MIKE LOWRY is set to make his 100th appearance as Ulster face Scarlets, at Parc y Scarlets (kick-off: 3.05pm) in Saturday’s Round 16 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Lock, Alan O’Connor, has been selected as captain and he will be joined in the second row by Kieran Treadwell, who returns following an injury picked up against DHL Stormers in Cape Town.
There is one change in the front row from the home win over Benetton. Rob Herring comes in at hooker and is joined by props Eric O’Sullivan and Scott Wilson.
There are two alterations in the back row. Cormac Izuchukwu starts at blindside flanker, with David McCann on the openside and Nick Timoney returning in the number eight jersey.
John Cooney, starts alongside Billy Burns at half-back, while there is one change to the back five, with Ethan McIlroy featuring on the right wing.
The bench includes Nathan Doak and Stewart Moore — both available again following injuries.
Ulster:
15. Mike Lowry
14. Ethan McIlroy
13. Will Addison
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Billy Burns
9. John Cooney
1. Eric O’Sullivan
2. Rob Herring
3. Scott Wilson
4. Kieran Treadwell
5. Alan O’Connor (C)
6. Cormac Izuchukwu
7. David McCann
8. Nick Timoney.
Replacements:
16. Tom Stewart
17. Andrew Warwick
18. James French
19. Harry Sheridan
20. Reuben Crothers
21. Nathan Doak
22. Stewart Moore
23. Dave Ewers.
Fantastic news for irish squad development.
@brian o’leary: Indeed, hopefully in the Irish system we can unearth another D’Arcy-O’driscoll combination. Barrett is a quality operator and a bit like Brad Thorn when he came the knowledge he imparted on others was excellent.
@brian o’leary: yes it is. During the 6 nations when 16 to 20 leinster players are in the sqaud the younger players will have someone of his calibre for them to learn from.
@Caballo Blanco: you have no idea what Thorn did other than put Toner on the bench. What we do know is Leinster poached McCarthy from Connacht and the knowledge imparted on Beirne, Moloney and Roux got 2 released and one became a backup player.
@chris mcdonnell: I guess one will be trying to learn from the stands instead of the pitch? Are the leinster coach’s in the ireland squad for the 6 nations,?
@brian o’leary: when ringrose, henshaw, keenan, Gibsonpark, lowe, frawley, obrien, and maybe larmour and pendergast are away with Ireland, Barrett will be there with the younger players who are left. If they don’t learn from a world class player either in training or on the pitch along side we’ll that’s their loss. Not really sure what you mean about the leinster coaches but hey
@chris mcdonnell: I get that, it’s just that I see game time as the ultimate training/development tool and some of our guys will now be robbed of that experience. I’m more concerned about the high end games where there is more to be learned than the urc during the six nations.
The coaching point was that we should have would class coaches to do the coaching, if not, then maybe spend the budget there?
@brian o’leary: I have a feeling he’ll be thrown in at outhalf for the big European games – Leo doesn’t want to mess around this year
@brian o’leary: Why??
That’s a relief; I was worried about Leinster’s lack of strength-in-depth to cover the position.
@John Coffey: Yep we need top cover for our Centres during the International windows. Help the young lads on no end.
Does anyone know why we’re playing NZ on a Friday night in November? What happened to having all the Autumn Internationals kicking off at 5.30 on a Saturday?