Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Piutau goal is to stir up Wasps next
ULSTER full-back Charles Piutau is desperate for the chance to line out opposite his former club Wasps next weekend.
The 17-time capped All Black set up Jacob Stockdale’s crucial try on Friday night as Connacht were put to the sword in Belfast.
Ulster now begin their Champions Cup campaign against Wasps back at Kingspan Stadium this Friday but Piutau knows they will be up against it.
“Wasps will be a step up from Friday’s game but it’s very exciting to come into the Champions Cup games, especially playing them first up,” said Piutau.
“A lot of familiar faces will be playing and if I am given the opportunity to run out there hopefully I can take it with both hands.”
Ulster have won five of their six games in the Pro14 this season, with their only defeat being a shock 27-23 reversal away to Zebre.
But despite their derby victory over Connacht, Piutau knows Les Kiss’s men are far from the finished article.
“It’s always a big game with the interpros and it showed out there, how tough it was,” he said.
“It wasn’t pretty but I am happy that the boys showed a lot of heart and desire out there against Connacht, especially on defence.
“The Connacht defence put us under pressure and maybe we are our own worst enemy as well just trying to throw a few passes that weren’t there, and not looking after the ball.
“But we will learn from that and move forward in Europe this week.”