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Ulster's unusual tactic to ensure kickers are prepared for Clermont's cauldron
By Josh Raisey
Ahead of their crunch Heineken Champions Cup showdown against Clermont this Saturday, Ulster’s kickers have been preparing for the noisy experience they will encounter Stade Michelin.
The French stadium is one of European rugby’s most iconic and rapturous environments and has proven to be a difficult hunting ground for visiting sides - their 77-match winning run at home last decade is an indication of that.
The crowd can be cacophonous at times, so both John Cooney and Bill Johnston have been preparing to combat the partisan supporters.
Both players have been practising kicking with their headphones playing the sound of the Clermont crowd in order to give a taste of what they can expect this Saturday.
Scrum-half Cooney shared the video on Instagram of both players practising at the Kingspan Stadium.
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Cooney is enjoying a standout season for Ulster, particularly in the Champions Cup where he has the second-most points and is joint-second on the try-scoring list.
However, he will need to be at his best on Saturday to overcome a formidable Clermont side at their veritable fortress to take control of the pool.
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Latest Comments
Well done Baby Boks we will take the Draw. No 9 senseless long passes in those conditions. let’s move on and hope for some good weather
Go to commentsNo doubt this will be a fantastic occasion and I plan to be there, but I think the bean counters have won out over the rugby brains. In my opinion, it is foolhardy to give the Black Ferns the experience of playing in front of 60,000+ at Twickenham a year before they might be playing there in a World Cup Final. Better to play France at Twickenham and Black Ferns at Kingsholm. The difference in takings would be miniscule.
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