European Challenge Cup: Robert Baloucoune says Ulster can win title despite upheaval

Baloucoune has four caps for Ireland, the last of which was a try-scoring performance against Fiji in November 2022

Robert Baloucoune says Ulster's players think they can win the European Challenge Cup despite the province's recent upheaval.

After the exits of coach Dan McFarland and CEO Jonny Petrie, Ulster face Montpellier away on Sunday in the last 16 of the European competition.

However, Baloucoune, 26, says the mood in Ulster's camp remains positive.

"We definitely believe we're good enough to go out and win this competition," said the Ulster wing.

Interim coach Richie Murphy will lead the Ulster squad in France and while his opening two games in charge saw the Irish province lose in South Africa against the Sharks and the Stormers, Baloucoune believes there is genuine evidence that better times may be around the corner.

"Obviously, there's change but we're a tightknit group and we believe in each other," he added.

• Talk of Kitshoff exit won't be distraction - Henderson

"We're all great mates and we all work for each other. In those terms, nothing much has changed.

"Richie has come in and told us what he wants. All you can do is stick the head down, train and train the way he wants you to do.

"I think it shows in the way we played against the Stormers, he has had a change and it's just us trying to build on that and keep going at it."

Montpellier won four successive games in the Top 14 from mid-February to early March but have lost their last two contests in their domestic competition as a 54-7 hammering by Toulon was followed by a 12-10 home defeat by Stade Francais, which left them second from bottom in the table.

Ulster's record since beating Leinster on New Year's Day makes grim reading with five defeats in six contests - including a couple of hammerings by Toulouse and Harlequins which meant their remaining European interest this season would be confined to the second-tier Challenge Cup.

Baloucoune believes Ulster showed signs of progress in last weekend's display against the Stormers even though they suffered a fifth defeat in six games

After being hindered by a hamstring injury for much of the campaign, even though he has had reasonable game time, Baloucoune is also optimistic that his form is moving in the right direction.

"It's more just the overall fitness of me being able to do what I'm good at in terms of speed and being able to chase box kicks, dominate the air," he said.

"I've just struggled a wee bit with my hamstring. That's set me back a bit so it's just being able to be on the pitch, feel good and doing those sort of roles right."

Baloucoune missed out on selection for Ireland's Six Nations squad but is waiting to see whether his season could be prolonged by him being named in the Ireland Sevens Olympic squad.

The four-times Ireland full cap, who was previously part of the Ireland Sevens set-up in 2018, has been named in the extended squad for the Games, but it remains to be seen whether he will be on the plane to Paris come summer.