Ulster’s Aviva try-hero Gilroy out to impress
The Dungannon winger is one of a number of youngsters thrown into their first Ulster senior outing in a game will feature rolling replacements.
The Belfast teenager, who came through the ranks at Methodist College, is named on the right wing while highly-rated Queen’s University scrum-half Ian Porter gets a start alongside Niall O’Connor at half-back.
David McIlwaine comes out of the blue to wear the number 15 jersey. The 21-year-old from Larne is a former Irish youth player and has very quick feet and an excellent attacking option from full-back.
Ulster assistant coach Neil Doak said that with extra games this season, boosting the squad is a must. “With two new Italian teams in the Magners League this season which means more games, we have to strengthen our squad,” said Doak. “There are a quite a number of good youngsters coming through and we have to see what they are like when they step out of their environment.”
Springbok Johann Muller again captains the side with his South African colleague Pedrie Wannenburg again at number six.
Ireland’s Ryan Caldwell gets his first run-out for the season beside Muller in the second row. Bryan Young returns from injury to partner Andi Kyriacou and Declan Fitzpatrick in an al-changed front row from last week’s defeat by Bath.
D McIlwaine; C Gilroy, D Cave, I Whitten, N Spence; N O’Connor. I Porter; B Young, Andi Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller, capt, R Caldwell, P Wannenburg, TJ Anderson, R Diack.
Replacements: N Brady, P Kyrayiannis, A Macklin, Tim Barker, N McComb, M Heaney, I Humphreys, L Marshall, J Shiels, M McCrea.
