Ulster make ten changes for Cheetahs game in Challenge Cup

Ulster will take on the Cheetahs in Amsterdam for their round three clash.

TEAM NEWS: Ulster make ten changes to their side for their clash with Cheetahs. Picture:©INPHO/Andrew Conan

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has made ten changes to his side that defeated Munster for their EPCR Challenge Cup clash against Cheetahs at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam on Sunday (3.15pm Irish time).

There is a first Ulster start for Bradley McNamara in the back line.

Murphy has opted for a new front row with Sean Crean, Rob Herring and Scott Wilson. There is one change in the engine room with Joe Hopes joining Harry Sheridan.

It is a fresh back three with David McCann, Sean Reffell and Lorcan McLoughlin who is making his first start of the season at number eight.

Nathan Doak partners Jake Flannery in the half-back with Jude Postlethwaite and James Hume the centre partnership. The in-form wingers Zac Ward and Werner Kok retain their positions with McNamara completing the starting line-up at full-back.

Murphy has gone for a 5:3 split on the bench with James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Bryan O’Connor, Matthew Dalton and Marcus Rea providing the forward cover options while Dan Shanahan, James Humphreys and Ben Carson covering the backline.

ULSTER: B McNamara, W Kok, J Hume, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward, J Flannery, N Doak; S Crean, R Herring, S Wilson, H Sheridan, J Hopes, D McCann, S Reffell, L McLoughlin.

Replacements: J McCormack, E O'Sullivan, B O'Connor, M Dalton, M Rea, D Shanahan, J Humphreys, B Carson.

CHEETAHS: J Verity-Amm, M Hartzenberg, D Ackermann, Z du Plessis, P Nkabinde, J van der Walt, M Jansen van Vuren; M Manyama, L van der Westhuizen (c), A Coetzee, C Wegner, C Thomas, D Maartens, S Vumazonke, G van der Merwe. 

Replacements: M Janse van Rensburg, C Dawson, F dos Reis, P Jansen van Vuren, A van der Merwe, N Volschenk, R Kruger, M Annies