Ulster face Montpellier in Sunday's Challenge Cup last-16 tie in France having won just four of their past 14 knockout games.
It has certainly been an eventful time at Kingspan Stadium since Ulster were last in European action.
Richie Murphy and Hugh McCaughey are in situ for now but there remains uncertainty around these key positions beyond the summer.for last year's marquee signing Steven Kitshoff, and it is clear to see how a deep run in the cup could be a boost to a beleaguered side and their fanbase. They lost 10 of those 14 knockout ties under McFarland, the last of which was the damaging URC quarter-final defeat at home to Connacht last May.
But they lost to Leicester Tigers in the semi-finals that season - with that result, alongside the Stormers URC semi-final of 2022 and the two-legged Champions Cup defeat by Toulouse during that same campaign, among a host of missed opportunities for what would have been considered a statement victory."We've won two of our last 10 games in European rugby and that's something that has stuck with me," said captain Iain Henderson.
"Knockout rugby is tough," added winger Robert Baloucoune, who scored a memorable hat-trick against Toulouse in the Champions Cup last 16 in 2022 - only for Ulster to still lose over two legs. "Collectively that helps the team and that is the stuff that I will be focusing on going into this game.""We're at this time of year again, aren't we?" said Henderson."I'm excited. I have the same buzz going into this one as I have going into past ones. I don't know if that's good or bad but I know the young guys who have been in this position before are champing at the bit to get another opportunity in knockout rugby.
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