Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named his side for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship interpro against Ulster at Kingspan Stadium (k/o 8.00pm).
Joe Joyce and Josh Ioane have recovered from injury to come straight into the starting XV, while Sean O’Brien will make his first appearance of the season after being named at openside flanker.
The two other changes see Paul Boyle and Shayne Bolton come into the starting team after their appearances off the bench at the Scarlets last weekend.
The experienced front row of Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham is unchanged, while Josh Murphy moves from the back row to the second row to partner Joyce. Captain Cian Prendergast moves to blindside flanker with Boyle wearing number 8.
The in-form Ben Murphy continues at scrum-half, while Piers O’Conor shifts from the left wing to outside centre alongside Bundee Aki. Bolton takes his place on the wing with Mack Hansen and Santiago Cordero making up the rest of the back three.
The coaching team have gone for a 6:2 split on the bench with Oisín Dowling, David O’Connor and Conor Oliver all expected to be called upon.
Head coach Pete Wilkins says:
“An interpro trip to Belfast is always one of the great challenges in a URC season. There were elements of last weekend’s game in Wales that were pleasing, but our overall performance will need to improve if we’re to earn a win tomorrow. History has shown this is often a one-score game so we must make sure we produce an 80-minute performance full of accuracy and intent.”
15. Santiago Cordero (5)
14. Mack Hansen (35)
13. Piers O'Conor (3)
12. Bundee Aki (139)
11. Shayne Bolton (15)
10. Josh Ioane (2)
9. Ben Murphy (3)
1. Denis Buckley (251)
2. Dave Heffernan (203)
3. Finlay Bealham (206)
4. Joe Joyce (22)
5. Josh Murphy (21)
6. Cian Prendergast (71) (C)
7. Sean O’Brien (9)
8. Paul Boyle (95)
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (39)
17. Peter Dooley (40)
18. Temi Lasisi (1)
19. Oisín Dowling (62)
20. David O’Connor (2)
21. Caolin Blade (195)
22. Cathal Forde (34)
23. Conor Oliver (88)
