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.
Front row is a worry but otherwise a nice looking team that should do the job.
@Jayme mc: not sure I would agree with you. You have one of the best up and coming props in the country in Wilson, Herring is a fine international hooker and O’Sullivan is a former international prop.
@Keno: would agree its French is the worry. Wilson as well a bit, both at TH. Wilson is very good and promising but his lack of experience has been shown up a few times ( but less often than expected for a 21yo to be fair) if having a bad time French coming on doesn’t fill anyone with confidence, I’d guess Warwick may come on at TH if it were the case. Though I think Wilson will be up to it, the options after him aren’t great.
I’m going to this one so it’s nice to see Murphy naming a young promising 23. Here’s hoping.
@Rab McCracken: The rest of the squad seems to be injured but enjoy the game! Everyone should go to Parc y Scarlets at least once. Well, just once really.
@Justin Robinson: I live in south Wales now so I’ve been to a number of Ulster games here, but this will be the first in Llanelli. Getting the train so a few pints will be had whatever the result.
@Rab McCracken: ….there’s a man with his priorities right. Enjoy!!
@Rab McCracken: Rodney parade would be one I’d fancy, always impressed by the number of fans Dragons get out to support a team that is always at the bottom of the table and sometimes just wins one game a season yet average 5/6000 every season
@Rab McCracken: enjoy
@Rab McCracken: Enjoy the game and the pints !
I wouldn’t bet on Ulster beating anybody, not even the Scarlets. Two sides in disarray.
Interesting 6/2 split. Plenty of backrow cover on show. Good to see herring back, but TH bench is a concern let’s see if his scrummaging has improved. The more games into Izzy Wilson Sheridan crouthers Stewart McCann the better.
If the scrum holds up, I’d expect a win.
Good to see Lowry finding form again.
Every time I hear his name, I hear… Bad boys, Bad boys, what you gonna do…. in my head.
@Brian Keelty: ‘Noboby messes with Mike Laaaawrey’ lol