belfasttelegraph

Saturday 18 May 2013

Ulster want to win it for McCall

Ulster want to win in Bourgoin as a tribute to Mark McCall

Let's do it for Mark.

That will be the rallying call tonight as Ulster take on Bourgoin at the Stade Pierre Rajon in their second Heineken Cup match ? just three days after former coach Mark McCall resigned.

The pressure of a string of poor results and performances finally led to McCall following on his sword on Tuesday after three-and-a-half years in charge.

And while there was no doubt some elements within the squad had become unhappy under his tenure, there is also a feeling that the players themselves let him down.

Such a turbulent week has been far from ideal for preparations to tonight's game (kick-off 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports), a game Ulster must win to keep their Heineken Cup campaign alive.

But Ulster captain Rory Best hopes that from such adversity, the side can finally find their feet ? and give a huge performance for McCall in what will be freezing conditions tonight in Bourgoin.

"When players go onto the pitch there is not an awful lot more the coach can do and we weren't performing on the pitch for 80 minutes," said Best. "It is not his fault if the ball is dropped or turned over. The results weren't coming our way and with Mark leaving we have been left reeling a wee bit. But if that can galvanise us, then some good can come from it.

"We can't forget what Mark did but unfortunately what happened, happened and we have a European Cup game tonight that we have to go out and win. We have to go out and win and get the season back on track."

Ulster are boosted by the return of Paul Steinmetz to the midfield after two months on the sidelines with serious concussion, and he believes the players have to stand up and be counted now.

"I am sad to see Mark go, he was a nice guy and a good coach," said Steinmetz.

"As players we have to remember that we are playing rugby for a living and I laugh every time I say it because to me it is laughable that you are playing a sport for your living.

"It really is a privilege and something that the players should be really enthusiastic about. That is something I always take into situations like this when a team isn't going well.

"It is easy to be doom and gloom and looking for all the negatives but the reality is that it is a wonderful life that we lead and that's the enthusiasm we should take into the game and that's what I would hope our entire squad has."

Bourgoin director of rugby Pierre Raschi has made a total of six changes to his side after their opening round defeat against the Ospreys.

There are three changes apiece in the forwards and backs. Up front there are two new faces in the back-row with Augusto Petrilli and Julien Frier joining last week's sole survivor Mark Rennie.

The other change sees Damien Fevre starting at second row ahead of Julien Pierre.

Behind the pack Florian Denos and David Janin start at full-back and right wing respectively, meaning there is no place in the squad for Anthony Forest whilst Matthieu Nicolas has to settle for a place on the bench.

Williams no stranger to the hotseat: Rugby page 38

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