Ireland Trio And Augustus Return For Ulster

Three of Ulster's Ireland internationals person been named to commencement Friday's United Rugby Championship brushwood against Benetton successful Belfast (19:45 GMT).

While centre Stuart McCloskey is ruled retired pinch a groin injury, Iain Henderson returns to skipper Ulster from nan 2nd row, pinch Nick Timoney and Jacob Stockdale besides recalled.

Having been deployed connected nan near helping connected his past quality for Ulster, Stockdale reverts to full-back, wherever he played successful nan triumph complete nan Bulls past month.

Fit-again Juarno Augustus starts astatine number 8 aft recovering from an limb injury, but Cormac Izuchukwu has not been included contempt returning to training pursuing a ft issue.

Tom Stewart, who captained Ireland XV to a triumph complete Spain earlier this month, starts astatine hooker pinch Sam Crean and Scott Wilson completing nan beforehand row.

Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak are again paired astatine half-back, pinch replacement scrum-half Dave Shanahan group to make his 100th quality for nan state disconnected nan bench.

An knowledgeable chair besides includes Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole and Stewart Moore, who was recalled from his indebtedness astatine Newcastle Red Bulls earlier this week.

Back statement Bryn Ward, who made his debut against nan Lions successful Johannesburg past month, is besides among nan replacements, but location is nary spot successful nan squad for his older relative Zac, who has started 3 URC games this season.

Ulster leader Richie Murphy is presently without Ben Carson, Michael Lowry, Lorcan McLoughlin (elbow), Sean Reffell (shoulder), Ben Moxham (knee), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Eric O'Sullivan (hamstring) and James McNabney (knee).

Australia prop Angus Bell, who has joined until nan extremity of nan season, was not considered for action this week.

Fifth-placed Ulster person 3 wins and a conclusion from 4 games this season. Benetton beryllium 10th pinch 2 wins and 3 defeats. The Italian broadside won past season's gathering 34-19 successful Treviso.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Kok; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Stewart, Wilson, Henderson (capt), McCann, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Herring, Reid, O'Toole, Dalton, Ward, Shanahan, Flannery, Moore.