Up to 15,000 fans will be in attendance as Ulster entertain Glasgow Warriors in their United Rugby Championship opener. South African-born hooker Brad Roberts steps up for his first start.
UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1: Friday, September 24
ULSTER v GLASGOW WARRIORS, Kingspan Stadium, 7.35pm (live on Premier Sports 1/SuperSport Rugby/URC TV)
Team News: Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has finalised his team for tonight’s URC first round clash with Glasgow Warriors at Kingspan Stadium.
Tickets for the game, priced from £20 for adults and £12 for juniors, are still available at ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.
In the back-three, Ethan McIlroy, the player-of-the-match away to Saracens, features at full-back, with Ireland internationals Jacob Stockdale and Robert Baloucoune occupying the wing berths.
James Hume and Stuart McCloskey make up a powerful centre combination, while Billy Burns and John Cooney are tasked with leading the back-line.
Rainey Old Boys’ Roberts, who has penned a one-year deal with the province, will make his first competitive start at hooker, flanked by Andrew Warwick and Martin Moore.
Australian lock Sam Carter will captain the Ulstermen and is partnered in the second row by Dubliner Alan O’Connor.
In the back row, Greg Jones is named at blindside flanker, with Sean Reidy back from a shin injury at openside and recent Ireland debutant Nick Timoney at number 8.
Rob Herring, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Mick Kearney and Matthew Rea are named as the forward replacements, and Ireland Under-20 starlet Nathan Doak, Michael Lowry and Will Addison will provide the back-line cover.
Looking forward to the URC’s opening night in Belfast, McFarland said: “We’re setting off on a new competition. There’s plenty of excitement.
“From the fans’ point of view, the very fact that they’re able to come back and watch competitive rugby in numbers is brilliant in itself.
“Our focus is on the new competition, the new format of the competition where apart from the derby games, we only get to play each team once.
“So, we get one shot at Glasgow this year and our minds have to be totally focused on that game.
“We’re fully aware of the history between the two clubs. we’ve suffered at the hands of what is a really good club on a number of occasions, and we really don’t want that to happen (on Friday).”
Unavailable for selection, on this occasion, were Jack McGrath, Gareth Milasinovich, Iain Henderson, Kieran Treadwell, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jordi Murphy, Ian Madigan, Luke Marshall, Rob Lyttle and Aaron Sexton.
Meanwhile, five of the selected squad are in line for their first appearance in Glasgow colours, as the Warriors go in search of a first victory over Ulster in Belfast since September 2013.
Amongst the potential debutants are on-loan loosehead Brad Thyer and summer arrival Simon Berghan, with the props lining up either side of the McCrea Financial Services Warrior of the Month for September, Johnny Matthews.
An all-international second row combination sees Richie Gray pack down alongside Scott Cummings in the engine room, with the former set for his first start at Scotstoun since last March’s 46-25 victory over Benetton.
Australian international Jack Dempsey is another who will make his club debut at Kingspan Stadium, as the summer signing lines up alongside Rory Darge and club co-captain Ryan Wilson in the back row.
Behind the scrum, another all-international pairing sees George Horne partner the returning Duncan Weir at half-back, as the 30-year-old out-half makes his first competitive appearance for the Warriors since 2016.
Sione Tuipulotu is rewarded for his impressive displays in pre-season with selection at outside centre, lining up alongside Sam Johnson in the Scots’ midfield.
The back-three sees Rufus McLean – fresh from his electrifying brace against Worcester Warriors – and Kyle Steyn named on the wings, as the New Zealand-born Cole Forbes completes the starting XV at full-back.
Tighthead Murray McCallum joins Fraser Brown and fellow summer arrival Jamie Bhatti as the front row cover, with Bhatti’s last appearance for the club coming in the 2019 Guinness PRO14 final at Celtic Park.
Lewis Bean is named in a competitive matchday squad for the first time since joining the club on a permanent basis, while the sole survivor from that 2013 triumph in Belfast, Rob Harley, wears the number 20 jersey.
The replacement backs have an average age of 21, with reserve scrum half Jamie Dobie the youngest of the trio selected by Wilson and his coaching team.
ULSTER: Ethan McIlroy; Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Brad Roberts, Martin Moore, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter (capt), Greg Jones, Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Mick Kearney, Matthew Rea, Nathan Doak, Michael Lowry, Will Addison.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Cole Forbes; Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Sam Johnson, Rufus McLean; Duncan Weir, George Horne; Brad Thyer, Johnny Matthews, Simon Berghan, Scott Cummings, Richie Gray, Ryan Wilson (capt), Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, Murray McCallum, Lewis Bean, Rob Harley, Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson, Ollie Smith.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Peter Martin, Andrew Cole (both Ireland)
TMO: Ian Davies (Wales)
Pre-Match Quotes: James Hume (Ulster) –
You really need to get one over (teams) in every game, there’s no ‘off’ games. The further we can hopefully move ahead of other teams the better, and that starts on Friday.
“I’m fully ready to go this season, different mindset. It’s just about how I can take those learnings and stuff from last year, the match experience and that Irish cap and just really push on this year.
“I’m so hungry to get more and I’ve got to use this first part of the season to really set a marker down, hopefully.”
Danny Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) –
We are looking forward to the challenge of Ulster tomorrow night. We’re pleased with how our pre-season preparations have gone.
“Our games against Newcastle and Worcester gave us the opportunity to look at a number of combinations and players. We reward performance and Johnny Matthews and Brad Thyer have earned the chance to start.
“It’s great to also welcome back the experience of Fraser Brown, Kyle Steyn and Jamie Bhatti into the squad, who all return from injury.
“Ulster are a physical side and we expect a big battle up front and in and around the breakdown.”
Top Scorers – 2020/21 Guinness PRO14/Rainbow Cup: Ulster – Points: John Cooney 117; Tries: Marcell Coetzee 9; Glasgow Warriors – Points: Ross Thompson 97; Tries: Huw Jones, George Turner, Nick Grigg 4 each
RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
Saturday, February 18, 2017 – Ulster 37 Glasgow Warriors 17, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday, April 21, 2018 – Ulster 36 Glasgow Warriors 15, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, April 5, 2019 – Glasgow Warriors 30 Ulster 7, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, May 17, 2019 – Semi-Final: Glasgow Warriors 50 Ulster 20, Scotstoun Stadium
Monday, November 9, 2020 – Ulster 40 Glasgow Warriors 15, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, February 19, 2021 – Glasgow Warriors 13 Ulster 19, Scotstoun Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Ulster concluded last season with a 34-31 victory at Edinburgh in the Rainbow Cup to end a run of five successive defeats in all competitions (one of which was not played due to Covid)
– Ulster’s most recent triumph at Kingspan Stadium was 49-3 over Zebre in the PRO14 on March 19
– Ulster have won their last five clashes with Scottish opponents
– Glasgow Warriors have won their last four Championship matches (all in the Rainbow Cup in May and June) since they tripped up in Treviso on April 24
– The Warriors have won their last two away games and have not won three in succession on their travels in the competition since April 2019
– Glasgow’s 15-12 win at home to Leinster in the Rainbow Cup in June ended an unwanted run of nine successive defeats to Irish provinces
– Ulster won both encounters when the two sides met last season, while the Warriors’ most recent victory in Belfast was by a single point (13-12) in September 2013