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Ulster and Saracens will renew their rivalries once again as the Irish province get their Champions Cup campaign underway at the Kingspan Stadium.
After last weekend’s game in Oyannax was postponed due to the terrorist attacks in France, Ulster will be hoping to regain some ground on early pool 1 pace-setters Saracens.
Saracens began their competition with an impressive three-try win over Toulouse at home.
American wing Chris Wyles scored twice as they ran out 32-7 winners at Allianz Park, although Mark McCalls’ side will be kicking themselves after failing to get a fourth try for the bonus point.
Ulster’s Nick Williams said: “They have a very physical pack, they like to play a direct style and they are always tough to play against.
“You look for a weakness in their team but you struggle to find one.
“Toulouse were maybe a bit emotional given the events that occurred in France and they maybe played the way Saracens wanted them to.”
Ulster faced Saracens in successive Champions Cup quarter-finals in 2013 and 2014 with the Aviva Premiership leaders coming out on top on both occasions.
In 2013 outside half Owen Farrell guided them to a 27-16 victory with five penalties in front of a UK record crowd for a Heineken Cup quarter-final of 37,888. A year later it was a much tighter affair with Chris Ashton scoring twice as Saracens claimed a 17-15 win in Ireland.
But Williams has played Saracens’ hold over Ulster, he added: “There is no element of revenge. It's a new competition, a new team with new personnel.
“We'll leave the past where it is and let the future take care of itself.”
Saracens started in superb fashion against Toulouse last weekend and were 27-0 up at the break.
They will be hoping for a similarly quick start at the Kingspan, although with bad weather once again predicted this weekend the conditions could be a factor.
Coach Kevin Sorrell said: “The foundation of our win over Toulouse was a great first half performance in which we put them under a lot of pressure and forced them to make mistakes.
“We will be looking to do the same again this weekend.”
Match Facts
- Saracens have won five of their six Champions Cup matches against Ulster, including each of their last three clashes.
- Only once since their first clash in this tournament has either team managed to score more than 21 points in a single match against each other.
- Ulster Rugby have won 12 of their last 15 home matches against English opposition in the Champions Cup.
- Saracens have won six of their last seven matches against Irish opponents in the Champions Cup.
- Saracens have never held opponents to single digits in consecutive matches in the Champions Cup but will have the opportunity to do so this weekend against Ulster.
- Saracens have started a Champions Cup campaign with consecutive pool wins only once since 2005 (2012/13).
Déjà larges vainqueurs du Stade Toulousain en ouverture
Saracens piled on 22 points in the second half at the Kingspan to pick up an away win and bonus-point to put them in control of Pool 1 in the Champions Cup.
Having put Toulouse to the sword at Allianz Park in round one, the English champions ran out 27-9 winners over an Ulster side that hadn’t lost at home since RC Toulon beat them on 25 October last year.
It means Mark McCall’s men have started their European campaign with a bang and now lead two of their biggest rivals, Toulouse and Ulster, by nine points with Oyonnax yet to play. Having reached the semi-finals and the final in the past three seasons then maybe this is going to be their year.
Ulster had first use of the big wind and led 9-5 at the break. Paddy Jackson kicked two penalties and a drop goal, but it was the visitors who came up with the first try when Owen Farrell’s delightful cut-out pass was carried on by Alex Goode and then turned into a score by Chris Wyles.
The home fans thought there was a case for a red card against Saracens South African back row man Michael Rhodes when he hit Andrew Trimble in the air, but Romain Poite determined that it was only a yellow card after consulting with his TMO.
That came in the fourth minute and Billy Vunipola picked up a second card for a no arms tackle after the break. Significantly, the visitors didn’t conceded any points when they were reduced to 14 men and have now stretched their unbeaten record this season to six matches.
With the wind at their backs, Saracens dominated territory in the second half, but it still took them a further 20 minutes to break down the Ulster defence and take the lead. It was an Alex Goode kick that created the position from which the first try came and it was his chip over the top of the defence that made the second.
Duncan Taylor picked up the kind bounce and then threw a brilliant inside pass to the supporting Goode who strolled over for a try which Owen Farrell converted to put the English champions ahead for the first time.
Farrell then accelerated through a gap on the blindside of a ruck on the home 22 to send Taylor in for a third try. The outside half added a penalty to extend the lead and the coup de grace came with a driving line-out try from Billy Vunipola that brought up the bonus point.
Charlie Hodgson kicked the conversion and Ulster were dead and buried.
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