One of the enduring features of sport is there is always the next match.

Pressing needs can dim anxieties surrounding long-term views and in Ulster this week the burning need to get a result in Bourgoin without their coach of three and a half years, Mark McCall, is being considered alongside the future health of the province. Step in former Welsh international Steve Williams.

Having watched Ulster crash and burn in their opening games, culminating in a humiliating first half against Gloucester last Friday night, the natural inclination leans towards the possibility that not much good can come of this short-term relationship for the one-time international secondrow. But one of the other qualities of the game is always to look forward to the next match. In this interim coach Williams has called on sensible judgment. "Definitely we're hurting," he says. "We all feel quite low after the way things have gone. But there is no point in dwelling on that. We get over the shock and front up for this match at the weekend."

Williams is not without experience as a coach or player and came through the Welsh system from early on. After representing Wales Schools at Under 18 level and captaining Wales Under 21s, he won his first cap as a number eight on the Wales tour to Canada and the South Seas in 1994. He then spent two years on the sidelines after that tour before picking up eight caps in 1996 and a further 11 in 1997. He then fell back into the international wilderness between 1998-2002 before Steve Hansen briefly brought him into the fold. Williams ended his Test career with 29 caps and two tries.

His coaching career began in England and the short stints since stepping down as a player have been positive. He helped rescue Coventry from relegation from Division One in 2004, before becoming forwards coach at his former club Northampton in 2005, where with Paul Grayson he helped them qualify for the European Cup. As head coach, he also led Pertemps Bees to the EDF Energy Cup final for English rugby's junior clubs.

But he is in the dark about the mid- to long-term future at Ravenhill and as other names including Gareth Jenkins, Alan Solomons and former Ballymena and Harlequins coach Andre Bester are bandied about. Williams' position now is to make do with what he's got.

"The game is going to happen on Friday no matter what," he says with a touch of realism. "We have a game against Bourgoin and we are going into that knowing that we need to impose ourselves more than we have done in previous games. We know that we have to go out and put in a performance.

"Things have not gone the way we had hoped. But there is no looking back at all. Just Friday. We've talked about what we needed to talk about. We've had all the conversations this week and we know where we are at this point."

Ulster Branch chief executive Michael Reid, perhaps inadvertently echoing John Delaney's "worldclass coach" remark, has said that a "worldwide search" would now be conducted to find a permanent successor to McCall, who showed rare dignity in deciding to step down rather than hang on for a pay-off. The former Ireland centre was contracted to Ulster until 2010.

The smart money says they will go for a big name to take the province forward over the next three years. With 18 players out of contract at the end of the season, that decision could be one of the most important the branch will have had to make in years.

Reid also said that it was more important to get an "effective coach, rather than an indigenous coach", adding "we won't be making a new appointment with undue haste but we will look to have someone in position as soon as practically possible".

But this week it is Williams' call and there are two new faces in the starting line-up. Paul Steinmtez is named at inside centre following a return from a head injury that has kept him out for two months. Consequently Scottish centre Rob Dewey drops to the bench. Simon Danielli also returns after a few weeks playing for Malone. He replaces Mark McCrea on the left wing, while Mark Bartholomeusz replaces Bryn Cunningham at fullback.

The halfback partnership remains the same, with Paddy Wallace and Isaac Boss starting and David Humphreys dropping from the squad with a recurrence of the ankle injury that has plagued his season. The frontrow remains unchanged from last weekend.

However, the secondrow sees Matt McCullough return to partner former Bourgoin player Carlo Del Fava, with Ryan Caldwell acting as cover on the bench. Justin Harrison drops from the squad. Kieron Dawson returns to the starting line-up and will be alongside Neil Best and Roger Wilson in the backrow.

ULSTER: M Bartholomeusz; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, S Danielli; P Wallace, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), B Young, M McCullough, C Del Fava, N Best, K Dawson, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, D Pollock, K Campbell, N O'Connor, R Dewey.