Toulouse vs Ulster McFarland welcomes back Ireland contingent
over 3 years in The Irish Times
Champions Cup: Toulouse vs Ulster, Saturday April 9th, Le Stadium (3.15pm kick-off Irish time, live on BT Sport).
Dan McFarland welcomes most of his big guns, including John Cooney and Billy Burns at halfback, for Saturday’s first leg of the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 against Toulouse at Le Stadium (kick-off 4.15pm local time/3.15pm Irish, live on BT Sport.
McFarland makes eight changes in all to the starting XV from last week’s 34-16 defeat by the Bulls. In addition to Cooney and Burns, winger Robert Baloucoune and centre McCloskey are restored to the backline, while Ben Moxham switches to the left wing where he will make his first European start for Ulster.
Up front, Eric O’Sullivan and Rob Herring are united with the retained Marty Moore in the frontrow, while Alan O’Connor is restored to the secondrow and Marcus Rea has been chosen at blindside.
This means Andrew Warwick, Brad Roberts, Kieran Treadwell, Jordi Murphy, Nathan Doak and Luke Marshall (who all started last week) are named on the bench, which also sees the recalled Rob Lyttle.
As for Toulouse, they make six changes to the side beaten 19-13 in last week’s Top 14 derby away to Castres. The five-time winners and reigning champions restore Pita Ahki and Zack Holmes to midfield as well as left winger Matthis Lebel.
Hooker Julien Marchand has been ruled out, meaning Peato Mauvaka starts, with tighthead Dorian Aldegheri and lock Emmanuel Meafou also recalled as Thibaud Flament moves to the backrow. French Grand Slam-winning flanker Anthony Jelonch returns from injury and is named on the bench.
Marchand apart, Toulouse have eight of the French matchday squad from their Grand Slam coronation against England, namely Thomas Ramos, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont, Mauvaka, Flament and Francois Cros in their starting line-up, as well as Cyril Baille and Jelonch among their replacements.
Ulster: Mike Lowry; Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ben Moxham; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Marty Moore; Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt.); Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Brad Roberts, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Jordi Murphy, Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall, Rob Lyttle.
Stade Toulousain: Thomas Ramos; Juan Cruz Mallía, Zack Holmes, Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (Capt); Rodrigue Neti, Peato Mauvaka, Dorian Aldegheri; Rory Arnold, Emmanuel Meafou; Rynhardt Elstadt, Thibaud Flament, Francois Cros.
Replacements: Guillaume Cramont, Cyril Baille, Charlie Faumuina, Richie Arnold, Anthony Jelonch, Alban Placines, Martin Page Relo, Sofiane Guitoune.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU).