URC: Herring to equal Ulster appearances record in URC quarter-final
Hooker Rob Herring will equal the all-time Ulster appearances record in tomorrow night's URC quarter-final at home to Connacht.
The Ireland international and Grand Slam winner will line out for cap number 229, to draw level with both Andrew Trimble and Darren Cave.
A changed front row sees Scotland international, Rory Sutherland, return to the starting XV at loosehead prop, together with Samoa international Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen.
Ulster stalwart Alan O’Connor, the player who has clocked-up the most minutes for Ulster so far this season, captains the province from the second row alongside Ireland international lock, Kieran Treadwell.
Ulster Rugby Academy product Dave McCann keeps his place at flanker, where he is joined by Nick Timoney, who finds himself in a rich vein of form having scored two tries in his last two appearances for Ulster.
World-Cup winning Springbok, Duane Vermeulen, keeps his place at number 8. The South African international was announced as leaving the province after a two-year stint in Ulster.
There is a familiar pairing at scrum half and fly half, as the experienced John Cooney and Billy Burns start alongside each other, while there's a return to the starting line-up for Stuart McCloskey as he joins James Hume in midfield.
Jacob Stockdale keeps his place on the left wing, making his 100th appearance for the province, as he hopes to continue his try-scoring form. Rob Baloucoune starts on the right wing, while Mike Lowry will hope to drive Ulster up the pitch from full back.
Head Coach Dan McFarland has a raft of experience to call upon from the replacements.
Hooker Tom Stewart, who has scored a record-breaking 16 tries this season, will hope to make his impact felt from the bench. He is joined by front row options Eric O’Sullivan and South African born prop, Gareth Milasinovich, who was announced to be leaving the province at the end of the season.
Wallaby lock, Sam Carter and Jordi Murphy are named as McFarland’s other forward options, with both men also set to depart at the end of the current campaign.
Versatile scrum half Nathan Doak is among the back options along with Stewart Moore, who recently hit his 50th cap. Craig Gilroy will hope to bring his attacking threat from the bench, with the homegrown winger leaving the province at the end of the season after 13 years with the club.
Ulster team
(15-9): Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8): Rory Sutherland, Rob Herring, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Alan O’Connor (Captain), Kieran Treadwell, Dave McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen,
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Sam Carter, Jordi Murphy, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Craig Gilroy.
Tickets for the Quarter-Final showdown are still available at ulster.rugby/urcquarterfinal