Both sides go into the encounter with good form, with Ulster closing out the regular season with five wins from their past five matches, and securing a second place finish in the URC table. The home team will be looking to continue their run of wins over Connacht, having come away the victor from the last three encounters against their Intepro rival, including a tightly contested festive fixture at the Sportsground.
The Galway side ended their season with a defeat away to Glasgow Warriors, after a six-game winning streak, which saw them finish in 7th position in the league.
Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland knows all too well about the threat that Connacht will pose to his Ulster side:
“They will come hungry. It’s do or die in play-offs and we expect an extremely physical, intense side coming to play against us.”
Tickets for the Quarter-Final showdown are still available at ulster.rugby/urcquarterfinal
Herring to equal appearances record
Ulster stalwart Alan O’Connor, the player who has clocked-up the most minutes for Ulster so far this season, captains the province from the second row alongside Ireland international lock, Kieran Treadwell.
A changed front row sees Scotland international, Rory Sutherland, return to the starting XV at loosehead prop, together with Samoa international Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen. Grand Slam winner, Rob Herring starts at hooker and is set to equal Ulster’s all time appearance record, putting him level with Andrew Trimble and Darren Cave on 229 caps.
Ulster Rugby Academy product Dave McCann keeps his place at flanker, where he is joined by Nick Timoney, who finds himself in a rich vein of form having scored two tries in his last two appearances for Ulster.
World-Cup winning Springbok, Duane Vermeulen, keeps his place at number 8. The popular South African international was announced as leaving the province after a successful two-year stint in Ulster.
There is a familiar pairing at scrum half and fly half, as the experienced John Cooney and Billy Burns start alongside each other. Cooney celebrated his 33rd birthday earlier this week, and goes into the Quarter-Final on fine form having scored the second-most points in the league last round, including a try, against Edinburgh.
There is a return to the starting line-up for Stuart McCloskey as he joins James Hume in Ulster’s midfield pairing.
Jacob Stockdale keeps his place on the left wing, making his 100th appearance for the province, as he hopes to continue his try-scoring form from last time out, which saw Ulster win in front of a home crowd to round-off the regular URC season.
Flying winger, Rob Baloucoune, starts on the right wing and Mike Lowry will hope to drive Ulster up the pitch from full back.
Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland has a raft of experience and talent to call upon from the bench.
Hooker Tom Stewart, who was named as the first-ever winner of the OFX Top Try Scorer in this week’s URC awards for his record-breaking 16 tries this season, will hope to make his impact felt from the bench.
He is joined by front row options Eric O’Sullivan and South African born prop, Gareth Milasinovich, who was announced to be leaving the province at the end of the season. Wallaby lock, Sam Carter, and Jordi Murphy are named as Dan McFarland’s other forward options, with both men also set to leave the province at the end of the season.
The versatile scrum half Nathan Doak is among the back options along with Stewart Moore, who recently hit his 50th cap with the province.
Craig Gilroy will hope to bring his attacking threat from the bench, with the homegrown winger leaving the province at the end of the season after 13 years with the club.
Ulster side to face Connacht, Quarter-Final BKT United Rugby Championship, Friday 5tMay at Kingspan Stadium, (KO 7 35pm), live on Viaplay, TG4 and URC.tv
(15-9) Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Rory Sutherland, Rob Herring, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Alan O’Connor (Captain), Kieran Treadwell, Dave McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen,
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Sam Carter, Jordi Murphy, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Craig Gilroy.
The Opposition
💚 𝐂 𝐎 𝐍 𝐍 𝐀 𝐂 𝐇 𝐓 💚@Genesys | #BKTURChttps://t.co/fKZLefgacY pic.twitter.com/XmEVcTmLYN
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) May 4, 2023