Investec Champions Cup: Ulster can 'turn it round' against Harlequins after Toulouse defeat

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey says the province can recover from their heavy loss to Toulouse by beating Harlequins to secure a Champions Cup last-16 spot.

Dan McFarland's team head to Twickenham Stoop on Saturday on the back of a 48-24 humbling in Belfast.

Ulster have also lost to Bath in Pool 2 of the competition, but defeated Racing 92 at Kingspan Stadium in December.

"Hopefully we can bounce back this week. I think we'll turn it round against Quins," said McCloskey.

"It's knockout for us. I know they are already qualified so hopefully that gives us a slight edge.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm in the group and we performed well and got good results in our three previous games before facing Toulouse so we are not too far away," added the Ireland international, who has been named in Andy Farrell's 34-man squad for the Six Nations.

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Ulster currently sit in the fourth position in their pool which would qualify them for the knockout stages of the Champions Cup for the fifth time in six seasons during McFarland's tenure.

A drop to fifth spot in the pool at the weekend however would see them relegated to the Challenge Cup competition in April.

The Irish province have won their past three European encounters with Harlequins, with McCloskey having scored a try on their last visit to The Stoop for a Challenge Cup meeting in April 2021.

"I don't really want to be playing Challenge Cup and I don't think any of the other guys want to be playing it either," he emphasised.

"That's a pretty big carrot. We'd much rather be playing Champions Cup last 16 against a big team, a big fixture.

"The away form we have had against English teams in Europe in previous years, especially against Quins, is something we can take as a positive.

"We must improve some of the turnover defensive stuff from the Toulouse game, also some of the maul defence. Attack wise guys being in position earlier, guys being in place to take opportunities we create."

Pool situation 'could do with getting sorted'

The format of the Champions Cup has undergone several changes in recent years, with this year bringing further alterations to the pool set-up.

The competing clubs have been divided into four pools of six, with each team playing two home games and two away games against sides who they do not face in their regular leagues.

"I think the whole pool situation in my opinion could do with getting sorted again. I don't think people quite understand it. I just about understand it and I'm playing in the games," argued the Ireland centre.

"I still think when you come out to play on a night like Saturday night there is a really good atmosphere and there's definitely something different about it compared to a league game.

"When it comes down to the big games and playing them out there it still has that aura but I don't enjoy the way the pool stages are at the minute and I probably speak for most of the professional rugby players."