Champions Cup: Ward to make Ulster bow against Bordeaux

Zac Ward will make his Ulster debut in tomorrow's Champions Cup clash at home to Bordeaux.

Ward, who joined the Ulster squad this season after starring for Ireland 7s at the Summer Olympics, starts on the wing and joins Cormac Izuchukwu, Aidan Morgan, Jude Postlethwaite and Werner Kok in making a first Champions Cup appearance at Kingspan Stadium.

Murphy has opted for a fully changed pack from the side that started away to Toulouse in the opening round last weekend, with seven Ireland internationals named among the starting forward unit.

Hooker Rob Herring makes his first Ulster start of the campaign and is joined in the front row by loosehead prop Eric O’Sullivan and tighthead Tom O’Toole.

In the second row, Iain Henderson captains the side on his 50th European appearance for Ulster and is partnered by Kieran Treadwell in the engine room.

Izuchukwu starts at blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney named on the openside. David McCann returns to the matchday XV at number eight. The half-back partnership of scrum-half Nathan Doak and fly-half Morgan is retained.

The midfield sees one change from last week, with outside centre Jude Postlethwaite coming in to join Stuart McCloskey.

In the back three, Ward starts on the left wing, with Kok taking the right wing berth and Michael Lowry patrolling the backfield at full-back.

Academy utility back Rory Telfer is also in line for his senior debut off the bench, while it would also be a maiden Champions Cup appearance for fly-half James Humphreys, if called upon.

Dave Shanahan is the other backline option, with John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan and Marcus Rea providing the forward reinforcements.

Ulster side to play Bordeaux Begles, Saturday 14 December, 3.15pm, Kingspan Stadium

15-9: Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Zac Ward, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak

1-8: Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, (C) Kieran Treadwell, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Rory Telfer