Ulster v Munster teams: Ireland international returns as skipper while visitors make TEN changes
Iain Henderson returns to action for Ulster.
Round Nine of the United Rugby Championship (URC) continues on Friday with a massive interpro derby between Ulster and Munster that promises to be a thrilling affair.
Fifth hosts second at Affidea Stadium but it’s Ulster who enter this game on the back of a win after prevailing at Connacht while Munster lost at home to Leinster.
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy makes five changes from last week’s bonus-point victory at Dexcom Stadium, with Ireland international, Iain Henderson, returning to captain the side following a back injury.
The front-row sees two changes, with Wallaby international Angus Bell starting at loosehead for his first interpro in Belfast. Tom Stewart retains his spot at hooker, and Tom O’Toole starts at tighthead prop.
Henderson is joined by 21 year-old Development forward, Joe Hopes, in the second-row.
After returning from injury with a Player of the Match performance in Galway, Cormac Izuchukwu shifts to blindside flanker for the opening match of 2026. Nick Timoney starts at openside flanker and academy forward, Bryn Ward, starts at number eight.
Scrum-half Nathan Doak returns to the starting line up alongside fly-half Jack Murphy in the half-back positions.
The in-form backline remains unchanged from last week. Zac Ward starts on the left wing after his double against Connacht, with the league’s leading try scorer, Werner Kok, providing his threat and energy from the right wing.
Stuart McCloskey and James Hume form the midfield centre partnership. Jacob Stockdale completes the backfield at full-back.
There are two welcome additions from injury among the replacements, with record appearance holding hooker, Rob Herring, returning to the matchday squad and experienced loosehead prop, Eric O’Sullivan, also named.
Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan and David McCann are the forward options, while Conor McKee, Jake Flannery and Jude Postlethwaite provide the backline cover.
10 changes from Munster
Meanwhile, there are 10 personnel changes and one positional switch from the Munster side that faced Leinster at Thomond Park on Saturday.
Calvin Nash returns from illness with Dan Kelly, JJ Hanrahan and Paddy Patterson also coming into the starting backline.
Captain Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, John Hodnett and Alex Kendellen start in the pack.
In the replacements, Brian Gleeson returns from the elbow injury he sustained at Croke Park in October.
Full-back Mike Haley, Nash and Thaakir Abrahams form the back three with Alex Nankivell and Dan Kelly named as the centre partnership.
Patterson and Hanrahan, who made his 150th Munster appearance against Ospreys in December, are the half-back pairing.
Josh Wycherley, Barron and Michael Ala’alatoa start in the front row with Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.
Tom Ahern moves from the second-row to blindside flanker with Hodnett and Kendellen completing the back-row.
Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman and Conor Bartley provide the front row back-up as Jack O’Donoghue and Gleeson complete the forward cover.
Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler and Seán O’Brien are the backline replacements.
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The teams
Prediction: Ulster by 5
Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Werner Kok, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Bryn Ward, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Joe Hopes, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 David McCann, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Jude Postlethwaite
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Alex Kendellen, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron (c), 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Conor Bartley, 19 Jack O’Donoghue, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Seán O’Brien
Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 94th league game)
Assistant Referees: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU), Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC TV
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