KONTA AND FELLOW BRITISH HOPES DRAW NO COMFORT IN BID TO LAND YEAR’S FIRST GRAND SLAM... P54

UlstermusttakethefighttoLaRochelle inbidtomarchoninEurope,warnsBest

RORY Best wants Ulster to hit La Rochelle with shock and awe tactics in their crunch European Champions Cup pool game at Kingspan Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 1pm).

The Ulster and Ireland skipper has demanded that the misfiring province produce a vintage performance to knock the current Pool One leaders off top spot and allow Ulster to take pole position for a place in the knock-out phase.

After a pretty dismal festive period in the Guinness PRO14, Best is looking for Ulster to rediscover their recent European form — when they beat Harlequins twice in last month’s back-to-back games — in order to revitalise their season and silence the critics.

“We’ve got to shock (La Rochelle) with how tough it’s going to be,” urged Best, who returned from injury for last weekend’s heavy defeat at Leinster.

“For us it’s about making sure that we dictate things.

“Our European season is at crunch time now,” added the experienced hooker, whose first game in his injury-hit campaign was when La Rochelle — who lost at Wasps last month — ran away with the match in October’s corresponding fixture.

EURO TILT: P62-63

Big blast: skipper Rory Best has thrown down the gauntlet to his hit-and-miss Ulster side