Returning from injury and making their way directly into the starting lineup, Connacht’s outhalf Josh Ioane and secondrow Joe Joyce are set to play in the upcoming Saturday night game against Ulster in Belfast, led by coach Pete Wilkins. The season’s first appearance will be made by Seán O’Brien who will play as the openside flanker.
Paul Boyle, who is now the number eight, and Shayne Bolton, the left wing player, will almost immediately join the main team after your impressive performances in the Scarlets match the previous weekend. Joyce, in addition to Josh Murphy who is transferred from the backrow, will be part of the lock while captain Cian Prendergast switches to the blindside flanker role to make room for Boyle.
Once again playing as a scrumhalf, Ben Murphy, Ulster coach Richie’s son, will be part of the dynamic back three with Mack Hansen and Santiago Cordero. Piers O’Conor will transition from left wing to outside centre, playing alongside Bundee Aki while Bolton takes his position on the left wing.
As far as the bench is concerned, the coaching staff has gone for a ratio of 6:2 with the likes of Oisín Dowling, David O’Connor and Conor Oliver expected to participate.
Ulster’s team will be led by captain Nick Timoney in his 150th appearance taking place at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday night. He will be joined by Sean Reffell at blindside and David McCann at openside. The game will also witness John Cooney’s start beside Aidan Morgan, who already has a pair of tries in his initial three games for Ulster, comprising the halfback partnership.
Jacob Stockdale, after scoring an impressive individual try against the Bulls last weekend, will be starting on the left wing, while Werner Kok will be making his debut start at Kingspan Stadium on the right wing.
Jude Postlethwaite, who scored a try against the Western Force last weekend during the Emerging Ireland tour, is back on the team and set to start at inside centre. He will be accompanied by Stewart Moore, who also had a successful weekend against the Bulls, scoring a try. Ethan McIlroy fills the fullback position, rounding up the backfield.
The bench ratio is set by Murphy at 5:3. The forward replacements are James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor, and Marcus Rea. Providing coverage for the back options from the bench are Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, and Mike Lowry.
For ULSTER, the starting arrangement is as follows: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; followed by Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole; and Iain Henderson (capt), Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Sean Reffell, and Nick Timoney. Their replacements are James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, and Mike Lowry.
For CONNACHT, we’ll see: Santiago Cordero; Mack Hansen, Piers O’Conor, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton; slotted with Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; FOllowed by Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; and Joe Joyce, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (capt), Seán O’Brien, and Paul Boyle. The listed replacements for this side are Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Temi Lasisi, Oisín Dowling, David O’Connor, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, and Conor Oliver.