Connacht have made five changes to their side as they look to make it three wins in a row in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
After a dramatic win against Glasgow last month, Stuart Lancaster’s side host Scarlets on Friday night at Dexcom Stadium, in a fixture that had been rearranged following a postponement in October.
With 18 players unavailable due to injury and international commitments, Lancaster has been forced to shuffle the deck as his side aim to leapfrog the Ospreys into ninth place.
There are three changes to the backline that started against the Warriors, with John Devine making his first start for the province. The former Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner partners Cathal Forde in the centre.
Chay Mullins starts on the left wing with Finn Treacy dropping out, with Shane Jennings and Sam Gilbert continuing in the back three.
Josh Ioane is retained at out-half, with the final backline change coming at scrum-half, as Colm Reilly replaces the injured Caolin Blade.
Up front, Denis Buckley and Dylan Tierney-Martin start at loosehead and hooker, but Jack Aungier returns to the starting team at tight-head.
David O’Connor and Joe Joyce are partnered once again in the second row, while Josh Murphy joins Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen in the back row.
Connacht: Sam Gilbert; Shane Jennings, John Devine, Cathal Forde, Chay Mullins; Josh Ioane, Colm Reilly; Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; David O’Connnor, Joe Joyce; Josh Murphy, Paul Boyle (capt), Sean Jansen
Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Peter Dooley, Fiachna Barrett, Niall Murray, Sean O’Brien, Ben Murphy, Sean Naughton, Oisin McCormack
Tom McAllister is set for his Ulster debut
Ulster have been forced into seven changes for their rearranged trip to Edinburgh, as they feel the cost of their players’ Six Nations involvement.
While Richie Murphy’s side have seen Cormac Izuchukwu, Bryn Ward and Jude Postlethwaite all return from the Irish squad this week, Iain Henderson has now joined up with the national side ahead of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations finale against Scotland.
Former Ireland U20 prop Tom McAllister comes in at tighthead, among seven changes from the defeat to Ospreys a fortnight ago.
The 21-year-old replaces Scott Wilson, joining experienced pair Rob Herring and Angus Bell in an all-new front row.
Harry Sheridan takes Henderson’s place at second row, and he’s joined at lock by Charlie Irvine, who starts for the fourth game in a row.
Bryn Ward stays in the back row, with Izuchukwu and Juarno Augustus coming in, while David McCann drops to the bench.
With Nathan Doak away with Ireland, David Shanahan gets a rare start at scrum-half, with Jack Murphy continuing outside him.
The rest of the backline is unchanged, with Postlethwaite and James Hume in the centre, and Zac Ward, Werner Kok and Mike Lowry across the backfield.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Werner Kok, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward; Jack Murphy, David Shanahan; Angus Bell, Rob Herring, Tom McAllister; Harry Sheridan, Charlie Irvine; Cormac Izuchukwu, Bryn Ward, Juarno Augustus
Replacements: James McCormick, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Joe Hopes, David McCann, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Ben Carson
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