La Rochelle game 'what players live for' - O'Toole

Ulster prop Tom O'Toole said the side "know how much of a dominant force and how much of a beast La Rochelle can be" ahead of Friday's Challenge Cup quarter-final between the sides at the Affidea Stadium [20:00 BST].

Richie Murphy's side are aiming to reach their first European semi-final since 2021 when they welcome La Rochelle to Belfast.

Despite sitting ninth in the Top 14 and struggling for form this season, the French outfit are experienced in European competitions and won back-to-back Champions Cups in 2022 and 2023.

"I think when you have a big team like La Rochelle coming to play us at home on a Friday night, it's kind of what Ulster fans and Ulster players live for," O'Toole told BBC Sport NI's Mark Sidebottom.

"I think it's something traditionally we've been quite good at and it's something that the crowd have really got behind us for. I am hoping it'll be the same on Friday night and we feel the energy from the crowd because we know how much of an important game this is.

"We know how much of a dominant force and how much of a beast La Rochelle can be as a team, so I think it'll be an entertaining and physical match up on Friday night."

The northern province has struggled to reach the latter stages of European competitions in recent seasons with last season's Champions Cup run ended by Bordeaux in the last 16 while their last semi-final appearance came five years ago - a defeat by Leicester Tigers in the Challenge Cup.

However, this season Ulster have shown impressive form and currently occupy third position in the United Rugby Championship [URC] table.

"I think we started well this season and we're getting to the business end, so we'll find out now about how much we have grown as a team," O'Toole continued.

"We've been fortunate enough to start well but it's how you finish really. I think every game that we have now is going to be so important to us in terms of URC and in terms of European.

"This is when it really counts, knock out rugby, and we don't have a second chance at it, so I think this is where we'll kind of find out as a squad."

O'Toole may play tight-head for Ulster but he made his first Six Nations start for Ireland in the number one jersey against Wales.

The 27-year-old also started against Scotland when Andy Farrell's side secured the Triple Crown but were denied the title by France.

O'Toole may have had limited experience at loose-head prior to the Six Nations campaign, but added "to be able to mix and match is good".

"You know when I came in [at Ulster] it was just as prop and you're kind of stuck to one side traditionally but to be able to mix and match it is good," he added.

"I think it was more the challenge and the excitement of something new and fresh which got me really excited. It kind of reminded me of when you're just starting out and you're trying to figure things out and how exciting it is."

"I was tight-head probably for about eight years and I think loose-head is quite exciting, it's something new and it's something different."