QUIN IT TO WIN IT
SMILING assassin Louis Ludik is setting his sights on a “heavy beast” of European rugby at The Stoop this weekend.
The stakes are Alpine high as the province stares at a daunting double header with fancied Harlequins in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup.
Sunday’s trip to South West London will provide a feisty appetiser ahead of an equally crucial home clash with the Aviva Premiership side in Belfast next Friday night.
But while the days ahead are fraught with danger, the affable Ludik is relishing the challenge as Ulster bid to close the gap on pool pacesetters La Rochelle and second placed Wasps.
The South African, whose cheery demeanour camouflages a steely alter ego on the pitch, said: “It’s the European Cup so it’s going to be tough but it’s also exciting.
“You want to prove yourself in Europe and it is awesome to be a part of. It’s going to be interesting against Harlequins. They have a strong squad.
“They’re a very exciting team with a lot of experience. They also have some good youth as well so it’s a good mix. It’ll be tough.”
While Quins – who lie at the foot of the table – are on the Euro ropes and also sit mid-table in the Premiership, they did secure an impressive 20-19 win over Saracens on Sunday.
Ludik respects the explosive threat the likes of Danny Care,
Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw, Mike
Brown and Jamie Roberts bring to the party. He is also acutely aware Ulster need two wins over the course of the next six days to sustain any hope of muscling their way into the knockout stages of the competition.
The province concludes its campaign next month with a home clash against group favourites La Rochelle and a trip to face Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.
Ludik said: “We have to win these two games against Harlequins to stay in the group. It is a must win for us, although it will be difficult.
“Harlequins’ win over Sarries will give them a boost in confidence. As we all know,
Saracens can be a tough team to beat and are very good so they did very well.
“They also have a lot of experience and guys who have been through a lot of ups and downs.
“That experience can carry a team and I think we’re going to face a heavy beast this weekend.”
Ludik accepts Ulster, who have conceded a worrying 28 tries in 10 Pro14 games this season – including 14 in their last four outings – can’t afford to be as generous at The Stoop.
He said: “At the moment we might be struggling with a bit of defence and we’ve leaked a couple of tries. Defence is something we have to work on. We should also be finishing teams off and putting them to the sword. That’s a massive focus for us.”
Harlequins v Ulster Pool 1, Sunday 1pm
Saracens v Clermont Pool 2, Sun 3.15pm
DAVID STRETTLE fears Saracens could have the mental edge over his Clermont team in Sunday’s European Cup final rematch.
The England wing returns to his former club with a side which has rather lost its way in the Top 14 since being crowned French champions in June.
But five defeats in a row and injuries to six of their star names suggests Saracens are in even greater strife.
Billy Vunipola is crocked, so too Liam Williams,
LFSchalk Brits, Michael Rhodes, Duncan Taylor and Maro Itoje, who will learn the severity of his double jaw fracture today.
But Strettle’s experience is that English players are better at shutting out the past and focusing on the next task than their Gallic counterparts.
And that spells danger for Clermont, whose Euro fate rests on back-to-back games between Pool 2’s two unbeaten teams on the next two weekends. “The French are a lot more emotional than the English,” he said. “It’s a lot easier for the English boys to separate the emotion and see it as a job to be done.
“You’ve got to learn from what’s happened, what you have experienced and try and improve every year.”
LF