Powerful Charles Piutau can’t wait to pull on Ulster jersey

Charles Piutau probably comes from the hardest school of knocks of all - the All Blacks.

Capped 14 times for New Zealand before heading north of the equator to ply his trade, he is now ready to make his long-awaited European rugby debut with Ulster, for whom he signed on the dotted line nearly 18 months ago.

A bang to the head saw the extremely sturdy Aucklander sidelined for the past couple of weeks. After missing the frustrating opening 28-13 defeat in Bordeaux, Piutau returns to the Ulster fold on the left wing to face a physical Exeter outfit at the Kingspan Stadium tonight.

Piutau is the only change to the backline to face Exeter who will be hurting after they were mauled 35-8 by Clermont on their own patch in the opening Pool 5 clash.

Up front, Kyle McCall comes in for Callum Black at loose-head while Peter Browne replaces Alan O’Connor at lock and Roger Wilson is at number eight with Sean Reidy returning to openside flanker.

Having frustratingly watched from the sidelines, Piutua is ready, and he also knows what Ulster must do to win - match Exeter’s physicality.

Piutau said: “I can’t wait to pull on the Ulster jersey in front of the home crowd and represent the club in a European match. I’d heard a lot about it before and it was definitely a reason why I was excited to come and be a part of this club.

"Being the European Cup, it’s just a different competition, it’s the best of the best in Europe. The intensity of the game, the speed, the quality of the players too," said Piutau, who tasted the atmosphere when during a one-year spell last season with Wasps, who blasted their way to the semi-finals last season which included a win over this evening’s opponents Exeter.

“We beat them in Europe, but they beat us in the other games. They’re a classy side with threats across the park. I think their forward pack is really strong, particularly their maul. Their ball-carrying game when they’re going forward is a big threat, and then you’ve got class playmakers on their side,” said Piutau who knows Ulster have something to prove.

“That’s the exciting thing about rugby, you always have next week to fix things. We must improve on the things that we didn’t do so well last week.”

Exeter will have Ulster rejects Gareth Steenson and Ian Whitten in the backline, no doubt looking to prove a point or two!

But it’s up front where the die will be cast.