Ulster have handed a first start of the season to summer signing Werner Kok in the first game of their South African double-header against the Emirates Lions on Saturday (kick-off 11.55am Belfast time, 12.55pm local).
After dealing with some pre-season niggles, the winger was only named on the bench for last weekend’s win over the Glasgow Warriors to open the United Rugby Championship season but, after an impressive cameo, has been named in the run-on team for the clash in Johannesburg.
There are also first starts of the season for Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey – fresh off signing a new two-year deal – and Tom O’Toole, as well as scrum-half John Cooney, while captain Iain Henderson has been named on the bench after starting against Glasgow.
Head coach Richie Murphy, due to the absences of Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite and Harry Sheridan to Emerging Ireland, has been forced into eight changes to his starting line-up from that which defeated the Warriors.
Along with Kok, Andrew Warwick has been promoted from the bench from last week, while Alan O’Connor, Matty Rea and Sean Reffell have been added to the starting line-up.
After struggling at the scrum against the defending champions a week ago, hooker John Andrew is the only survivor in the front row as Warwick and O’Toole come in for Eric O’Sullivan and Corrie Barrett, with O’Connor replacing Henderson in the second row and as captain alongside Kieran Treadwell.
Rea and Reffell replace James McNabney and David McCann at blindside and openside flanker respectively, with Nick Timoney completing the back row, with Cooney’s return from injury allowing him to partner Aidan Morgan at half-back for the first time.
McCloskey comes in for Postlethwaite at inside centre alongside Stewart Moore, with Jacob Stockdale and Ethan McIlroy rounding out the line-up with Kok in the back three.
After impressing in the late stages of the win over the Warriors, development hooker James McCormick is preferred to short-term signing Tadgh McElroy on the bench, with O’Sullivan, Barrett, Henderson, McNabney and McCann all named among the forward replacements in a 6/2 split.
Nathan Doak and Mike Lowry complete the line-up as the two backs substitutes.
Ulster: (15-9) E McIlroy; W Kok, S Moore, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; A Morgan, J Cooney; (1-8) A Warwick, J Andrew, T O’Toole; K Treadwell, A O’Connor (captain); Matty Rea, S Reffell, N Timoney.
Replacements: J McCormick, E O’Sullivan, C Barrett, I Henderson, J McNabney, N Doak, M Lowry, D McCann.