Aside from being knocked out narrowly on aggregate by Toulouse, 50-49, in the 2021/22 season, challenging to be at the top table in Europe has felt like a dream rather than a genuine aspiration for Ulster fans in recent times. The inescapable fact is that Ulster have failed to win a knockout fixture in the Champions Cup since their storied run to the final in 2012.
With a brand new pitch installed at the Kingspan Stadium and the signing of Springbok World Cup winner, Stephen Kitshoff, things were looking up for an Ulster team which will have been disappointed with their returns from last season. They travel to vastly improved Bath side to start this year's European campaign.
When is Bath v Ulster?
Ulster travel to the Rec on Saturday with the match kicking off at 15:15.
How to Watch
The match is available on TNT Sports with coverage starting following the end of Toulon vs Exeter Chiefs.
Ulster Team News
Ulster have pushed the development of a large number of young players to start the campaign but it hasn't been a particularly promising start to this season. The form of the most recent crop to come through the academy was exciting for fans at the start of the season but injuries have left them stuttering in the last two weeks with defeats at the hands of Glasgow and at home to Edinburgh.
Prior to the season starting this Ulster side looked like one which had matured with players such as Tom O'Toole, Stuart McCloskey, James Hume and Nathan Doak ready to establish themselves as top players. With others such as Jake Flannery, Harry Sheridan, Scott Wilson, David McCann, Ethan McIlroy and Stewart Moore setting about cementing their place in the match day squad.
💥First try of the match goes to @UlsterRugby's Jake Flannery!
Flannery also secured all his team's points in the first minutes of the match 🔴#BKTURC #URC | #CONvULS pic.twitter.com/8F8IA3Sfww— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 4, 2023
The injury list has derailed the province in the last month. Since their superb comeback victory against Munster where they trailed 14-3 and roared back in the second half to win 21-14, they have struggled to get anything like their best team out on the field and fully fit.
Burns🤝Stockdale@UlsterRugby are on the board with a beautiful cross-field kick, expertly gathered by the winger.#BKTURC | ULSvMUN pic.twitter.com/EtFD6UBKYb
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 10, 2023
After last week reporting an injury list that was 17 players long, there is some slight relief for Dan McFarland as a small number of these have returned for the European Cup opener. Dave Ewers, Stewart Moore, Nathan Doak and Iain Henderson all return to the starting XV with Rob Herring and Jake Flannery back to make an impact off the bench.
🏆 We are back in @ChampionsCup action!
Your Ulster side to kick off our European campaign against @BathRugby tomorrow 🔥
📺 | @tntsports
📻 | @bbcradioulster pic.twitter.com/8gXHCephGc— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 8, 2023
Bath Team News
Few teams in Europe have had a resurgence like Bath in the last 12 months. After a turbulent campaign last year they qualified for the Champions Cup on the final day of the Gallagher Premiership with a shock 61-29 win over the would be winners of the Premiership, Saracens. They edged out Bristol Bears by just 8 on points difference.
This season has been a different story. They currently sit level on points with league leaders, Sale Sharks, and are playing some of their best rugby in years. While there have been moves made in the off season, none where as big a signing as the 1 million pound man, Scotland and Lions fly half, Finn Russell.
Rumour is he’s on £1 million a year 🤑
Finn Russell repaying the Bath faithful with another week of tricks 🔥
Morning coffee here in California. Sun outside. Don’t miss that English weather. Watching on https://t.co/xueE1Zf6bN
pic.twitter.com/0gQqWvO4DK— Will Hooley (@will_hooley) October 28, 2023
Russell has unlocked the backline talents that Bath have in Ollie Lawrence, Cam Redpath, Will Muir and Joe Cokanasiga and they have been electric this season. The Scottish fly half has formed a great pairing alongside veteran nine, Ben Spencer, who spoke of Russell this week stating,
"He is a very relaxed guy and it doesn't come from a place where he doesn't care. It is just his personality and it filters among the group and gives everyone more confidence. He has been brilliant."
Alfie Barbeary, the young number 8, who was part of the mass exodus from Wasps when it went under last season, has been outstanding alongside England international Sam Underhill. Charlie Ewels, probably best remembered by Irish fans for his early red card at Twickenham in the 2022 Six Nations and who is set to make his 150th appearance for the West Country side, has provided a ballast to this forward pack that wasn't there in previous seasons.
Former Ulster academy graduate, Niall Annett, is likely to come on off the bench to play against his former province. Since leaving Ravenhill to seek more game time with Rory Best and Rob Herring blocking his path, he has made an outstanding career for himself in the English Premiership, first at Worcester Warriors and now with Bath.
𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈'𝙎 𝙐𝙋: European rugby returns to The Rec 🏆
Bath Rugby are back in the Champions Cup, with Charlie Ewels set to make his 150th appearance this Saturday against Ulster Rugby.
Join us this weekend as we Paint the Town Red 🔴👇— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) December 8, 2023
