CHAMPIONS CUP BOOTROOM

LA ROCHELLE v ULSTER Stade Marcel-Deflandre, 3.15pm

TEAM NEWS: A sweeping seven switches for Ulster after the home win over Wasps, five of the players losing out dropping to the bench. Veteran wingers Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble make the cut, while Test skipper Rory Best is on the bench after his hamstring issue. La Rochelle change three after ambushing Harlequins. NO PREVIOUS MEETINGS VERDICT: La Rochelle. WHY: The unheralded French outfit are a beast of an opposition in their Atlantic coast backyard. They can play it both ways, hard up front and fast out wide. Ulster will be confident, but their away form is questionable. They will

LA ROCHELLE: V Rattez; G Lacroix, G Doumayrou, P Aguillon, J Sinzelle; R Lamb, A Bales; D Priso, H Forbes, U Atonio, J Eaton (capt), JQ Nailiko, B Veivuke, K Gourdon, V Vito.

Reps: P Bourgarit, M Corbel, V Pelo, W Demotte, R Sazy, JV Goillot, P Jordaan, E Roudil.

ULSTER: C Piutau; A Trimble, D Cave, S McCloskey, T Bowe; C Lealiifano, P Marshall; C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, K Treadwell, A O’Connor, I Henderson (capt), C Henry, S Reidy. Reps: R Best, K McCall, R Ah You, R Diack, M Rea, J Cooney, L Marshall, J Stockdale.

REFEREE: N Owens (Wal). TV: LIVE Sky Sport Action (3.15pm). falter here, their scrum and defence set to be their undoing.

KEY STAT: Ulster were just one of two teams not to concede a try in the opening round.