Toulouse v Ulster: Stuart McCloskey on Champions Cup format

Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey admits he preferred the Investec Champions Cup’s previous format, adding the current structure can leave teams with an “absolutely terrible draw”.

Teams previously played their pool opponents home and away, but this season Ulster’s four pool games are away to holders Toulouse and Leicester and at home to Bordeaux and Exeter in Belfast.

Last season, Ulster failed to qualify for the knockout stages after defeats by Bath, Toulouse and Harlequins.

“I preferred the old one, I think most people do,” said McCloskey.

“I’ve spoken to most players and they all prefer the old way. I know it’s probably less games and we should prefer that because it’s probably better on the bodies, but I preferred the old way.”

McCloskey added he believes the previous set-up was “a bit more cut and dry with what you had to do”.

“I really liked that home and away [fixtures against the same club], like that fixture around Christmas. We had the Toulouse one eight or nine years ago [in the 2015-16 competition].

“There are some years with this one that you seem to get an absolutely terrible draw. You could say our draw isn’t particularly great with the fact we’ve got first and second in the Top 14 [Toulouse and Bordeaux] in the first two games.”