Connacht make six changes for their daunting BKT United Rugby Championship trip to Pretoria to take on the Bulls on Saturday [live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player] as Pete Wilkins hands a debut to number eight Sean Jansen.
With the visit of Leinster to Galway next weekend ahead of the Champions Cup back-to-back fixtures, the Westerners have taken the opportunity to rotate their playing resources, as Jack Carty returns at out-half to captain the side at Loftus Versfeld.
The front three is unchanged from last week's win over the Sharks, with Denis Buckley, Tadgh McElroy and Finlay Bealham packing down once more. Behind them Darragh Murray joins Joe Joyce in the second row.
The back-row is all changed, with Oisin Dowling moving from lock to blindside, Shamus Hurley-Langton starts at openside and Jansen set to make his debut after a summer move from Leicester Tigers.
There are three changes in the backs including the return of Carty, while playing alongside him at scrum-half is Colm Reilly. Diarmuid Kilgallen joins Byron Ralston and Tiernan O'Halloran in the back three while David Hawkshaw will partner Cathal Forde at 12.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Byron Ralston, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Jack Carty (capt), Colm Reilly; Denis Buckley, McElroy, Finlay Bealham; Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce, Oisin Dowling, Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Niall Murray, Sean O'Brien, Caolin Blade, JJ Hanrahan, Conor Oliver
Double World Cup-winning Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff is in line for his Ulster debut after being named among the replacements for Saturday's trip to Scotstoun to take on Glasgow Warriors [kick-off 7.35pm].
Back-rower James McNabney will make his first start, while out-half Billy Burns is set for his 100th outing for the province when they travel to Scotland for the Round 6 clash.
In a rotated front pack, Eric O’Sullivan will pack down alongside hooker Tom Stewart and the returning Tom O’Toole.
Iain Henderson captains the side alongside Kieran Treadwell in the second row, while Dan McFarland has opted for a youthful backrow.
Harry Sheridan starts at blindside flanker, Reuben Crothers retains the number 7 jersey while 2022 and 2023 Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner McNabney starts at the base of the scrum.
John Cooney makes his first start of the season alongside out-half Burns who will become an Ulster centurion at Scotstoun.
Luke Marshall is another making his first start of the campaign, partnered by James Hume at 13, with free-scoring Jacob Stockdale and Rob Baloucoune on the wings.
Will Addison returns to the side at full-back.
Ulster: Will Addison; Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole; Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (C); Harry Sheridan, Reuben Crothers, James McNabney.
Replacements: Zac Solomon, Steven Kitshoff, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Matty Rea, Dave Shanahan, Jake Flannery, Ben Moxham.
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Watch live coverage of the Vodacom Bulls v Connacht in the BKT United Rugby Championship on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
Follow a live blog of Leinster v Munster on Saturday from 6.30pm on on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
