Ulster team named for Guinness PRO14 opener
The match day 23 has been named for Ulster’s Guinness PRO14 Round 1 clash against Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday (5.15pm).
New signings Will Addison, Billy Burns and Henry Speight will all make their PRO14 debuts after being named in the starting backline.
Ireland internationals John Cooney and Iain Henderson will also start after missing the two pre-season fixtures.
Cooney and Burns are paired in the half back positions for the first time, while Stuart McCloskey and Darren Cave will provide a familiar look to the midfield.
Addison and Speight are joined in the back three by Craig Gilroy, who scored 10 tries in as many PRO14 matches last season.
Abbey Insurance Academy graduate Tom O’Toole, who signed his first senior contract earlier this week, will start at tighthead prop, earning his sixth cap. He will be joined in the front row by Ballymena RFC clubmen Andy Warwick and John Andrew.
Alan O’Connor will captain the side from the second row, where he will be partnered by Henderson. Marcell Coetzee, who made a welcome return to action last weekend in the game against Wasps, will combine in the back row with Sean Reidy and Nick Timoney.
Academy player Eric O’Sullivan could make his competitive debut for the Province if called upon from the bench. The loosehead prop is joined among the replacements by fellow forwards Adam McBurney, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell and Chris Henry.
Dave Shanahan, Angus Curtis and Angus Kernohan, the sub-Academy winger who has impressed in both pre-season fixtures and is also in line for a PRO14 debut, are the backline options.
Marty Moore (calf) and Kyle McCall (elbow) picked up injuries in training and are unavailable for selection this weekend.
Ulster team to play Scarlets, Guinness PRO14, Saturday 1st September, Kingspan Stadium (5.15pm):
(15-9): W Addison; C Gilroy, D Cave, S McCloskey, H Speight; B Burns, J Cooney;
(1-8): A Warwick, J Andrew, T O’Toole, A O’Connor (captain), I Henderson, M Coetzee, S Reidy, N Timoney;
Replacements (16-23): A McBurney, E O’Sullivan, R Kane, K Treadwell, C Henry, D Shanahan, A Curtis, A Kernohan.
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