‘Don’t write Ulster off’ – Stuart McCloskey

Colin Newboult
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Ulster's Stuart McCloskey (centre) is tackled by Toulouse's Thomas Ramos (left) and Romain Ntamack during the European Champions Cup Group B match at the Kingspan Stadium, Belfast.

Centre Stuart McCloskey insists that it is too early to end talk of qualifying for the Champions Cup quarter-finals, despite their disappointment last week.

The Irish province were defeated 29-22 by Toulouse in Round One of the competition, leaving them on the back foot heading into the game against Gloucester.

Dan McFarland’s men need a victory if they are to give themselves a shot of going through to the next round and McCloskey is confident in the team’s abilities.

“I think it would be a bit premature to say we’re completely written off now,” McCloskey told reporters.

“Listen, normally you’d have a fair idea about getting about 18 or 19 points in the Champions Cup and it would be close, but this year who knows.

Target of 15 points

“We’ll be trying our best to get towards 15 points and see how it goes from there. If not we’ll still be fighting to get into the Challenge Cup as well.

“Whatever happens we’ll be looking to win every game and progress as far as we can in whatever tournament we’re playing in.”

The encounter will once again be played without supporters, a facet which could have an impact on the intensity of the game, but McCloskey hopes to avoid the type of eerie atmosphere which is usually associated with dead-rubbers.

“One year I can remember we had Bordeaux (when we were already knocked out) and we were playing here and we ended up losing that game,” he added.

“It’s a bit different that there are no fans here now, but when there are fans European games are massive and you always get a full stadium.

“They are games you look forward to, hearing that Champions Cup music played, it’s a different vibe.

“We’re not really looking too far ahead other than this week and at least we know now that we’ve got to win three games and probably get two bonus-points.”

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