Ulster sweating on Ireland international duo’s fitness ahead of crunch Bordeaux clash

Baloucoune, who was making his first appearance in 11 months in Ulster’s win over the DHL Stormers last Friday after recovering from a hamstring injury, was withdrawn shortly after half-time with the same problem, while centre Hume was withdrawn before kick-off due to illness.

Both have been rated as doubts for this Sunday’s trip to the Stade Chaban-Delmas for the province’s first knockout tie of the season and leaves head coach Richie Murphy facing another injury crisis this season.

While Baloucoune’s absence would be ably dealt with by elevating former Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward to the starting line-up, the province are somewhat short in the midfield.

Centre Ben Carson is also a doubt after he was helped off the pitch against the Stormers with a back injury sustained early in the second-half after a collision with Neethling Fouche, which resulted in the South African prop being red carded, while Jude Postlethwaite has also missed the last two weeks due to injury as well.

Stewart Moore would seemingly be the next cab off the rank, an adept centre even though he has been preferred at full-back or wing this season, but should Murphy opt to keep him in the back three then the head coach perhaps will have to turn to a very inexperienced option to fill the gap.

Academy centre Wilhelm de Klerk is the only other option available who has had first team experience this season, although this would be a massive step-up for the former Leinster Academy man, with Bordeaux able to call upon four internationally capped centres in Nicolas Depoortère, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Yoram Moefana and Ben Tapuai.