Match Day Guide | Ulster v Clermont

21.11.2019 19:00

Ulster Rugby

Ulster welcome French heavyweights ASM Clermont Auvergne to Kingspan Stadium on Friday night in Round 2 of the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup.

Ulster and Clermont meet at Kingspan Stadium in Round 2 after both sides recorded wins in the opening round of this season’s Heineken Champions Cup. Ulster edged out Bath at The Rec in a 16-17 thriller, while Clermont comfortably dispatched Harlequins 53-21 at home.

Here is everything you need to know about the game…

Match Details

Date: Friday 22 November 2019
Kick-Off: 7.45pm
Venue: Kingspan Stadium
Competition: Heineken Champions Cup
Referee: JP Doyle (Eng), Assistant Refs: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng), Simon McConnell (Eng), TMO: Trevor Fisher (Eng)

Key Stats

This will be the fifth meeting between Ulster and Clermont in the Champions Cup. Each of the previous four meetings were won by the home side on the day.
Ulster have won 28 of their last 32 home games in the pool stages, including their last six on the bounce.
This will be Ulster’s 150th tournament match and the 1999 winners are the fifth club to reach this milestone (after Munster, Leinster, Toulouse, and Leicester).
Ulster and Clermont each scored two tries from turnovers in Round 1, more than any other club managed.
Ulster’s Marcell Coetzee (19 carries, 17 tackles) and Clermont’s Fritz Lee (16 carries, 18 tackles) were two of just four players to make 15+ carries and 15+ tackles in Round 1 (also Munster’s CJ Stander and Dan du Preez of Sale Sharks).

Team News

Dan McFarland has made four changes to the starting XV that defeated Bath last weekend, as Louis Ludik, Eric O’Sullivan, Alan O’Connor and Sean Reidy all come back into the team. Iain Henderson will lead the Ulster men out at Kingspan Stadium for the first time since being named club captain.

Ulster team:

15. Will Addison, 14. Louis Ludik, 13. Luke Marshall, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Billy Burns, 9. John Cooney, 1. Eric O’Sullivan, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Marty Moore, 4. Alan O’Connor, 5. Iain Henderson (c), 6. Sean Reidy, 7. Jordi Murphy, 8. Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: 16. Adam McBurney, 17. Kyle McCall, 18. Tom O’Toole, 19. Kieran Treadwell, 20. Nick Timoney, 21. David Shanahan, 22. Bill Johnston, 23. Craig Gilroy.

ASM Clermont team:

15. Nick Abendanon, 14. Peter Betham, 13. Isaiah Toeava, 12. George Moala, 11. Alivereti Raka, 10. Jake McIntyre, 9. Greig Laidlaw, 1. Etienne Falgoux, 2. John Ulugia, 3. Rabah Slimani, 4. Paul Jedrasiak, 5. Sitaleki Timani, 6. Peceli Yato, 7. Arthur Iturria, 8. Fritz Lee (c).

Replacements: 16. Mike Tadjer, 17. Loni Uhila, 18. Davit Zirakashvili, 19. Thibault Lanen, 20. Lucas Dessaigne, 21. Morgan Parra, 22. Camille Lopez, 23. Apisai Naqalevu,

Ticketing

A limited number of tickets are still available, from £20 for adults and £14 for juniors. To purchase tickets, simply click here or contact the Ulster Rugby Ticket Office for more information – (028) 9049 3222 (option 2).

Tickets will be available on the gate from 5.45pm on Friday, but it is recommended to book in advance for best available tickets and to avoid queues.

Team Talk

Travel & Security

Useful links

Entertainment

There will be live music with Anna Smyth in The Clubhouse Bar, and the Cool FM Street Team will be providing live entertainment in the Fan Zone.

Also in the Fan Zone, you can test your skills with the River Rock Passing Challenge.

Junior Season Ticket holders can pop along to the ‘OUR Club’ headquarters (located in Players Lounge at corner of Family Stand / Grandstand), where they can take part in fun activities and meet some of their playing heroes.

Also in the Players Lounge, you can experience Ulster Rugby’s first virtual reality (VR) project, supported by Bank of Ireland. The 3-minute clip features highlights of the players’ pre-match routine, including the team talk by Rory Best, as well as on-pitch action and reaction from the crowd. View a preview of the VR experience below.

Heineken 0.0 Promotion

Are you the designated driver? Look out for the promotional staff from Heineken who will be in the Fan Zone and Heineken Quarter Bar handing out free samples of Heineken 0.0, their new alcohol free beer.

Commentary Sets for Visually Impaired

Did you know that Ulster Rugby currently has 30 commentary sets available on match nights for supporters who are visually impaired? To make use of this service, simply call into the admin building reception on match nights, or call Jen in the Ticket Office on (028) 9049 3222 to book yours for an upcoming game.

Match Programme

In this week’s bumper 68 page match programme, we have feature interviews with new club captain Iain Henderson and young prospect Angus Curtis, in addition to all the regular team news, squad profiles, kids activities, plus much more.

Pick up your programme at both main entrances for just £4 from the Lurgan RFC sellers.

Meet the Players

Prior to the game, non-playing squad members will be making appearances at various locations throughout the Fan Zone and and new Kukri Pop-Up Shop (located at the back of the Grandstand).

After the game, members of the playing squad will meet supporters, sign autographs and pose for photos at the back of the Grandstand approximately 15 minutes after full-time.

Looking Back

Ulster last hosted Clermont in December 2016 in another memorable European occasion when Iain Henderson put in a Man of the Match performance to help Ulster to a 39-32 win in a nine try thriller.