The Connacht team to play Ulster in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday Aug 23rd 2020 is as follows:
15. John Porch – second time starting at fullback, his other start was away to Gloucester.
14. Peter Sullivan – debut. Broke Matt Healy’s AIL try scoring record last season.
13. Bundee Aki – 100th cap. His 4 tries against Ulster is the most he has scored against any opposition.
12. Tom Farrell – 15th time starting outside Aki, they have a 57% winning ratio when starting in these jerseys together.
11. Alex Wooton – debut. Scored 13 tries in 39 matches for Munster.
10. Jack Carty – 87th PRO14 start, has scored 11 tries, 92 conversions, 102 penalties and a drop goals in the PRO14.
9. Kieran Marmion – 63rd time starting alongside Carty, a Connacht record for halfbacks.
1. Denis Buckley – hasn’t scored a try for Connacht since December 2016.
2. Dave Heffernan – 130th cap for Connacht.
3. Finlay Bealham – 15th time starting alongside Buckley and Heffernan.
4. Ultan Dillane – scored half of his tries for Connacht against Ulster (ok, its only 2 tries from 4)
5. Gavin Thornbury – 8th time starting at 5 alongside Dillane, 57% winning record.
6. Eoghan Masterson – Has an 80% winning record when starting at 6 to Butler at 7 and Boyle at 8, this is their sixth time starting together.
7. Jarrad Butler – First start at 7 since the win over Gloucester last December.
8. Paul Boyle – was Connacht’s top tackler with 17 in the last match against Ulster when he started at 7.
16. Jonny Murphy; 17. Jordan Duggan; 18. Jack Aungier; 19. Niall Murray; 20. Conor Oliver; 21. Stephen Kerins; 22. Conor Dean; 23. Tom Daly
The Ulster team is as follows:
(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Michael Lowry.