**It is never easy getting over a defeat, let alone one in the Guinness PRO14 Final.** But that’s exactly what Ulster have had to do this week as the Irish province look to put their 27-5 defeat to Leinster behind them ahead of their return to European action. Dan McFarland’s side face Toulouse in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup and we start today’s Media Watch with the Ulster boss explaining how he refocused his side. Talking [to the Belfast Telegraph](http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/ulster-has-flicked-switch-after-final-woe-says-mcfarland-39534688.html), McFarland said he gave the players a cut-off of Tuesday lunchtime to “get over it” before turning their attention to the French giants. Ulster’s conquerors in the Final are also back in action this weekend, with Leinster taking on Saracens in their Champions Cup quarter-final clash at the Aviva Stadium. The men in blue are on a 25-game winning run since losing to the English Premiership side in last season’s showpiece and [James Ryan has issued a word of warning](http://www.rugbypass.com/news/james-ryan-issues-warning-to-leinster-despite-25-game-winning-streak-champions-cup-saracens/). “They are the defending champions for a reason, so we know this week we have to bring the best version of ourselves and I don’t think anything less will be enough to get a result,” he said. Elsewhere, Edinburgh are hoping to put their recent knockout record behind them when they take on Bordeaux in their European Challenge Cup quarter-final this weekend. The Scottish outfit are zero for four in knockout games under Richard Cockerill, but he insists he is not worried about what has gone before – [saying his team are on a path](http://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/uncategorised/1581826/edinburgh-will-keep-knocking-on-the-door-in-knockout-rugby-vows-richard-cockerill/). “We’ve played good teams in those things,” he said. “The first three we were still learning. Ulster was one we were good enough to win and expected to win. “Or at least expect to turn up and perform and do what we say we’re going to do, which we didn’t. Am I worried? No, not really. I just think, clearly, we’ve got to get better.” In Wales, Dragons are aiming to make it four from four when they travel across the bridge to face high-flying Premiership outfit [Bristol Bears in the European Challenge Cup](http://www.wru.wales/2020/09/dragons-looking-to-hold-onto-proud-european-record/). The Welsh region boast a 100 percent record in the last eight of the tournament, a statistic Dean Ryan is more than happy to embrace ahead of their latest quarter-final showdown. Ryan looks set to [‘roll the dice’ for the encounter with the Bears](http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18722129.jamie-roberts-jonah-holmes-set-dragons-debuts/), giving Jamie Roberts and Jonah Holmes a runout despite both players having a lack of match action. “We might be gambling on some given their lack of rugby but we also have some players who can do some different things,” Ryan told the South Wales Argus. Opponents Bristol are certainly not going to be a pushover for Ryan’s side, though, and former Connacht boss Pat Lam is [dreaming big when it comes to the Challenge Cup](http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18722426.pat-lam-bristol-pumped-dragons-clash/). "There are no second chances this week. If we lose on Friday, it's gone,” he said. “This competition is massive and we are trying our best to win it.” Meanwhile, Ospreys are beginning preparations for the new season as they look to put a disappointing campaign behind them with a new-look coaching staff. And Adam Beard is feeling [confident that this season will be different](http://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/exclusive-adam-beard-on-the-new-ospreys-and-his-international-ambition/28001.htm). “That is last season now,” he said. “We’ve swept that under the carpet, been in, training hard for the next few weeks and then we will rip into this season coming up.” Finally, Irish rugby has broken new ground with the appointment of its first ever female president at provincial level after [Ann Heneghan was elected at Connacht](http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/history-made-as-connacht-appoint-ann-heneghan-as-first-ever-female-provincial-president-39532579.html).
