Ulster welcome French giants Clermont to Belfast to open up a tasty weekend of Champions Cup action this Friday; and it’s a fixture that is loaded with history.

Five times these sides have met in the past, with Clermont holding a narrow 3-2 advantage in the head-to-head, although Ulster will be buoyed this time by the knowledge that, in all five match-ups, the home side has prevailed.

Another factor that will give them hope are the memories of the last time the French outfit made the trip to Northern Ireland, when Rory Best’s men ran in five scores for five points in a scorching 39-32 triumph back in December 2016.

It was a result that reignited the Guinness PRO14 team’s Champions Cup hopes that season after an opening-round defeat to Bordeaux had left them in a precarious position in a tricky Pool 5.

🥐🧀🇫🇷Bon Appétit! 🇫🇷🧀🥐 🎬 @JacobStockdale, @BillyBurns10, @MattFaddes & @louisludik try to guess five popular French foods blindfolded ahead of the Clermont game this Friday! Watch to see who wins... Full video 👉https://t.co/Cq6Adp6PVa pic.twitter.com/xEbqRHZCz5
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) 20 November 2019

And though Les Kiss’ men battled back to victory over Exeter Chiefs next time out, they knew that a result was required when the 2015 finalists came to town.

One of Europe’s most recognisable rugby names, and a powerhouse in the French game for decades, Clermont were the red-hot favourites for top spot in the Pool that year, and when Peceli Yato put them ahead with less than two minutes on the clock, it looked as if they would live up to that billing.

But the hosts fought their way back into the contest, weathering Rodney Ah You’s sixth-minute sin-bin as Luke Marshall and Iain Henderson – who latched onto a superb cross-field kick to storm over – turned the tide.

Clermont snatched back the initiative on the half hour when Scott Spedding slid over in the corner after quick hands down the line, but Paddy Jackson’s nifty footwork helped Ulster to a 22-18 half-time lead.

And it was more of the same after the break: a brilliant run from jinking, darting, scoring Charles Piutau stretched the advantage to 21 points as UIster sped into a commanding 39-18 lead.

There was still time for Clermont to make a game of things, with scores from Nick Abendanon and Damien Chouly making the hosts sweat.

But Ulster, a man light and without the ball, managed to hold on, keeping Clermont out before a wild knock-on handed them the ball to boot into the stands, sealing a famous victory in the process.

And though it was ultimately not to be in Europe that year for the 1999 Champions Cup winners – they were eliminated at the Pool stages while Clermont advanced to the final where they were beaten by Saracens – it was certainly a triumph to remember, one that will spur the Ulstermen on come Friday night.