ULSTER SWITCH SEVEN RDS HEROES
By RORY KEANE
EIGHT days after their seismic win against Leinster in Dublin, Ulster face Ospreys in Swansea looking to build on their historic win at the RDS.
Head coach Dan McFarland has made seven changes to the side which downed the defending champions.
Robert Baloucoune is back on the right wing after impressing for Ireland in their rout of Argentina a few weeks ago. The 24-year-old will start ahead of Craig Gilroy. Mike Lowry and Ethan McIlroy complete a youthful back three.
Talented midfielder James Hume, man of the match in the capital last weekend, is rested as Angus Curtis links up with
Stuart McCloskey in midfield while John Cooney and Billy Burns start at half-back.
Brad Roberts, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell and Sean Reidy are in a muchchanged pack.
There is also the welcome sight of Jack McGrath on the bench.
The former Leinster prop last featured for his adopted province in November of last year after undergoing hip surgery, an issue which has plagued the 32-yearold for several years.
The loosehead prop earned the last of his 56 Ireland caps in a World Cup warm-up game against England in August of 2019.
A Test Lion in New Zealand in 2017, McGrath he will be keen to remind Andy Farrell and his Ireland backroom team that he has the potential to reach those heights again. Beginning with a strong display from the bench in Wales today.
OSPREYS: D Evans; A Cuthbert, M Collins, O Watkin, L Morgan; S Myler, R Webb (capt); G Thomas, S Parry, T Francis; R Davies, B Davies; W Griffiths, J Morgan, M Morris REPS: E Taione, N Smith, T Botha, J Regan, E Roots, R MorganWilliams, G Anscombe, T ThomasWheeler
ULSTER: M Lowry; R Baloucoune, A Curtis, S McCloskey, E McIlroy; B Burns, J Cooney; E O’Sullivan, B Roberts, T O’Toole; K Treadwell, A O’Connor (capt); S Reidy, N Timoney, D McCann REPS: T Stewart, J McGrath, M Moore, M Kearney, M Rea, N Doak, S Moore, C Gilroy
REFEREE: S Grove-White (Scotland)