Ulster Ravens Travel South With Young Squad
Ulster Ravens head coach Gary Longwell has named his starting line-up and replacements to take on Leinster ‘A’ in Friday’s Interprovincial match at Donnybrook (kick-off 6pm).
Callum Black will start in the front row alongside Jonathan Burns and Adam Macklin as he begins his return to action following a neck injury suffered in a friendly.
Iain Henderson will partner Neil McComb in the second row, while Conor Joyce, David McGuigan and Ali Birch make up the back row combination.
Ian Porter and Paddy Jackson, who have featured heavily for the senior squad since the start of the season, will direct affairs from half-back.
Phoenix Academy players Chris Farrell, Michael Allen, Chris Cochrane, Conor Gaston and Ricky Andrew complete the back-line.
Ulster Development players Niall Annett and James McKinney head the list of replacements, which also includes the promising Blane McIlroy and Peter Nelson.
Friday’s fixture will be a stern test for this young Ravens side ahead of their first British & Irish Cup pool game against Doncaster on Friday November 11.
ULSTER RAVENS (v Leinster ‘A’): Ricky Andrew; Conor Gaston, Michael Allen, Chris Farrell, Chris Cochrane; Paddy Jackson, Ian Porter; Callum Black, Jonathan Burns, Adam Macklin, Iain Henderson, Neil McComb (capt), Conor Joyce, David McGuigan, Ali Birch.
Replacements: Niall Annett, Kyle McCall, Ryan Jablonski, James Simpson, Sean O’Connell, Blane McIlroy, James McKinney, Peter Nelson.