Three Debuts As Ulster Make 15 Changes For Munster

Injury-hit Ulster will manus debuts to 3 academy players successful Saturday's important United Rugby Championship travel to inter-provincial rivals Munster.

Flankers James McKillop and Tom Brigg and winger Aitzol Arenzana-King will make their elder front for nan derby astatine Limerick's Thomond Park (17:30 BST).

Faced pinch a raft of injuries and pinch 1 oculus connected adjacent week's Challenge Cup semi-final against Exeter, caput coach Richie Murphy has made 15 changes from past week's conclusion by Leinster successful Belfast.

Without props Angus Bell (foot), Scott Wilson (ankle) and Tom O'Toole (hand), Eric O'Sullivan and Bryan O'Connor person been recalled astatine loose-head and tight-head arsenic James McCormick returns astatine hooker.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine commencement successful nan 2nd row, while Lorcan McLoughlin joins debutants McKillop and Brigg successful nan backmost row.

Joining fit-again full-back Michael Lowry - who will skipper nan broadside - successful nan backmost 3 are erstwhile Leinster helping Arenzana-King and Ben Moxham, who makes his first commencement since November 2023.

With James Hume (neck) and Jude Postlethwaite (hand) ruled out, Ethan McIlroy and Ben Carson commencement successful midfield, while Conor McKee and Jake Flannery are paired astatine half-back.

Prop Tom McAllister and centre Jonny Scott, some of whom made their debut past month, are named connected nan chair alongside John Andrew, Callum Reid, Joe Hopes, Marcus Rea, Dave Shanahan and Jake Humphreys.

Murphy is without Nick Timoney (hip), James McNabney (knee), Rob Herring (calf), Robert Baloucoune (elbow), Rory McGuire (shoulder) and Stewart Moore (knee), while Ireland internationals Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson are among those not included successful nan squad.

Ulster are 5th successful nan URC table, a constituent supra sixth-placed Munster, successful nan title for nan play-offs.

Ulster: Lowry (capt); Arenzana-King, McIlroy, Carson, Moxham; Flannery, McKee; O'Sullivan, McCormick, O'Connor, Sheridan, Irvine, McKillop, Brigg, McLoughlin.

Replacements: Andrew, Reid, McAllister, Hopes, Rea, Shanahan, Humphreys, Scott.