Oyonnax v Ulster: Champions Cup preview
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 10/01/16 1:29pm
Les Kiss has made eight changes to his Ulster team for Sunday's Champions Cup clash with Oyonnax, live on Sky Sports 2 HD.
With Saracens leading the way in Pool 1, Ulster are more than likely fighting for one of the runners-up spots and will be looking for all five points in France.
Ulster come into the game on the back of a loss to Munster in the PRO12 and Kiss is hoping his side will learn from the defeat.
"The performance against Munster was not really up to the standards we expect and with some big games coming up we have got to look for solutions," said Kiss.
"We have got a good few training sessions and good honest video sessions in front of us to put things right. We have been very honest with ourselves as a group this season and that has been one of the things that has helped us get on the good run we have been on.
"We did not over-react when we lost games before and we need to show that same attitude now, to look over things in a pragmatic fashion, grow from this defeat and learn the lessons before we face Oyonnax."
Craig Gilroy makes a return to the side at full-back while Louis Ludik takes his place on the bench for the encounter at Stade Charles-Mathon.
Sammy Arnold makes his first European start in the No 14 jersey, with Rory Scholes completing the back three. Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall continue their midfield combination.
Ian Humphreys and Paul Marshall occupy the half-back berths, with Paddy Jackson and Ruan Pienaar named on the bench.
Yet to recover from a knock he received last week, Wiehahn Herbst drops out of the match-day 23, and Ricky Lutton takes his place at tighthead prop where he joins Kyle McCall and captain Rory Best.
Lewis Stevenson takes over from Alan O'Connor in the second row, while there is one change in the back row, with Nick Williams making way for Roger Wilson at No 8.
Oyonnax: 15 Quentin Etienne, 14 Dug Codjo, 13 Alaska Taufa, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 Uwa Tawalo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Julien Blanc; 1 Laurent Delboulbès, 2 Jeremie Maurouard, 3 Marc Clerc, 4 George Robson, 5 Fabrice Metz, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 7 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg.
Replacements: 16 Thomas Bordes, 17 Stan Wright, 18 Horace Pungea, 19 Leon Power, 20 Viliami Maafu, 21 Arthur Aziza, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Daniel Ikpefan.
Ulster: 15 Craig Gilroy, 14 Sammy Arnold, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Rory Scholes, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Paul Marshall; 1 Kyle McCall, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Ricky Lutton, 4 Lewis Stevenson, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Robbie Diack, 7 Callum Henry, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Black, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Nick Williams, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Louis Ludik.
Watch Oyonnax v Ulster live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Sunday from 12.45pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.