Connacht's Eoghan Masterson to earn 100th cap against Ulster

Connacht flanker Eoghan Masterson will earn his 100th cap for the province when they host Ulster in the Guinness PRO14 tomorrow evening.

He's been named in a back-row with Conor Oliver and captain Jarrad Butler as Andy Friend makes six changes from last week's loss to Bristol.

Shane Delahunt, Quinn Roux, Caolin Blade, Tom Daly and Tiernan O’Halloran join Butler in coming into the starting 15 for the Westerners.

“Reaching 100 caps for any club is a huge achievement so I’d like to congratulate Eoghan Masterson on the milestone," Friend said of Masterson's century appearance.

"Eoghan is a very professional athlete who leads from the front by the way he conducts himself both on and off the field. To hit 100 games despite his injury setbacks down the years only adds to the achievement.

"Building squad depth has been a key objective for us, so we are fortunate to be able to make most of these changes not because of injuries but to keep the squad fresh and give players their deserved opportunities.”

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Sammy Arnold, Tom Daly. Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Jordan Duggan, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Gavin Thornbury, Sean Masterson, Kieran Marmion, Sean O’Brien, Colm de Buitléar

11 December 2020; Ian Madigan of Ulster during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool B Round 1 match between Ulster and Toulouse at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ian Madigan has been named at out-half for Ulster, where he'll join Alby Mathewson in the half-backs for the game at the Sportsground.

Dan McFarland has handed first seasonal starts to props Kyle McCall and Tom O'Toole.

Kieran Treadwell returns in the second-row while Greg Jones comes in to start at blindside flanker.

Ireland internationals Billy Burns, Rob Herring and Jacob Stockdale have all been rested as part of the player management programme.

Ulster: Michael Lowry, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, Ian Madigan, Alby Mathewson; Kyle McCall, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Kieran Treadwell, Greg Jones, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Andrew Warwick, Marty Moore, David O’Connor, Matty Rea, David Shanahan, Ben Moxham, Matt Faddes.

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