'You have to put it all to bed' - Ulster's Eric O'Sullivan has URC full focus with European final on back burner

Ulster currently sit eighth in the table just three points ahead of Irish rivals Connacht in the race for the play-offs and guaranteed Champions Cup rugby next season.

“It's a tough one I guess because obviously you're on such a high after a game like that, getting a good win, getting into the final and you have to put it all to bed pretty quickly,” said O’Sullivan. “So probably come in on the Monday, review the game so you're still probably a bit up and then get lunch out of the way and refocus on Stormers.

“Obviously Stormers are a quality outfit and league leaders for a reason, so we're expecting a very good side to come into town.

“They'll be physical as all South African teams are and they really value their set piece, so that'll be a big challenge.”

The Stormers come to Belfast looking to consolidate top position and have home advantage all the way through the play-offs. O’Sullivan starts on the bench but he knows where John Dobson’s side will target Ulster.

“South Africa pride themselves on their scrum so that's just a cultural thing of South African rugby so there's a lot of technique involved, there's a lot of size, a lot of power, they can do it all...there's a reason why they're the best in the world at it,” he said. “We'll do our homework, we'll have a look and see what we think will work against them, have a look at what other teams have done and what's gone well, what doesn't work well so. yeah, a lot of review there.

“Ultimately, with a big South African pack though, it's just a bit of attitude...you have to get in and fight hard.

“It’s a huge game so there's a lot riding on it, it is all focused in on Stormers, you have to put that Exeter game behind you and this is a big game for us...go in and go for a win.”

This time 12 months ago Ulster’s season was over now they are challenging for silverware on two fronts.

“It's brilliant, like as a squad that's where you want to be, you want to be competing for titles,” he said. “It would be really cool to lift some silverware in either tournament, hopefully both.

"But to be in those big games is huge so I think it's really good, it brings the squad together and it's a much better vibe around the place this time of year when you are still competing.

"You have something to play for so it's really important.”

O’Sullivan is hoping Ulster can make home advantage count.

“Every game matters now so if we could get this place full every week that would be brilliant, our fans are some of the best in the league when they're on form so it's on us to give them good rugby to get behind,” said O’Sullivan. “Because once we play well there this place is rocking so, hopefully, we can do that again.”

Angus Bell is fit enough to start in the front row, Cormac Iwuchukwu switches to blindside flanker with David McCann injured and Charlie Irivine is promoted to the second row.

Behind the scrum, Ethan McIlroy is deployed at centre with Stuart McCloskey injured Werner Kok returns to the wing.

ULSTER: (15-9) M Lowry; W Kok, E McIlroy, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak; (1-8) A Bell, J McCormick, T O’Toole; I Henderson (captain), C Irvine; C Izuchukwu, N Timoney, J Augustus.

Replacements: T Stewart, E O’Sullivan, S Wilson, H Sheridan, B Ward, C McKee, J Flannery, W de Klerk.