ULSTER BOSS RICHIE Murphy has included four Champions Cup debutants in his starting XV for Sunday’s visit to defending champions Toulouse [3.15pm, Premier Sports].
The Ulster head coach has left a couple of experienced first-choice players like Iain Henderson and Nick Timoney on the bench for this clash with the French giants.
22-year-old hooker James McCormick gets a chance to continue his fine form, 22-year-old centre Ben Carson will aim to back up his impressive outing against Leinster last weekend, while out-half Aidan Morgan and wing Werner Kok also get their first opportunities for Ulster in this competition.
Kok forms the back three with Mike Lowry and Stewart Moore, the midfield sees Carson team up with Stuart McCloskey, while Morgan partners Nathan Doak in the halfbacks.
Andrew Warwick and Scott Wilson will be alongside McCormick at scrum time, captain Alan O’Connor and Harry Sheridan team up in the second row, and the back row is formed by James McNabney and the Rea brothers, Matty and Marcus.
Ulster’s bench includes skipper Henderson, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, and Cormac Izuchuwku, all of whom are back this week after their involvement with Ireland last month.
John Cooney and Jacob Stockdale are among those to miss out due to injury.
Antoine Dupont captains the star-studded Toulouse team, partnering Romain Ntamack in the halfbacks as Ugo Mola’s men look to get their title defence up and running in style.
Ulster:
15. Stewart Moore
14. Werner Kok
13. Ben Carson
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Michael Lowry
10. Aidan Morgan
9. Nathan Doak
1. Andrew Warwick
2. James McCormick
3. Scott Wilson
4. Alan O’Connor (captain)
5. Harry Sheridan
6. Matty Rea
7. Marcus Rea
8. James McNabney
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Eric O’Sullivan
18. Tom O’Toole
19. Iain Henderson
20. Cormac Izuchukwu
21. Dave Shanahan
22. Jude Postlethwaite
23. Nick Timoney
Toulouse:
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Ange Capuozzo
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Santiago Chocobares
11. Matthis Lebel
10. Romain Ntamack
9. Antoine Dupont (captain)
1. David Ainu’u
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Dorian Aldegheri
4. Thibaud Flament
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. Jack Willis
7. Leo Banos
8. Alexandre Roumat
Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand
17. Rodrigue Neti
18. Joel Merkler
19. Joshua Brennan
20. Théo Ntamack
21. Paul Graou
22. Paul Costes
23. Juan-Cruz Mallia
Referee: Adam Leal [England].
Based on those stats, we should bring Brian Kerr back.
Trap is gone whatever happens but I certainly do not want us beat against the Faroe Islands for this to happen.
What about David O’Leary as next manager? Get him to do it for nothing (expenses only) for a year and if it works out, it would be great parties?
Just a thought.
Considering the amount of young talent that is there and his record with moulding young players it’s not a bad idea to get him, he won’t do it for nothing but he would do it on the cheap, whoever they get has to get a 3year deal and make this qualification a right off from the start let the new man experiment with the talent that is there but not being used
great for both parties.