Investec Champions Cup: 'Ulster aim to shake off slump in star-studded Racing game'

John Cooney, who last month became only the second Ulster player to reach 1,000 points scored, is recalled at scrum-half

If it feels like Ulster have been here before, it's because they have.

A year ago, Dan McFarland's side began their European campaign coming off the back of a United Rugby Championship defeat (by Leinster). European competition, however, offered no solace in the shape of a 39-0 drubbing by Sale.

For Ulster, it heightened the importance of La Rochelle's visit to Belfast in the second round of games, which the Irish province lost 36-29.

This year, it all feels a bit familiar. In the last couple of weeks, Ulster signed off URC duty with defeat by Edinburgh before succumbing to another strong English side in Bath with the start of the Investec Champions Cup last week.

Now they host another big French side (although with actual home advantage this time after last year's game against La Rochelle was moved to an empty Aviva Stadium because of a frozen Kingspan Stadium pitch).

It promises to be a cracking night of European rugby under the lights in Belfast, and while there is no shortage of pressure on Ulster, there was a remarkably relaxed vibe at their captain's run at Kingspan Stadium on Friday as the backs played a bit of soccer and Stuart McCloskey was chased by his Ulster flag-toting son Arlo.

And with the squad being put through their paces as the winter run peaked its head over the stadium, a jovial McFarland spoke to BBC Sport Northern Ireland on the eve of Saturday's blockbuster with the six-time French champions.

"Look, we're in a position that we've lost three games on the bounce now," said McFarland.

"We've got to play Racing, who are one of the biggest and best teams in Europe at the moment, but it's a great challenge.

"Facing them here at Ravenhill Kingspan in a Champions Cup game is brilliant."

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As mentioned earlier, Ulster are no strangers to mid-season stumbles. Last year, a 22-20 win away to Connacht was their sole win across an alarming seven-game sequence.

In a bid to avoid a fourth consecutive reverse, McFarland has shaken things up by making four changes to the side that started last week's defeat by Bath.

Irish international Rob Herring, a noted set-piece specialist, replaces prolific try-scorer Tom Stewart at hooker as McFarland moves to tighten up his scrum after being comprehensively outgunned in that department by Bath.

Despite his costly yellow card in the second half at the Rec, Matty Rea gets the nod at number eight with James McNabney not involved, while in the backs, McFarland's two changes see accomplished goal-kicker John Cooney preferred to Nathan Doak at scrum-half and fit-again Mike Lowry replacing Stewart Moore at full-back.

Explaining the rationale behind this week's selection, McFarland said: "Rob [Herring]'s been involved in some really big games. He'll be looking forward to starting a game here against Racing.

"He's a good set-piece forward and brings loads of energy and leadership around the park as well so it's great to have him in the front row."

On Lowry, who made a brief cameo off the bench against Bath having recovered from injury, McFarland added: "When we played Racing, it must have been five years ago, Mikey was electric then and he's still electric now.

"He has a very particular brand of rugby that he brings and it's always exciting to have him at the back."

'Top man' Kitshoff 'settling in well'

Both Ulster and Racing boast line-ups loaded with exciting Irish and French talent, and livewire Henry Arundell whose contract with the Top 14 leaders makes him ineligible for England until 2026.

However, there will be considerable attention paid to the members of South Africa's World Cup-winning squad on display in Belfast.

Steven Kitshoff, still searching for his first win as an Ulster player, is set for his home European debut and will lock horns with fellow Springbok front rower Trevor Nyakane in the scrum while the breakdown and carrying capabilities of Siya Kolisi - the man who has twice lifted the Webb Ellis Cup as South Africa's inspirational captain - will pose a considerable threat to Ulster.

"There are some super players in Europe at the moment and Kolisi is obviously captain of a double world championship team," said McFarland.

"Kitshie [Kitshoff] has settled in well here. He's a top man, he's settling down to the kind of rugby that we play and the rugby that's played in the URC and Champions Cup.

"He's bedded in really well. He's a great leader himself."

McFarland will hope that Kitshoff's leadership abilities, particularly in the scrum, shine through on Saturday.

Ulster have delivered big-time performances against French teams at Kingspan during McFarland's reign, with wins over Clermont in 2019 and 2022 springing to mind.

When Ulster held off Racing to win 26-22 when the sides last met in Belfast, in January 2019, Jacob Stockdale and Robert Baloucoune combined for three tries.

McFarland will be hoping for similarly devastating displays from his backs coupled with a more authoritative scrummaging shift as Ulster look to give their season a huge shot in the arm in time for the busy festive period.

Line-ups

Ulster: Lowry, Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale, Burns, Cooney; Kitshoff, Herring, O'Toole; O'Connor, Henderson (capt); Ewers, Timoney, Matty Rea.

Replacements: Stewart, O'Sullivan, M Moore, Treadwell, Sheridan, Doak, Flannery, S Moore.

Racing 92: Spring, Arundell, Fickou, Chavancy, Imhoff, Gibert, Le Garrec; Kolingar, Tarrit, Nyakane; Chouzenoux, Rowlands; Woki, Kolisi, Lauret.

Replacements: Ben Arous, Gogichashvili, Kharaishvili, Sanconnie, Diallo, Baudonne, Tedder, Tabuavou.

Referee: Luke Pearce