Jordi Murphy Set To Make Ulster Debut Against Edinburgh
Jordi Murphy will make his first appearance in an Ulster jersey on Friday night after being named to start in the back row against Edinburgh at Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm).
Tickets for the GUINNESS PRO14 round 2 game are available at ulsterrugby.com/buytickets. There is also a short window remaining to purchase a Season Ticket (visit ulsterrugby.com/seasontickets for more info).
Former Leinster player Jordi Murphy is one of four changes in the team this week, all of which are in the forward pack. Fellow Ireland international Rob Herring will line out for the first time this season, captain the Ulstermen from the hooker berth.
Tighthead prop Ross Kane, who takes over from Tom O’Toole who is following the return-to-play protocols following his concussion against the Scarlets, and lock Kieran Treadwell also come in as starters, while Andrew Warwick and Iain Henderson are retained alongside them in the front five.
The 27-year-old Murphy is joined in the back row by Springbok powerhouse Marcell Coetzee, who had a successful return from long-term injury against the Llanelli outfit, and the dynamic Nick Timoney who continues to impress in the number 8 jersey.
The back-line remains unchanged with half-backs Billy Burns and John Cooney pairing up again, last Saturday’s man-of-the-match Stuart McCloskey combines with Darren Cave in midfield, and Craig Gilroy and round 1 debutants Henry Speight and Will Addison make up a potent back-three.
Wiehahn Herbst, who missed the end of last season with a knee injury, is set to play his first match of the current campaign after being named among the replacements. Alan O’Connor and Sean Reidy move to the bench as new head coach Dan McFarland looks to manage his playing resources.
The 22-year-old front row pair of Adam McBurney and Eric O’Sullivan, who produced impressive showings off the bench against the Scarlets, are again among the forward replacements. Dave Shanahan, Angus Curtis and Angus Kernohan, the latter of whom was added to the Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy earlier this week, are the back-line reinforcements.
ULSTER (v Edinburgh): Will Addison; Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Henry Speight; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring (capt), Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson, Marcell Coetzee, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O’Connor, Sean Reidy, Dave Shanahan, Angus Curtis, Angus Kernohan.