The cliched answer to Stade Francais’ woeful Heineken Cup record in Belfast, which has seen the Paris giants lose on all four previous visits? French teams don’t travel well.

If that was the case in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004, then Ulster should beware that the class of 2008 are a different breed.

For starters, key players like Sergio Parisse (Italian) and Juan Martin Hernandez (Argentinian), Simon Taylor (Scottish), Mauro Bergamasco (Italian) aren’t French.

And coach Ewen McKenzie, the former Wallaby 1991 World Cup winning prop, has spent the first three months of his tenure attempting to instill a new sense of discipline in his galactico squad, who have won their first seven games in the Top 14, including four away from home – at Dax, Perpignan, Toulon and Bourgoin.

McKenzie, the former New South Wales coach, has been immersing himself in the language and culture.

And his alarming assessment for Ulster ahead of tomorrow’s clash is that he doesn’t feel he has seen the best out of his squad yet.

“I am really enjoying the challenge,” said McKenzie.

“I do everything in French and I have tried to embrace the culture and the things that I think are important in terms of how they play the game.

“But also I have tried to instill a bit of discipline in certain areas. I have had a fair bit of success, particularly in defence.

“We have only conceded six tries in seven games, so we are making some progress there.

“We have made some progress in attack as well but I still don’t think we are anywhere near where we can get in terms of our potential so hopefully there are better days to come.”

If Stade, beaten finalists in 2001 and 2005, are to succeed in going one better this season, McKenzie believes the key will be refining the French flair for the bumpy road that stretches all the way to Edinburgh next May.

“The thing I have noticed is that there is an emotional edge to the game here,” added McKenzie.

“In Australia we are very focused technically and tactically but I am still coming to grips with the emotional edge here.

“Against Montauban, we probably played our worst 40 minutes of the season in the first half and I had to use some choice words at half-time and they came out and scored two tries in four minutes.

“I am trying to get used to how that works and I don’t know if I will ever get on top of it.

“But that is part of the way the French play their rugby and I have to harness that for the big games, starting with Ulster in Belfast tomorrow.”

A key part of McKenzie’s strategy has been the rotation of Argentina World Cup star Juan Martin Hernandez and French star Lionel Beauxis between full-back and out-half during games.

“Juan is an exceptional player

and I rate him right up there on the top shelf with the best players in the world,” added McKenzie.

“And he fronts up in defence, he doesn’t shirk contact and takes high balls under pressure.

“But because he is such a complete player, there is a lot of pressure that comes with that.

“They expect him to win the game every week so it is important that I spread the load and make sure he is fresh.

“The advantage I have got at the moment is that I have been switching Juan to full-back and bringing in Lionel at 10 which has been working quite well in sharing the defensive load.

“It makes it quite difficult for the opposition.

“They are having an impact and keeping the scoreboard ticking over.”