In Saturday’s interprovincial match against Connacht at Ravenhill (8 p.m. kickoff), prop Andy Warwick and lock Alan O’Connor will play their 200th games for Ulster.
Warwick, who was selected to start at loosehead, will lead the team out, and if O’Connor is used off the bench in the United Rugby Championship round four match, he will score his second century.
The two will become the first since Craig Gilroy three years ago, and the ninth and tenth players, respectively, to reach the milestone.
In the rear row, there will be another historic moment as Nick Timoney, ranked eight, will secure his 150th cap for the province.
After the team’s loss to the Bulls in Pretoria last week, head coach Richie Murphy has again made seven changes to the starting lineup, which includes Jude Postlethwaite’s return from Emerging Ireland duty.
Ben Carson is benched in favour of Ethan McIlroy at full-back, replacing Mike Lowry in a back three that also includes Werner Kok and Jacob Stockdale. The centre, who participated in two of the tourists’ three games in South Africa, is back to partner Stewart Moore in the centre.
In his comeback game, John Cooney replaces Nathan Doak as the starting scrum-half, with Aidan Morgan starting at fly-half for the fourth time in a row.
The Bulls destroyed the front five at scrum time, leaving Warwick and captain Iain Henderson as the only two players still wearing their jerseys. John Andrew and Ireland tight end Tom O’Toole complete the front row, while Kieran Treadwell joins Henderson in the engine room.
After sitting on the bench in Pretoria, Milestone man Timoney is called up to the starting lineup. David McCann moves to blindside flanker to make room for him at number eight, while Sean Reffell stays at openside.
Both loosehead prop Callum Reid and flanker Marcus Rea, who are listed as replacements, could make their season debuts. Tighthead prop Corrie Barrett, who is preferred over midweek arrival Bryan O’Connor, could also make his debut.
Namesake Alan, who is joined by hooker James McCormick and starters Doak, Carson, and Lowry from the previous week, will be attempting to reach the 200-point plateau if he is used off the bench.
Pete Wilkins has chosen a 6:2 split, but Connacht has chosen to start scrum-half Ben Murphy, son of Ulster head coach Richie, in the Ravenhill match. Former Ulster lock David O’Connor is one of six forwards on the bench.
Ulster: (15-9) E McIlroy; W Kok, S Moore, J Postlethwaite, J Stockdale; A Morgan, J Cooney; (1-8) A Warwick, J Andrew, T O’Toole; I Henderson (captain), K Treadwell; D McCann, S Reffell, N Timoney.
Replacements: J McCormick, C Reid, C Barrett, A O’Connor, Marcus Rea, N Doak, B Carson, M Lowry.
Connacht: (15-9) S Cordero; M Hansen, P O’Conor, B Aki, S Bolton; J Ioane, B Murphy; (1-8) D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham; J Joyce, J Murphy; C Prendergast (captain), S O’Brien, P Boyle.
Replacements: D Tierney-Martin, P Dooley, T Lasisi, O Dowling, D O’Connor, C Blade, C Forde, C Oliver.
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