Ulster prepared for backlash after Oyonnax mutiny

There were rumblings last week that Oyonnax players were very unhappy with head coach Olivier Azam and on Thursday the club rolled the dice by firing him two days before their debut in the Champions Cup.

It's certainly not best practice and its effect on the team will be quickly ascertained when Ulster come calling.

Azam, the former French hooker, took over in the summer but a run of six defeats in their first eight matches in the French Top 14 brought his reign to a quick full stop.

Galvanises

His assistants, former French centre Stephane Glas and Pascal Peyron, have been put in temporary charge and it may be that the 'mutiny' galvanises a side short on confidence.

Former Leinster academy player and underage international Eamonn Sheridan, ex-Connacht wing Fetu'u Vainikolo – the Tongan is a brilliant broken field runner – and a player well-known to Ulster supporters having spent time at the province, Pedrie Wannenburg, are all part of the Oyonnax match-day squad, along with one-time All Blacks scrumhalf Piri Weepu.

The visitors are without their outstanding back this season with centre Stuart McCloskey rested following a run of seven games. It would have been interesting to keep tabs on the 6ft 4in centre’s battle with Sheridan, who is similar in size.

Luke Marshall joins the in-form Darren Cave in the centre, while Andrew Trimble is back from injury. Halfback combination Paddy Jackson and Ruan Pienaar are going to have to make plenty of good decisions throughout the afternoon.

Peter Nelson is an accomplished young player and this will represent a good test for the fullback. Kyle McCall gets his chance at loosehead prop, Ricky Lutton starts at tighthead and the two will have to work hard at scrum time. Oyonnax have selected six forwards on the bench, including the gargantuan Soane Tonga'uiha.

In a game of this nature Ulster could have done with Roger Wilson's durability and hard-nosed aggression in tackling and carrying, but they still possess a backrow with the disparate qualities of Robbie Diack, Chris Henry and the granite-hewn Nick Williams.

Competition

George Robson's presence – he joined the French club from Harlequins during the summer – will make life difficult for the Ulster lineout and captain Rory Best but an interesting statistic from last year's competition placed Dan Tuohy as a leading light out of touch.

Les Kiss will know a great deal more about his squad after this match and in particular some of its younger constituents. They’ll have to fight for every metre and will be met with the hostility and aggression that French teams conjure when defending their turf.

In a pool that also contains Saracens and Toulouse, this represents a must-win match for Ulster. If they were a little closer to their strongest side – throw in Wilson, Iain Henderson, Jarred Payne and Tommy Bowe – there would be plenty to support their chances of victory.

They will need some young players to come of age and for those with the experience to make it count in those match-defining moments. Ulster won away for the first last this season last Sunday against the Dragons but a win in Oyonnax would be a far greater achievement.

OYONNAX: F Denos (capt); S Tian, V Martin, E Sheridan, F Vainikolo; R Lespinas, F Cibray; L Delboulbes, J Jenneker, M Clerc; G Robson, F Metz; V Ursache, O Missoup, V Maafu. Replacements: J Mourouard, S Tonga'uiha, A Guillamon, L Power, P Gunther, P Wannenburg, P Weepu, N Robinson.

ULSTER: P Nelson; A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Best (capt), R Lutton, F van der Merwe, D Tuohy; R Diack, C Henry, N Williams. Replacements: R Herring, C Black, W Herbst, L Stevenson, S Reidy, D Shanahan, I Humphreys, L Ludik.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England).

Verdict: Oyonnax to win.