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URC team news: Mike Haley and Dave Kilcoyne back for Munster, Connacht make five changes, Duane Vermeulen captains Ulster

Mike Hayley has spent two months out with an ankle injury
Mike Hayley has spent two months out with an ankle injury

Ireland internationals Mike Haley and Dave Kilcoyne are among three Munster changes for Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship showdown against Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park (5.15pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

Jack Crowley also comes in as Patrick Campbell, Antoine Frisch and Josh Wycherley drop out from the side that beat Scarlets 49-42 earlier this month.

Frisch is unavailable due to a low-grade leg injury, but is expected to return to training next week.

Haley starts at full-back for the first time since January on his return from an ankle injury with in-form wingers Calvin Nash and Shane Daly starting on either flank.

A new centre partnership sees Crowley and Malakai Fekitoa team up in midfield for the first time with Paddy Patterson and Joey Carbery in the half-backs for the fourth successive game.

Kilcoyne, Diarmuid Barron and Roman Salanoa pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley combining for the fourth game in-a-row in the engine room.

The back-row of captain Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes is again unchanged.

In the replacements, Scott Buckley, Stephen Archer, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell and Simon Zebo join the squad with RG Snyman set for his second appearance of the season.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Malakai Fekitoa, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Paddy Patterson; Dave Kilcoyne, Diarmuid Barron, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Alex Kendellen, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo.

Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith, Cole Forbes, Stafford McDowall (C), Sam Johnson, Jamie Dobie, Domingo Miotti, Ali Price; Nathan McBeth, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, JP du Preez, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Sione Vailanu.

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Allan Dell, Lucio Sordoni, Lewis Bean, Alex Samuel, Thomas Gordon, George Horne, Tom Jordan.

Caolin Blade captains Connacht

Connacht have made five changes to their side to face Edinburgh tomorrow (3pm), as Andy Friend's seek their fifth win in a row in the competition.

Peter Dooley, Oisín Dowling and Jarrad Butler come into the pack, while Oran McNulty and Diarmuid Kilgallen are named at full back and wing respectively.

Caolin Blade captains the side from scrum-half, with David Hawkshaw starting alongside him at 10. With Bundee Aki still absent following Ireland's completion of the Grand Slam last weekend, Cathal Forde and Tom Farrell make up the centre partnership.

Connacht Director of Rugby Andy Friend stressed that it was the beginning of a very important phase of the season for the side.

"Tomorrow is the start of a massive block of games for us. We're where we want at this stage of the season, with our destiny in our own hands knowing if we keep winning games then we reach playoff rugby.

"We’ve won four in a row in the URC so there’s a real sense of momentum within the group, and with a massive crowd behind us at The Sportsground we’ll do everything to keep that run going."

Connacht: Oran McNulty, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Cathal Forde, John Porch; David Hawkshaw, Caolin Blade (C); Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; Oisín Dowling, Niall Murray; Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Jordan Duggan, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Darragh Murray, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Shane Jennings.

Edinburgh: Emiliano Boffelli, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, James Lang, Damien Hoyland, Blair Kinghorn, Henry Pyrgos, Boan Venter, Stuart McInally, Lee-Roy Atalifo, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist (C), Ben Muncaster, Connor Boyle, Viliame Mata.

Replacements: Dave Cherry, Luan de Bruin, WP Nel, Marshall Sykes, Glen Young, Ben Vellacott, Chris Dean, Nathan Sweeney

Duane Vermeulen

Duane Vermeulen will captain Ulster against his old club as the 2021-22 runners-up the Bulls land in Kingspan Stadium on Saturday night (7.35pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

The experienced Springbok played for the Bulls for two seasons before joining Ulster in 2021. Vermeulen leads the side at number eight for the visit of Jake White's side, who currently sit sixth in the table.

Kieran Treadwell, who featured late on in Ireland's Grand Slam clinching win over England last weekend, is named in the second row alongside Sam Carter.

Ballymena's Andy Warwick starts at loosehead prop and is joined by Tom Stewart at hooker, who is back with the province after being part of Ireland's Grand Slam winning training squad. They will be packing down with Jeff Toomaga-Allen at loosehead prop.

Nathan Doak, Player of the Match last time out, operates at scrum half, with Billy Burns named at fly-half.

Rob Balacoune, out of action, since January, is on the wing, with Jacob Stockdale and Mike Lowry making up the back three.

Ulster: Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak; Andy Warwick, Tom Stewart, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Kieran Treadwell, Sam Carter, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen (C).

Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O'Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Alan O’Connor, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, Jude Postlethwaite.

Vodacom Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Cornal Hendricks, Harold Vorster, David Kriel, Chris Smith, Zak Burger, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje (C), Marco van Staden, Cyle Brink, Elrigh Louw

Replacements: Simphiwe Matanzima, Bismarck Du Plessis, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp, Embrose Papier, Morne Steyn, Stedman Gans

Watch Munster v Glasgow (5.15pm) and Ulster v Vodacom Bulls (7.35pm) in the URC on Saturday live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player

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