Jono Gibbes, having come up against La Rochelle last season with Clermont, has a fair idea of what Ulster should expect when they land in the west of France for Sunday's game.
La Rochelle finished last season’s Top14 Championship seven points clear of second-placed Clermont after 26 games, before suffering elimination in the knock-out stages.
But their strong domestic performances earned them a place in the Champions Cup for the first time, and Sunday represents their competition debut at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
“If you can reference over 100 years of history into one game, you get an idea of the enormity of what it is for them,” said the man who helped Clermont to a 30-30 draw on the Atlantic coast last season.
“It's a great stadium. It's very similar to here (Kingspan Stadium). I wouldn't say it's enormous but the stands are very close to the ground.
“They've got these tin hoardings and when the crowd smash them they make a hell of a racket. The fans are there very early during the warm-up so you'll get a feel for it. It's not hostile, they are just passionate and excited.
“I know there'll be a few of our supporters down there, but I guess they'll get the worst seats imaginable.
“They've built something pretty good and they are consistently improving over the last few years when they've moved from the Pro D2 to finishing top of the Top14. I think their supporters are used to watching winning rugby.”
La Rochelle currently leads the Top14 charts in terms metres made, clean breaks and offloads, and their attacking prowess was on full display during the 27-34 bonus point win away to Harlequins on Saturday.
“La Rochelle have built a style of play that they are pretty comfortable with over the course of the last 18 months,” said Gibbes.
“Last year they were the top attack and second best defence after 26 games, so they've built on a good framework of teamwork and they are pretty comfortable with that.”
Their rise from the Pro D2 to the Champions Cup has attracted All Blacks Victor Vito and Jason Eaton, among others, to the club.
“Certainly I think in my experience last year, La Rochelle are individually probably one of the most skillful, X-factor teams that there is,” he said.
“If you look at Toulouse, who have Maxime Medard and Gael Fickou as players who can create things, La Rochelle seem to have players in from 1 to 15 who can do all sorts of things. Certainly the threat is pretty real.”
With four of their pack weighing in at over 130kg, Gibbes knows his forwards will have to front up to a huge physical onslaught.
“It absolutely is a different way of dealing with things. People like Rory Best have played a lot of games with Ireland against France so we've got some of his insights, and Aaron (Dundon) coached in the Top14 last year, so he understands the different way it works up against someone who can just lean 150kg on top of you.
“It's different, but we have to prepare the best we can, be a really strong team unit. It's the collective that's our best asset going down there.
“That's why you need your team-mates, you need to be as tight as you can as a team. It'll be a tough old game but you have to step forward for those.”
La Rochelle finished last season’s Top14 Championship seven points clear of second-placed Clermont after 26 games, before suffering elimination in the knock-out stages.
But their strong domestic performances earned them a place in the Champions Cup for the first time, and Sunday represents their competition debut at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
“If you can reference over 100 years of history into one game, you get an idea of the enormity of what it is for them,” said the man who helped Clermont to a 30-30 draw on the Atlantic coast last season.
“It's a great stadium. It's very similar to here (Kingspan Stadium). I wouldn't say it's enormous but the stands are very close to the ground.
“They've got these tin hoardings and when the crowd smash them they make a hell of a racket. The fans are there very early during the warm-up so you'll get a feel for it. It's not hostile, they are just passionate and excited.
“I know there'll be a few of our supporters down there, but I guess they'll get the worst seats imaginable.
“They've built something pretty good and they are consistently improving over the last few years when they've moved from the Pro D2 to finishing top of the Top14. I think their supporters are used to watching winning rugby.”
La Rochelle currently leads the Top14 charts in terms metres made, clean breaks and offloads, and their attacking prowess was on full display during the 27-34 bonus point win away to Harlequins on Saturday.
“La Rochelle have built a style of play that they are pretty comfortable with over the course of the last 18 months,” said Gibbes.
“Last year they were the top attack and second best defence after 26 games, so they've built on a good framework of teamwork and they are pretty comfortable with that.”
Their rise from the Pro D2 to the Champions Cup has attracted All Blacks Victor Vito and Jason Eaton, among others, to the club.
“Certainly I think in my experience last year, La Rochelle are individually probably one of the most skillful, X-factor teams that there is,” he said.
“If you look at Toulouse, who have Maxime Medard and Gael Fickou as players who can create things, La Rochelle seem to have players in from 1 to 15 who can do all sorts of things. Certainly the threat is pretty real.”
With four of their pack weighing in at over 130kg, Gibbes knows his forwards will have to front up to a huge physical onslaught.
“It absolutely is a different way of dealing with things. People like Rory Best have played a lot of games with Ireland against France so we've got some of his insights, and Aaron (Dundon) coached in the Top14 last year, so he understands the different way it works up against someone who can just lean 150kg on top of you.
“It's different, but we have to prepare the best we can, be a really strong team unit. It's the collective that's our best asset going down there.
“That's why you need your team-mates, you need to be as tight as you can as a team. It'll be a tough old game but you have to step forward for those.”