Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland has named his match-day squad for the first ever meeting with Racing 92 in Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup Round 2 fixture.
McFarland has made just three personnel changes to the starting XV that defeated Leicester at Kingspan Stadium last weekend.
Marty Moore, who impressed on his debut as a first half replacement last Saturday, while Kieran Treadwell has been brought into the second row. The third change sees David Shanahan replacing the injured John Cooney at scrum-half.
Rory Best will captain the side from the front row, alongside Moore and Andy Warwick. Iain Henderson will partner Treadwell in the engine room, and the back row of Marcell Coetzee, Jordi Murphy and Nick Timoney is retained.
Apart from Shanahan, the backline remains unchanged with Billy Burns at fly-half, Jacob Stockdale and Craig Gilroy on the wings, Stuart McCloskey and Will Addison in midfield, and Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy prospect Michael Lowry at full-back.
Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan and Ross Kane cover the front row from the bench, with Alan O’Connor and Sean Reidy included as the additional forward options. Jonny Stewart is in line for his European bow if called upon as he joins Johnny McPhillips and Angus Kernohan among the backline replacements.
Ulster Rugby team to play Racing 92, Heineken Champions Cup Round 2, Saturday 20th October, La Defense (U) Arena, 6.30pm Local Time / 5.30pm BST: (15-9): M Lowry; C Gilroy, W Addison, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Burns, D Shanahan; (1-8): A Warwick, R Best (captain), M Moore, I Henderson, K Treadwell, M Coetzee, J Murphy, N Timoney; Replacements (16-23): A McBurney, E O’Sullivan, R Kane, A O’Connor, S Reidy, J Stewart, J McPhillips, A Kernohan.Here is your Ulster team to take on Racing 92 in Paris tomorrow evening 👇 Full details ➡ https://t.co/FIkrrxKdtP#SUFTUM pic.twitter.com/KuVkGRDKkT
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) October 19, 2018