Connacht and Ulster ring the changes for interpro clash

Connacht have made five changes to their starting XV with Ulster making seven.

INTERPRO: Ulster Head Coach Richie Murphy and Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins have rung the changes for their interpro clash Saturday at Kingspan Stadium.

Connacht have made five changes to their side who defeated Scarlets for their interpro clash against Ulster on Saturday October 12 in the Kingspan Stadium (8pm).

Joe Joyce (shoulder) and Josh Ioane (HIA) have recovered from their respective injuries and are straight into the starting XV. Sean O'Brien makes his first start of the season coming in at openside flanker.

Paul Boyle and Shayne Bolton will start following their appearances off the bench last weekend.

Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham continue in an experienced front row with Josh Murphy moving from the back row to the second row and partnering Joyce. Captain Cian Prendergast moves to blindside flanker with Boyle wearing eight and O'Brien completes the back row.

Ben Murphy partners against with Ioane while Piers O'Conor moves from left wing to join Bundee Aki in the centre. Bolton will start at left wing with Mack Hansen on the right and Santiago Cordero in full back.

Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins has gone for a 6:2 split on the bench. 

Wilkins is hoping to improve on their overall performance for tomorrow's clash. “An interpro trip to Belfast is always one of the great challenges in a URC season.

"There were elements of last weekend’s game in Wales that were pleasing, but our overall performance will need to improve if we’re to earn a win tomorrow. 

"History has shown this is often a one-score game so we must make sure we produce an 80-minute performance full of accuracy and intent.”

Meanwhile Ulster Head Coach Richie Murphy has made seven changes to his side who lost to Bulls for the clash.

Andrew Warwick is set for his 200th appearance for Ulster is joined by John Andrew and Tom O'Toole in the front row.

Iain Henderson captains the side and wil partner with Kieran Treadwell in the second row. Nick Timoney is set for his 150th appearance and will be alongside Dave McCann and Sean Reffell in the back row.

John Cooney comes in for Nathan Doak with Jude Postlewaite returning from the Emerging Ireland squad to start at inside centre.

Alan O'Connor joins Warwick and is set for his 200th appearance also.

Murphy has opted for a 5-3 split on the Ulster bench.

CONNACHT (v Ulster): S Cordero, M Hansen, P O'Conor, B Aki, S Bolton, J Ioane, B Murphy; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, J Joyce, J Murphy, C Prendergast (c), S O'Brien, P Boyle.

Replacements: D Tierney-Martin, P Dooley, T Lasisi, O Dowling, D O'Connor, C Blade, C Forde, C Oliver.

ULSTER (v Connacht): E McIlroy, W Kok, S Moore, J Postlethwaite, J Stockdale, A Morgan, J Cooney; A Warwick, J Andrew, T O’Toole, I Henderson (c), K Treadwell, D McCann, S Reffell, N Timoney.

Replacements: J McCormick, C Reid, C Barrett, A O’Connor, M Rea, N Doak, B Carson, M Lowry.