IRELAND INTERNATIONALS JORDI Murphy and Jacob Stockdale will make their first appearances of the season for Ulster’s trip to Munster on Saturday (kick-off 5:15pm).
In total, ahead of the Guinness PRO14 Round 6 clash at Thomond Park, the starting XV sees seven changes to the side that beat Zebre last Friday.
Matt Faddes reverts to fullback, with Stockdale and Rob Lyttle on the wings.
Stuart McCloskey earns a recall, joining last week’s man-of-the-match, Luke Marshall, in the centre.
Angus Curtis is set for his first appearance of the season at out-half, while he is joined by scrum-half John Cooney, who made a landmark 50th appearance against Zebre.
At tighthead, Marty Moore is among four changes in the forward line. He is joined by Jack McGrath and captain Rob Herring in the front row.
Sam Carter returns to accompany Alan O’Connor in the second row.
Meanwhile, alongside Murphy, Sean Reidy features at blindside, while Nick Timoney will switch to number eight in the back row.
Ulster (vs Munster)
15. Matt Faddes
14. Rob Lyttle
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Angus Curtis
9. John Cooney
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rob Herring (captain)
3. Marty Moore
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Sam Carter
6. Sean Reidy
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Robert Baloucoune.
We thought there might be a post-World Cup comedown, but then Saracens went and Saracened. Andy Dunne joins Sean Farrell and Gavan Casey as the pod segues from the international to club season.
Massive call to start Curtis at 10 away in an interpro but he looked very promising for the U20′s at 12 and should be well able to handle himself physically at least.
Really looking forward to the two interpros games now, particularly with all 4 teams playing a positive running brand of rugby at the moment.
@EK: no doubt he’ll have Cj coming at him like a freight train early doors. If he stands up to these early physical tests he’ll grow in confidence, his skillset is, even at a young age already very impressive.
@EK: big call but I believe Curtis has the potential and ability to play 10 at a high level saying that he will be on the receiving end of some serious traffic tomorrow .. munsters pack looks very strong
Good thing see Marty Moore fit. Would love to see him getting an injury free run.
More Leinstermen in that team than ulstermen
@Ciaran Twomey: As long as they come through our academy I dont mind too much but we really need to be developing our own. Still a year or two, too early though. So much mismanagement went on, particularly in bringing through forwards. Doesnt seem to be an issue in outside backs.
@Ciaran Twomey: yes but they are all Irishmen. Yes you would like to see more ulster homegrown lads fogging out but the academy has been behind other provinces in terms of producing sufficient number of players. It’s starting to catch up but it will take time. Better to fill the gaps with quality Irish fellas which can only benefit ulster and Ireland.
@Kevin: togging not fogging!:)
@Ciaran Twomey: it’s basically a Leinster pack v a South African one
@Chris Mc: who’s the South Africans in the Munster pack and who’s the Leinster players in the ulster pack?
@Ian Verdon: kleyn & CJ are Irish qualified but both South African. Add in Cloete and Botha off the bench, that’s a fair South African representation to me. No problem with it by the way.
@Ian Verdon: lol ChrisMc … need some sudacream for your hoop??
@Kevin: I know very well each and every players history in terms of ex clubs etc. I was just trying to see if Chris was as knowledgeable. When he makes such a statement as he did I would hope he has the facts to be able to back it up.
@Kevin: also in rugby terms cj and kleyn have been capped by Ireland so they’re Irish. Outside of rugby they can consider themselves whatever they like and be considered by others whatever way they like but in rugby they play for Ireland.
@Ian Verdon: agreed. Only trying to being mischievous.
@Chris Mc: Incase you don’t reply here you go:
Only 3 Sa born players in the Munster starting pack 2 of which are now Irish. 3 ex Leinster players in ulster pack in Jack, Jordi and Moore, Timoney left our academy after year 1 and came up through theirs likewise O’Connor. So I make it 1 Sa player vs 3 ex Leinster players. Out of 16 starting that’s not too bad. All of the Munster pack qualify for Ireland(Cloete next summer I believe) and only carter in ulsters pack is ineligible to play for Ireland. On the bench Botha has been capped by Sa and O’Sullivan didn’t even make it into the Leinster academy and came up through ulsters.
@Chris Mc: There have only been 2 players move directly from Leinster to Ulster, and there have been two players move directly from Ulster to Leinster.
@Ciaran Twomey: Matt Faddes NIQ Highlanders; Rob Lyttle IQ ulster academy , Luke Marshall,IQ ulster academy Stuart McCloskey,IQ ulster academy Jacob Stockdale;IQ ulster academy Angus Curtis,IQ ulster academyJohn CooneyIQ connacht Jack McGrath IQ Leinster Rob Herring (capt) IQ WP, Marty Moore IQ Wasps Alan O’Connor,IQ ulster academy Sam Carter NIQ Brummies Sean Reidy IQ CM Jordi Murphy IQ Leinster, Nick TimoneyIQ ulster academyReplacements: Adam McBurneyIQ ulster academy, Eric O’Sullivan,IQ ulster academy Tom O’TooleIQ ulster academy Kieran Treadwell IQ harliquins Matthew Rea,IQ ulster academy David ShanahanIQ ulster academyBill Johnston IQ MunsterRobert Baloucoune.IQ ulster academy I make that all but 2 IQ, only 2 came from Leinster 12 from the Ulster academy.
@Ciaran Twomey: Ay it’s a sad state of affairs for the ulstermen. Leinstertainment infecting the nation clearly
Wouldn’t worry about Stockdale scoring, he seems to have let the hair go again
@Darren Byrne: old photo
Not the best Ulster team they could have selected. I just hope it’s not back to last years philosophy in the interpros, send a weakened team for the away fixtures and then strengthen up for the home games. Not really fair on the travelling support.
@Bob Cummings: but not a weak team, either. Curtis is the big surprise for me, burns injured or r they cotton wooling him for Europe?
@Patrick Corrigan: holding him back for Europe I believe.
Damn. Wanted to see Bill start at 10.
@thesaltyurchin: He hasn’t really taken his chance so far. Watching him, he doesn’t seem to take the ball moving forward. He’s tended to take a couple of sideways steps before passing which makes Ulster’s attack very blunt and indirect.
Was this a feature while he was at Munster? He’s getting minutes, and he’s moved clubs to develop, but it’s definitely been persistent through his few appearances so far. It’s indicative of his being 4th choice in Munster.