Zac Ward, who joined the Ulster squad this season after starring for Ireland 7s at the Summer Olympics, makes his senior debut on the wing, and joins Cormac Izuchukwu, Aidan Morgan, Jude Postlethwaite and Werner Kok in making a first Champions Cup appearance at Kingspan Stadium.
Tickets are still available for Saturday’s huge showdown from ulster.rugby/buytickets.
Murphy has opted for a fully changed pack from the side that started away to Toulouse in the opening round last weekend, with seven Ireland internationals named among the starting forward unit.
Hooker Rob Herring makes his first Ulster start of the campaign and he is joined in the front row by loosehead prop, Eric O’Sullivan, and tighthead, Tom O’Toole.
In the second row, Iain Henderson, captains the side on the occasion of his 50th European appearance for Ulster, and is partnered by Kieran Treadwell in the engine room.
Izuchukwu starts at blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney named on the openside. David McCann returns to the matchday XV at number eight.
The half-back partnership of scrum-half, Nathan Doak, and fly-half, Morgan, is retained.
The midfield sees one change from last week, with outside centre Jude Postlethwaite coming in to join Stuart McCloskey.
In the back three, Ward starts on the left wing, with Kok taking the right wing berth and Michael Lowry patrolling the backfield at full-back.
Academy utility back, Rory Telfer, is also in line for his senior debut off the bench, while it would also be a maiden Champions Cup appearance for fly-half James Humphreys, if he is called upon.
Dave Shanahan is the other backline option, with John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan and Marcus Rea providing the forward reinforcements.
Ulster Rugby v Union Bordeaux Begles, Saturday 14 December, 3.15pm, Round 2, Investec Champions Cup, Kingspan Stadium. (Live on Premier Sports, BBC Sounds and RTE Radio)
15\. Michael Lowry (111)
14\. Werner Kok (8)
13\. Jude Postlethwaite (18)
12\. Stuart McCloskey (194)
11\. Zac Ward (0)
10\. Aidan Morgan (8)
9\. Nathan Doak (75)
1\. Eric O’Sullivan (122)
2\. Rob Herring (242)
3\. Tom O’Toole (113)
4\. Iain Henderson (158) (Capt.)
5\. Kieran Treadwell (165)
6\. Cormac Izuchukwu (33)
7\. Nick Timoney (153)
8\. David McCann (53)
Replacements:
16\. John Andrew (125)
17\. Andrew Warwick (202)
18\. Scott Wilson (20)
19\. Harry Sheridan (33)
20\. Marcus Rea (52)
21\. Dave Shanahan (95)
22\. James Humphreys (3)
23\. Rory Telfer (0)
Our opposition
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼 ♟️
— UBB Rugby (@UBBrugby) December 13, 2024
Le @CCBordeauxLac vous présente les 23 Bordeaux & Blanc qui affronteront Ulster demain à 16h15 (heure française) !
𝐉2️⃣
🚌 Kingspan Stadium
📆 14 décembre 2024
📱 #ULSvUBB
📺 France 2
➡️ https://t.co/alBYF3MIQO#iloveubb pic.twitter.com/3NdiABkL5Q