Rising stars get their chance as Ulster ring changes for trip to Leinster
Four Academy players in starting line-up
Four Academy players have been included in a much-changed Ulster line-up to face giants Leinster tonight (Saturday) in the PRO14.
Matthew Dalton (main pic), Angus Kernohan, James Hume and Michael Lowry all start along with Rob Lyttle who has returned from injury.
Up front, Greg Jones makes his first start of the season – he has been included in the back row with Sean Reidy and Nick Timoney.
Alan O’Connor has recovered from an injury sustained against Cardiff Blues in early December and will partner Dalton, who will make his first appearance of the season, in the second row.
Wiehahn Herbst is another to have returned from injury, having not featured since September, and he will pack down in the front row with young hooker Adam McBurney and loosehead prop Kyle McCall.
McBurney told Downtown & Cool FM that while everyone was aware of the massive test presented by Leinster, they were upbeat about the challenge.
Meanwhile, there are two potential debutants named on the bench as versatile Banbridge RFC forward Caleb Montgomery and Ballymena RFC flyhalf Bruce Houston, another Academy prospect, are included in the panel.
Forwards John Andrew, Andy Warwick, Tom O’Toole and Clive Ross, along with backs Jonny Stewart and Peter Nelson, make up the remainder of the match day 23.
Kick-off at the RDS (5.15pm)
Ulster team:
(15-9): M Lowry; R Lyttle, D Cave, J Hume, A Kernohan; J McPhillips, D Shanahan;
(1-8): K McCall, A McBurney, W Herbst, M Dalton, A O’Connor (captain), G Jones, S Reidy, N Timoney;
Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, T O’Toole, C Montgomery, C Ross, J Stewart, B Houston, P Nelson