Ulster welcome Connacht to Kingspan Stadium for an eagerly anticipated inter-provincial derby in Round 9 of the Guinness PRO14 Championship.
Ulster and Connacht remain second in their respective conferences after last weekend’s action, but both have less margin for error after inter-pro losses. Andy Friend oversaw Connacht’s first win in Belfast in more than half a century last season, with Ulster remaining unbeaten in the 17 home games since.
Here is everything you need to know about the game…
Ulster team:
(15-9) Will Addison, Robert Baloucoune, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring (Capt), Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Kyle McCall, Tom O’Toole, David O’Connor, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Craig Gilroy.
Connacht team:
(15-9): Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Tom Daly, Peter Robb, Matt Healy, Conor Fitzgerald, Caolin Blade (Capt) (1-8): Paddy McAllister, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Joe Maksymiw, Eoin McKeon, Paul Boyle, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Denis Buckley, Dominic Robertson McCoy, Niall Murray, Eoghan Masterson, Stephen Kerins, Kyle Godwin, Stephen Fitzgerald.
Match Details
- Date: Friday 27 December 2019
- Kick-Off: 7.35pm
- Venue: Kingspan Stadium
- Competition: Guinness PRO14
- Referee: Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU, 18th Championship Appearance) AR1: Andrew Brace (IRFU), AR2: Nigel Correll (IRFU) TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Team News
Dan McFarland has made wholesale changes to the starting XV that recorded a bonus point loss away to Leinster in the PRO14 last weekend. Will Addison returns from suspension to start at fullback, while Jack McGrath also returns from injury.
Ulster team:
(15-9) Will Addison, Robert Baloucoune, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring (Capt), Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Kyle McCall, Tom O’Toole, David O’Connor, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Craig Gilroy.
Connacht team:
(15-9): Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Tom Daly, Peter Robb, Matt Healy, Conor Fitzgerald, Caolin Blade (Capt) (1-8): Paddy McAllister, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Joe Maksymiw, Eoin McKeon, Paul Boyle, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Denis Buckley, Dominic Robertson McCoy, Niall Murray, Eoghan Masterson, Stephen Kerins, Kyle Godwin, Stephen Fitzgerald.
Ticketing
This game is now SOLD OUT!Team Talk