Rugby: McCloskey returns for injury-hit Ulster against Benetton
Ulster v Benetton, Friday April 26th (7.35pm)
Stuart McCloskey returns to an injury-hit Ulster side to take on Cardiff in the URC tomorrow night.
Rob Baloucoune also comes back into the side, but interim Head Coach Richie Murphy still has to do without Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Nick Timoney and Stewart Moore.
James Hume is a long-term injury loss, Tom O'Toole is out for the next number of weeks and double World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff has returned to his native South Africa ahead of his move to Stormers after injury ended his Ulster season.
Lock Alan O’Connor captains the side again and will be joined by last week’s Player of the match Harry Sheridan in the second row. Murphy opts for the same front row as last week’s win over Cardiff, with Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart and Scott Wilson retaining their places up front.
The back row sees one change in the line-up Reuben Crothers starting at openside flanker. Dave Ewers and David McCann keep their spots at openside flanker and eight.
John Cooney, who kicked the late winning penalty last Friday, starts at scrum-half and will be joined by Billy Burns at ten to form the half-back partnership. The backline sees a few changes as Stuart McCloskey and Rob Baloucoune return to the team at centre and right wing respectively.
McCloskey lines up alongside Will Addison at outside centre following the serious knee injury sustained by James Hume. Jacob Stockdale keeps his jersey on the left wing and Mike Lowry completes the backfield at full-back.
On the bench the forward options are John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, James French, Cormac Izuchukwu and Greg Jones. Dave Shanahan, Luke Marshall, Ethan McIlroy form the back replacements.
Ulster side to play Benetton
15-9: Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, Will Addison, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
1-8: Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Alan O’Connor (C), Dave Ewers, Reuben Crothers, David McCann.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, James French, Cormac Izuchukwu, Greg Jones, Dave Shanahan, Luke Marshall, Ethan McIlroy