Three changes as Ulster look to upset Carbery-led Bordeaux Begles

Joey Carbery starts at out-half for the French outfit.

Zac Ward of Ulster gets away from Paul de Wet of DHL on his way to scoring his side's fifth try during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and DHL Stormers. Pic: John Dickson/Sportsfile

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has made three changes that defeated the Stormers in the URC last week for their Champions Cup last-16 tie against French giants Bordeaux Begles on Sunday.

Former Ireland sevens star Zac Ward comes into Murphy's side on the right wing, while promising loose forward James McNabney is drafted in to partner Nick Timoney and Dave McCann in the back-row. 

James Hume returns at 13 after a bout of illness ruled him out of the Stormers clash. 

Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, and Tom O'Toole make up the front-row, while Alan O'Connor and Kieran Treadwell form the second-row partnership.

In the half-backs, John Cooney continues at scrum half, with Jack Murphy - son of head coach Richie - at out-half.

Hume partners Stuart McCloskey in the midfield, while Jacob Stockdale and Michael Lowry team up with Ward in the back-three.

Murphy has opted for a 5/3 split on the bench, with Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, and Matty Rea providing the forward options.

Nathan Doak, Aidan Morgan, and Stewart Moore are the backline replacements.

“We’re fully prepared for a tough test against Bordeaux Begles," Murphy said. "Our focus is on maintaining momentum and executing our game plan with precision."

Bordeaux boss Yannick Bru has handed former Leinster and Munster playmaker Joey Carbery out-half reins, alongside French scrum-half Maxime Lucu, in a heavily-rotated starting 15 that sees the Six Nations' top-performer Louis Bielle-Biarrey left out of the 23.

French international 10 Matthieu Jalibert is among the replacements for Bru's men. 

Bordeaux-Begles: R Buros; D Penaud, Y Moefana, B Tupuai, P Uberti; J Carbery, M Lucu; J Poirot, M Lamothe, B Tameifuna; C Cazeaux, A Coleman; M Diaby, G Petti, P Samu.

Replacements: R Latterrade, M Perchaud, S Falatea, P Bochaton, B Vergnes-Taillefer, Y Lesgourgues, R Janse van Rensburg, M Jalibert. 

Ulster: M Lowry; Z Ward, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; J Murphy, J Cooney; A Warwick, R Herring, T O'Toole; A O’Connor, K Treadwell; J McNabney, N Timoney, D McCann.

Replacements: T Stewart, C Reid, S Wilson, M Dalton, M Rea, N Doak, A Morgan, S Moore.