United Rugby Championship: Ulster v Zebre, Ravenhill, Sunday, kick-off 5.30 – Live on RTÉ2
Maybe it is not the worst outcome to have Zebre at home nine days after hosting and dispatching a heavily diluted Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup. Ulster must make this one count by rattling off another hefty win.
Sitting outside the top eight after nine rounds is no place for Richie Murphy’s squad to be, so a strong Ulster selection has to start putting things right on Sunday n the against the lowly Italians.
John Cooney will make his 150th appearance for the province when he starts ahead of Nathan Doak to link up with Jack Murphy at half-back.
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The 34-year-old arrived from Connacht in the wake of Ruan Pienaar’s controversial departure in 2017 and, though he is widely rumoured to be moving on at season’s end, with France thought to be the likely destination, Cooney is still an integral part of the side both for his goal-kicking and his general play.
With only Rob Herring, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu and development player James McNabney away with Ireland, the northern province – who crept into the last 16 of the Champions Cup to face Bordeaux-Beglès off the back of just one win – have the in-form Nick Timoney skippering them again in a decent-looking pack that includes David McCann, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell and Tom Stewart, who starts for the first time in what has been an injury-marred season.
Back-rower Lorcan McLoughlin makes only his second appearance for the province and his first start.
Behind the scrum, Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson get to continue their centre partnership in the absence of both Stuart McCloskey and long-term injury absentee James Hume. Zac Ward is back on the wing after missing out against the Chiefs.
“There’s a break now [in games] and I think we have five games before we go back into Europe in April,” said assistant coach Dan Soper, who will move to become development and transition coach next season.
“The Six Nations has traditionally been a period where we’ve done pretty well and though we’re sitting outside the top eight at the moment we have clear aspirations to be well in there and pushing towards the top of it.
“That has to start on Sunday afternoon with a performance out here and a result,” added Soper.
Ulster: S Moore; M Lowry, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; J Murphy, J Cooney; E O’Sullivan, T Stewart, S Wilson, H Sheridan, K Treadwell, L McLoughlin, N Timoney (c), D McCann. Replacements: J Andrew, C Reid, C Barrett, A O’Connor, Matty Rea, N Doak, J Flannery, R Lyttle.
Zebre: G Da Re; A Gesi, F Paea, D Mazza, S Gregory; G Montemauri, G Garcia; P Buonfiglio, L Bigi, M Hasa, M Canali, L Krunov, R Nasove, B Stavile Bravin, G Licata. Replacements: G Quattrini, L Franceschetto, J Pitinari, G Ferrari, L Andreani, T Dominguez, L Morisi, S Brisighella.
Referee: B Breakspear.
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