New Ulster signing Aidan Morgan handed start in Benetton clash

Ulster new boy Aidan Morgan. Pic: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images.

Ulster head coach, Richie Murphy, has named his side for Saturday's Bank of Ireland pre-season friendly against Benetton at Kingspan Stadium (kick-off, 5pm).

Full-back Mike Lowry, captains the side, while Eric O’Sullivan and John Andrew start in the front row, alongside tighthead prop, Corrie Barrett.

26-year-old Barrett has previously been involved in Ulster age-grade teams and spent last season playing for Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship.

Harry Sheridan starts in the second row alongside Kieran Treadwell.

Packing down in the back row, James McNabney, starts on the blindside, with Sean Reffell at openside flanker, while David McCann starts at number eight.

In a new half-back pairing, scrum-half, Nathan Doak, starts alongside Kiwi fly-half, Aidan Morgan, who makes his first appearance after joining from the Hurricanes earlier this summer.

Jude Postlethwaite and Stewart Moore form the centre pairing, with Aaron Sexton and Academy player, Rory Telfer, completing the backfield on the left and right wings.

Trialist and Ireland Sevens star, Zac Ward, is among the replacements.

Meanwhile, 

Head coach Leo Cullen has named his Leinster team to take on Northampton Saints on Saturday afternoon (kick-off, 2pm).

Jack Conan will captain a much-changed team from last week's 40-28 defeat to Bordeaux-Bègles.

There are seven changes to the starting XV with experienced halfback duo Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath coming into the team for Saturday's match at Cinch Stadium.

Charlie Tector has been named at centre and is the only other change in the backs for this weekend, where he will be partnered by Liam Turner, who makes his second start of the pre-season.

Andrew Osborne and Rob Russell, who scored a try each last week in Bordeaux, are joined by Tommy O'Brien in an unchanged back three.

Gus McCarthy scored off the bench last week and comes into the starting team this time around. 

Jack Boyle is set to make his first start of the pre-season alongside Thomas Clarkson in the front row while Brian Deeny and Conor O’Tighearnaigh get another chance to build on their partnership in the engine room.

Max Deegan is retained from last week's team while Scott Penny slots in at openside flanker, with captain Conan taking the number eight shirt.

Ulster (v Benetton): Mike Lowry - captain; R Telfer, S Moore, J Postlethwaite, A Sexton; A Morgan, N Doak; E O’Sullivan, J Andrew, Corrie Barrett; H Sheridan, K Treadwell; J McNabney, S Reffell, D McCann.

Replacements: J McCormick, H Walker, C Reid, S Wilson, C Irvine, J McKillop, A O’Connor, T Brigg, M Rea, D Shanahan, C McKee, Z Ward, J Humphreys, B Carson, J Murphy.

Leinster (v Northampton Saints): A Osborne; Tommy O’Brien, Liam Turner, Charlie Tector, Rob Russell; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Brian Deeny, Conor O’Tighearnaigh; Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Jack Conan - captain. 

Replacements: John McKee, Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Rabah Slimani, Rory McGuire, Alan Spicer, Alex Soroka, James Culhane, Will Connors, Cormac Foley, Fintan Gunne, Sam Prendergast, Harry Byrne, Hugh Cooney, Henry McErlean, Aitzol King.