Ulster and Connacht target away wins
ULSTER have gone fully loaded ahead of this afternoon’s Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with Clermont at Stade Marcel Michelin.
Interim head coach Richie Murphy has made two changes to the side which delivered a 40-17 win away to Montpellier last weekend, with Mike Lowry and Harry Sheridan drafted into the starting line-up.
Lowry replaces Will Addison on the left wing with Stewart Moore shifting to full-back while Sheridan replaces Matt Rea at blindside flanker and forms a potent back row alongside David McCann and Nick Timoney. John Cooney and Nathan Doak continue their fledgling half-back combination as Stuart McCloskey, James Hume and Rob Baloucoune complete a stellar backline.
Springboks loosehead Steve Kitshoff packs down with Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole in the front row and they will be backed up by locks Alan O’Connor and Iain Henderson.
Meanwhile, Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has made four changes ahead of today’s Challenge Cup quarter-final tie with Treviso at Stadio Communale di Monigo.
Andrew Smith, JJ Hanrahan, Darragh Murray and Paul Boyle have all got the nod for the knock-out game in Italy.
Munster are the only Irish province with the weekend off but there was good news yesterday with confirmation that Peter O’Mahony has signed a new one-year deal.
O’Mahony, 34, stepped down from his long-standing role as Munster captain earlier this season, leading to speculation this campaign might be his last in the red jersey.
The Corkman was subsequently appointed Ireland captain by Andy Farrell and he led the national team to the Six Nations title last month.
Now, O’Mahony will remain on board with his hometown club for another season.
‘It’s not every day a young man who grows up following two teams gets the chance to play for both as long as I have and to be given the opportunity to play for another year isn’t an opportunity I could turn down,’ O’Mahony said yesterday.