kind of fracture lines appear in that collective, they will expose them.

“They can do it from 80 metres out, 60 metres out, and Clermont score in bursts – you’ll see three tries in 10 minutes and that’s it. Boom. Game over.

dan-goggin-is-tackled-by-jacob-stockdale-and-will-addison Stockdale and Will Addison bundle Dan Goggin to touch. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

“So your collective has to be strong and it has to be consistently strong. There isn’t much new about that for us, it’s something that we’re consistently talking about, but it’s particularly the case when you play one of those star-studded French teams.”

Ulster’s brightest star, John Cooney, is their main injury doubt after Friday’s win over Munster after he departed the scene following a HIA.

Only a win will ensure the northern province keep their destiny in their own hands in this competition, but this pool also looks set to produce a leading runner-up. Every point is gold-dust when it comes to the shake-up for quarter-final places and every element of Ulster’s form at the minute merits a spot in the top eight.

“Munster are a quality team, (on) both sides of the ball they really tested us today.

iain-henderson-speaks-to-his-team-after-the-game Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

“We were going to have to be pretty astute in the way we attacked it and sharp in what we were doing. And there was going to have to be an improvement in what we were doing in previous weeks.

“Fair play, Dwayne (Peel, backs coach) put a really good plan together. Our first try came off exactly what he’d shown the lads and explained what we needed to do, and they executed it perfectly.

“A couple of the set-plays worked really well and then the players on the pitch had to do the job as well.”

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We are by no means the finished article. We have to go to one of the most dangerous teams in Europe next week and, in terms of an attacking threat, arguably the most dangerous team given the individuals they have. It will be a huge test.”

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    Mute Ian Frizzell
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    Jan 6th 2020, 8:58 AM

    This game is as big as it gets. Winner takes the Group. Really tough for Ulster but they are having a good run and if Cooney and Coetzee are both fit then they can give it a good shot. Clermont possess some big game players. Ulster will have to stop them if they are to stand a chance. We did that at home. Can we do it in the Stade Michelin?

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    Mute RabidHorizon
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    Jan 6th 2020, 11:31 AM

    This Ulster team on form will go across to Clermont and do something very special. I’ve no doubt. We expect the high profile names like Coetzee and Henderson to perform but it’s what McFarland is getting out of the likes of Al O’Connor, Burns, McCloskey and a rejuvenated Jack McGrath that is really impressive. Ulster to win, no disrespect to a formidable Clermont team but they are meeting Ulster on the crest of a wave.

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    Mute Andrew Taz Donohoe
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    Jan 6th 2020, 12:53 PM

    @RabidHorizon: as an Ulster fan, wish it was so, but they have some record at home and can’t see them being beat. A win would announce Ulster as genuine title contenders, but just can’t see it. They could run away with this very easily, keeping with them and getting a losing bonus would be near best case scenario here

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    Mute RabidHorizon
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    Jan 6th 2020, 3:43 PM

    @Andrew Taz Donohoe: you’ve got to believe it to achieve it.

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Jan 7th 2020, 11:50 PM

    @Andrew Taz Donohoe: wats story on home record. Have they lost since the Leinster game

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    Mute William Mills
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    Jan 6th 2020, 1:21 PM

    Ulster need to field their best team and keep them on the pitch for as long as possible they are going to need things to go their way and get the bounce of the ball once or twice but the way they’ve been playing ( defensively & attacking) it’s not unreasonable to suggest that Ulster could win this game

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Jan 6th 2020, 9:23 AM

    Its a game with no pressure, no one is expecting Ulster to go over and win. But this Ulster team have a good chance to do just that. Ulster well ahead of schedule, next year was when we were supposed to be challanging, but it appears that it is this year that, thats the case.

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    Mute Mark Smith
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    Jan 6th 2020, 10:42 AM

    Arguably we are playing as well now as we have done in the last couple of years but boy is it a big ask to go there and come away with the points.
    One or possibly two points would be a good return.

    A win would be fantastic and probably be the biggest shock of the weekend but in reality it will show Ulster just where their game is.
    I look forward to the game and don’t have the apprehension of years past where a trip to a French giant tested the scoreboard attendant

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    Mute Annaa69ixxi
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    Jan 6th 2020, 5:10 PM

    my hot photos are here…

    http://69-chat.club

    only 18+

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    Mute The Expert
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    Jan 7th 2020, 10:38 AM

    Can someone please explain why Virgin Media are showing the irrelevant Ospreys v Saracens match instead of Clermont v Ulster?

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    Mute Lian McGuire
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    Jan 7th 2020, 7:16 PM

    @The Expert: All BT sports will let them have.

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    Mute Annaa69ixxi
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    Jan 6th 2020, 5:09 PM

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