Rugby: Ulster players to start in new-look Ireland line-up

Ulster's Mike Lowry in Ireland's practice session
Author: Nigel GouldPublished 11th Jul 2022

Five Ulster players are included in Ireland's starting line-up for tomorrow's game with the Maori All-Blacks.

Stuart McCloskey comes into midfield with Michael Lowry at full back.

Tom O'Toole is part of the front-row with Kieran Treadwell as lock.

Meanwhile, Nick Timoney starts at 7.

Keith Earls will skipper the side in Wellington as coach Andy Farrell seeks to level the Series with their opponents having lost the first fixture in Hamilton.

Andy Farrell

Farrell believes it is a change for fringe players to impress.

IRELAND v Māori All Blacks

SKY Stadium, Wellington, Tuesday 12th July 2022

KO: 8.05am

The squad in full:

  1. Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
  1. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps
  1. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 97 caps CAPTAIN
  1. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 6 caps
  1. Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) uncapped
  1. Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/Skerries) uncapped
  1. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps
  1. Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen) uncapped
  1. Niall Scannell (Munster/Dolphin) 20 caps
  1. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 2 caps
  1. Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin) uncapped
  1. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 7 caps
  1. Cian Prendergast (Connacht) uncapped
  1. Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps
  1. Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps

Replacements

  1. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 27 caps
  1. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 6 caps
  1. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 24 caps
  1. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps
  1. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 29 caps
  1. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 98 caps
  1. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 34 caps
  1. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 5 caps