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Steven Crawford

Ulster's focus is on halting three-game losing streak insists Dan Soper

Dan Soper insists Ulster's focus is on bringing a three-game losing streak to a halt as the row over their European Champions Cup game rumbles on.

An investigation is being conducted by the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) into the events which caused the Pool B clash with La Rochelle to be moved to Dublin last Saturday.

Ulster lost the game 36-29 after finding themselves 29-0 down at half-time and Soper said their thoughts are only on events on the pitch as they prepare to face Connacht tonight.

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“My job is with the players and the team," he said.

"It is what it is and I understand there's an investigation of sorts going on at the moment and that'll all come out in the wash I would guess. It was frustrating but we've got to move on. That's the nature of this sport, you can't dwell on these things.”

Ulster have had a tough run of fixtures with Leinster, Sale and La Rochelle all in quick succession and Soper is expecting another tough test against Connacht at the Sportsground.

“This game was always going to be a big challenge," he said.

"Connacht have found a rich vein of form of late, and it will be our first time at The Sportsground on the new surface.

“We don’t have any option other than to face up to it. We’ve had some really tough battles against Connacht, I expect this week to be exactly the same.

"We knew this was going to be a tough part of the year but one thing about this group is we've stood up to challenges in the past and we hope that the next two weeks, with two derbies, we do the same."

There are three changes for Ulster with Nathan Doak, David McCann and Marcus Rea coming in.

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