Ulster plan to fight fire with fire against Leinster

Ulster know the only way to beat Leinster is with a full-court press, according to head coach Dan McFarland, who has compared Saturday's Champions Cup opponents with Grand Slam winners Ireland.

Leo Cullen’s squad makes up much of the Irish side that won the Guinness Six Nations and it’s a problem that the Ulster boss is acutely aware of.

The Belfast-based team suffered two frustrating losses to Leinster this season in the BKT United Rugby Championship but have also two notches on their belt in the form of a double over Leinster last season.

"You can't rely on trying to shut them down, it's too single faceted," the former Connacht prop said ahead of Saturday’s Aviva Stadium clash when asked the secret to beating the four-time European champs.

"If you're not able to put pressure on them in multiple ways, it doesn't have to be in every way, but in a number of ways, they are going to find an answer.

"Without wanting to link Ireland and Leinster, when you look at the Ireland-England game, England found a way to put pressure on them in one way with crazy linespeed but Ireland, the country, is so full of quality players that they'll find an answer to that somehow during the game.

"It's the same with Leinster. If we chose one way to stop them, it's not going to do it.

"We have to find a way to create momentum for ourselves off the back of any good defence that we have by being good in attack. It gives them something else to think about.

"How easy is that? Well, it happens their defence is the best in the league as well. You've got to be smart.

"There have been teams that have been able to put them under pressure but not many teams have.

"Leinster's heartbeat is their gainline and their lightning quick ball. If you let them have that, or