Reuben Crothers starts in the only change to Richie Murphy’s forwards, while injury has forced a reshuffle of the backs.
ULSTER CAN COUNT upon Stuart McCloskey for Friday night’s pivotal URC clash with Benetton at Kingspan Stadium , while Robert Baloucoune has also returned to Richie Murphy’s significantly changed backline.
Ireland international McCloskey will partner Will Addison in midfield following a potential long-term injury to James Hume, while Baloucoune starts on the right-hand side of a back three which also includes left wing Jacob Stockdale and Mike Lowry at fullback. With last weekend’s starting half-backs Nathan Doak and Jake Flannery also ruled out through injury, match-winner against Cardiff John Cooney partners Billy Burns at scrum-half and out-half respectively. It’s likely that Lowry will cover out-half in the event of an injury to Burns, with Ulster’s bench backs consisting of scrum-half Dave Shanahan, centre Luke Marshall and wing Ethan McIlroy.
There is one change to Ulster’s back row, with academy product and former Ireland U20s captain Reuben Crothers starting at openside alongside David McCann and Dave Ewers. Advertisement Ulster are unchanged in the front row and in the second row, from where they will again be captained by Alan O’Connor.
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