​Ulster's ‘step it up a gear’ warning for European Challenge Cup test with La Rochelle

Ulster narrowly squeezed past the Ospreys last weekend and now face the two-time Champions Cup winners for a place in the semi-final.

Ulster conceded 14 penalties against the Ospreys, 12 turnovers and have the 10th best defence in the United Rugby Championship, leading Faloon to call for a “need to step up a bit from last week”.

He said: “It's going to be a huge game now, we're very excited for it and really looking forward to the weekend.

“There's definitely elements in the game we weren't overly happy with, we've had a look back at those and, yeah, there's a lot of quality in the La Rochelle team, so we definitely have to step it up a gear.

“The threat this week is huge in regard to their offloading threat, their ball carriers, there's so much threat available to them...so for us, it's about trying to be as connected as we can and working really hard for each other.

“With the six-day turnaround we did some prep on both Newcastle and La Rochelle last week, so we had a bit of an idea of what we'd be looking at.

“Ultimately, they didn't bring over their strongest team, we don't know what they're going to bring over this weekend but, regardless of that, they're a quality outfit.

"They have great depth and some of the carriers and the backs they have available to them, it just means we really have to be focusing on ourselves and getting the best out of us.”

As a former flanker, Faloon is weary of the threat from La Rochelle’s Fijian backrow Levani Botia at the breakdown.

“Fantastic carrier but a brilliant tackle threat, if he's available, he'll definitely put us under a lot of pressure there, so we'll have to be on the money there,” he said.

The tournament is wide open with Zebre and the Dragons beating French opposition.

“It's very much game by game and we're definitely not looking past La Rochelle, it's going to be a big occasion,” he said. “The tournament's really opened up with a few surprising results at the weekend...it just really shows that every team, they put their best foot forward whenever it comes to these cup competitions.”

Australian prop Angus Bell is expected to play against La Rochelle despite having to come off with an eye injury after 12 minutes against the Ospreys.

“He got a good impact to the eye and it closed over, so he had to come off, he couldn't see clearly, so he trained today, so hopefully he'll be available,” said Faloon.

He praised O’Gara for delivering back-to-back European Cup joy to the French side.

“He's had immense success in La Rochelle in the last four or five years and he's doing obviously a fantastic job there,” said Faloon. “They're not probably where they want to be in the Top 14 this year and that again is going to put them under pressure, but he's a quality coach.

“I would have played against him maybe a couple of times, not that I can remember anything of that, he's had great success in coaching and his playing days.”

Hooker Rob Herring (calf) and scrum half Nathan Doak (ankle) are both injury doubts.