Rugby

Ulster vs Cardiff: Moore forced into 15 for understaffed Ulster

Ireland internationals return for both Ulster and Connacht ahead of Friday’s URC outings

Stewart Moore starts for Ulster in the unusual position of fullback. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Thu Mar 3 2022 - 15:52

URC: Ulster vs Cardiff, Friday Match 4th, Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm, live on RTÉ and Premier Sports)

Stewart Moore lines up at fullback for Ulster for their clash at home to Cardiff amid a myriad of fullback absences for the northern province. Mikey Lowry has not been released from Ireland camp, while Jacob Stockdale, Will Addison and Rob Lyttle all remain injured.

Robert Baloucoune and James Hume have both been released by Andy Farrell as they make the Ulster starting XV, while Iain Henderson captains the side having missed Ireland’s victory over Italy through Covid.

Elsewhere, Nathan Doak and Billy Burns form a familiar halfback pairing with John Cooney on the bench while Jordi Murphy, Marcus Rea and Nick Timoney - the latter also released from the Ireland squad - form the backrow. Duane Vermeulen is among the replacements.

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Ulster: S Moore; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Moxham; Burns, Doak; Warwick, Andrew, M Moore; O'Connor, Henderson (c); Murphy, Rea, Timoney.

Replacements: Stewart, McGrath, Milasinovich, Carter, Vermeulen, Cooney, Madigan, Sexton.

Edinburgh vs Connacht. Friday March 4th, DAM Health Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm, live on TG4 and Premier Sports)

Jack Carty and Dave Heffernan both return to the Connacht lineup as they seek their third consecutive win when travelling to take on Edinburgh.

Jack Carty starts for Connacht after being released from Ireland camp. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Jack Aungier and Jordan Duggan pack down alongisde Heffernan in the frontrow while Leva Fifita keeps his place in the engine room after a player of the match display last week in the win over the Stormers. Oisin Dowling is the other secondrow.

Conor Oliver, Paul Boyle and Cian Prendergast form the backrow, with Caolin Blade behind them partnering Carty in the halfbacks.

The centres and backthree are unchanged from the last outing, meaning Tom Daly partners Sammy Arnold in midfield, while fullback John Porch has wingers Alex Wootton and Peter Sullivan for company.

Connacht: Porch; Sullivan, Arnold, Daly, Wooton; Carty (c), Blade; Duggan, Heffernan, Aungier, Dowling, Fifita; Prendergast, Oliver, Boyle.

Replacements: Delahunt, Tuimauga, Robertson-McCoy, Murray, Papali'i, Marmion, Farrell, Butler.

Addison Lyttle