O’Toole And Dalton To Start Up Front For Ulster

Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy prop Tom O’Toole, a regular for the Ireland Under-20s during the recent Six Nations, will make his senior debut alongside Rory Best in the front row, with Andrew Warwick selected at loosehead.

In the second row, O’Toole’s Academy team-mate Matthew Dalton will make his seventh appearance of the season for the province, as he is paired with Iain Henderson in the engine room.

Flankers Matthew Rea and Nick Timoney start at blindside and openside respectively, with Jean Deysel packing down at number 8, while Johnny McPhillips and John Cooney continue their half-back partnership.

Darren Cave is named at outside centre where he is joined in midfield by Stuart McCloskey, while Jacob Stockdale, the Six Nations Player of the Championship, and Louis Ludik will start on the wings, with full-back Charles Piutau rounding off the back-three.

There are two more potential debutants on the bench in the form of Rainey Old Boys prop Tommy O’Hagan, and Angus Curtis, another one of Ulster’s Ireland U-20 contingent, who can slot in at out-half or centre. Rob Herring, Rodney Ah You, Alan O’Connor and Sean Reidy provide the additional forward options, while David Shanahan and Tommy Bowe complete the back-line cover.

ULSTER (v Edinburgh): Charles Piutau; Louis Ludik; Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny McPhillips, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (capt), Tom O’Toole, Matthew Dalton, Iain Henderson, Matthew Rea, Nick Timoney, Jean Deysel.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Tommy O’Hagan, Rodney Ah You, Alan O’Connor, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Angus Curtis, Tommy Bowe.