THE RETURN OF Chris Henry and Stuart McCloskey will give Ulster some added muscle as they welcome Connacht in the season’s first inter-pro tomorrow (19.35, TG4 / BBC).
Les Kiss and Jono Gibbes’ side suffered an unexpected collapse to their unbeaten start to the season as they fell to defeat against Zebre last weekend.
Matt Rea and Sean Reidy vacate the flanks as part of wholesale changes, allowing Henry captain his province from the openside while Iain Henderson moves back to the blindside with Kieran Treadwell returning to the engine room.
Half-backs John Cooney and Christian Lealiifano are retained, but will have the robust presence of McCloskey awaiting ammunition in midfield. with Darren Cave bumped out of the matchday 23.
Tommy Bowe and Jacob Stockdale also return to the wings with Louis Ludik named among the replacements and Darren Cave and Andrew Trimble outside of the matchday 23.
Ulster (v Connacht)
15. Charles Piutau
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Christian Lealiifano
9. John Cooney
1. Kyle McCall
2. Rob Herring
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Kieran Treadwell
6. Iain Henderson
7. Chris Henry (Capt.)
8. Jean Deysel
Replacements:
16. John Andrew
17. Andy Warwick
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Robie Diack
20. Sean Reidy
21. Paul Marshall
22. Pete Nelson
23. Louis Ludik