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].
Guys the article is not attempting to be a comprehensive treatise on the finances of any one club. It is merely a look at the importance of location given the changing demographics of Dublin. I should also add I’m a blogger not a journalist and as a result the time I can give to fact checking is limited and I am happy to accept corrections through comments. Mea culpa on the Harristown issue.
Facts Lee!….. Evening Herald quality…a fate only avoided by Shamrock Rovers!!!first league win in 21st Century only 2 seasons ago….omitted massive tax write off…the role of SDCC!
Lee please get your facts straight before stating things,journalism like this is the reason people don’t know real facts. Rovers rent a ground in tallaght, Rovers had a 96% write off of all there debt when relegated, Bohs proposed move was to Harristown just beside the airport. The only reason Bohs haven’t moved is due to Liam Carroll being in Nama and having no funds to finish the deal.
Ah the memories! These were exciting times. Now we are extremely lucky to be still housed in Tolka. Word is both clubs will ground share Tolka next year. But where both clubs will be in 0-5 years? Lord knows.
The LOI and And FAI is inundated by a shower of grubby opportunist shady businessmen, (usually with thatch or comb overs) . Success on the field is normally followed by bankruptcy,Milltown, Flower lodge etc etc… markets field, kilcohan etc.. Sligo seem to be on the right track..