LAST UPDATE | 8 Apr 2022
BEN MOXHAM WILL make his first European start on Ulster’s left wing as Dan McFarland’s men make the trip to Toulouse for Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup last-16 first leg at the Stadium de Toulouse (15:15, BT Sport).
The 20-year-old Larne man is joined in the back three by Robert Baloucoune on the opposite side and Mike Lowry at fullback, while Stuart McCloskey returns to the northern province’s starting lineup to partner James Hume in midfield. John Cooney partners Billy Burns in Ulster’s returning half-back pairing.
Eric O’Sullivan and Rob Herring will start at loosehead and hooker, with Marty Moore retaining his place at tighthead.
Alan O’Connor joins skipper Iain Henderson in the second row, while Marcus Rea comes in at blindside flanker.
McFarland has a fair bit of beef on the bench in the shapes of Brad Roberts, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell and Jordi Murphy, while Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall and Rob Lyttle will offer backline refreshment when required.
Ugo Mola’s Toulouse are bolstered by the return from injury of centre Pita Ahki, who partners Zach Holmes in the middle.
Anthony Jelonch, who hasn’t featured since before the Six Nations, makes the European champions’ bench.
The French giants are enduring an indifferent season, currently sitting fifth in the Top 14, but Toulouse have lost just one of their last 10 home knockout games in the Champions Cup — to Leinster in 2005/06.
Toulouse
- 15. Thomas Ramos
- 14. Juan Cruz Mallia
- 13. Zack Holmes
- 12. Pita Ahki
- 11. Matthis Lebel
- 10. Romain Ntamack
- 9. Antoine Dupont
- 1. Rodrigue Neti
- 2. Peato Mauvaka
- 3. Dorian Aldegheri
- 4. Rory Arnold
- 5. Emmanuel Meafou
- 6. Rynhardt Elstadt
- 7. Thibaud Flament
- 8. Francois Cros
Replacements:
- 16. Guillaume Cramont
- 17. Cyril Baille
- 18. Richie Arnold
- 19. Anthony Jelonch
- 20. Alban Placines
- 21. Martin Page Relo
- 22. Sofiane Guitoune
Ulster
- 15. Mike Lowry
- 14. Robert Baloucoune
- 13. James Hume
- 12. Stuart McCloskey
- 11. Ben Moxham
- 10. Billy Burns
- 9. John Cooney
- 1. Eric O’Sullivan
- 2. Rob Herring
- 3. Marty Moore
- 4. Alan O’Connor
- 5. Iain Henderson (Captain)
- 6. Marcus Rea
- 7. Nick Timoney
- 8. Duane Vermeulen
Replacements:
- Brad Roberts
- Andrew Warwick
- Tom O’Toole
- Kieran Treadwell
- Jordi Murphy
- Nathan Doak
- Luke Marshall
- Rob Lyttle
- Updated at 13:25 with Toulouse’s team
Well done Fordey and best of luck.
G’day Stockholm see you in 3 more sleeps with added jerseys socks and jocks..
Välkommen till Stockholm lads. Wrap up well, it’s feckin’ freezing over here and the snow has returned.
Looking for places to go before/after the match? I’d suggest 3 places… The Dubliner (underground station Hötorget – near central station) and Wirströms and The Liffey both in the old town (underground station Gamla Stan) but of course there’s loads more around.
The Swedish Irish society will be having their St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday (postponed from last Saturday due to a royal funeral) at 1pm starting from Humlegården (underground station Östermalmstorg) and finishing in the old town. COYBIG!
Call me an optimist but I think we will get away with only 3-0 on Friday night
It’s going to be brutally cold!!! In fairness, I don’t plan on doing much sightseeing…. Warm pub, cold beer, happy days! COYBIG
Looking forward to it and if I just come back with a flu ill be happy :-)