Steven Kitshoff makes Kingspan debut as Ulster face Edinburgh

01 Dec 2023, 12:41 by The 42 Team · The42

LAST UPDATE | 23 hours ago

TWICE WORLD CUP winner, Steven Kitshoff, will get his first run out in front of a Kingspan Stadium crowd as Ulster face Edinburgh Rugby in the URC at Kingspan Stadium tomorrow (KO: 5.15pm, TG4 and Premier Sports 1).

Alan O’Connor captains the side, and he is joined in the second row by Ireland international, Kieran Treadwell.

Kitshoff will take his play in the front row alongside Tom Stewart, and Tom O’Toole.

The No 8 jersey belongs to James McNabney, who made his debut last weekend, as one of 12 players to secure their first cap for the province so far in the 2023/24 season, with eight of the young talent having come through the Ulster Rugby pathway. He is supported by Matty Rea and Nick Timoney in the back row.

Scrum half, John Cooney is joined by Billy Burns at out-half. In a similarly familiar partnership, Stuart McCloskey is named at inside centre with James Hume at 13.

Will Addison is named at full back, with Jacob Stockdale and Rob Baloucoune on the wings completing the starting line-up.

On the bench, the forward replacements are John Andrew, Andy Warwick, Marty Moore, Cormac Izuchukwu and Dave Ewers. Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore and Ben Moxham make up the other options for the backs.

Iain Henderson (hip) and Luke Marshall (shoulder) both sustained injuries in last weekend’s game against Glasgow Warriors, and are unavailable for selection this week. Jake Flannery (groin) was injured during the warm-up for the same game, and he too is unavailable for this week’s URC game against Edinburgh.

Rob Herring is also on the current injury list due to a calf injury that he suffered in training last week.

Other players currently unavailable for selection are, Ethan McIlroy (facial fracture and concussion), Sean Reffell (ankle), Angus Curtis (concussion), James McCormick (shoulder), Marcus Rea (elbow), Callum Reid (back), Michael Lowry (hip), and David McCann (ankle).

The following players have now re-integrated into team training following recent injury and their fitness for selection has been monitored through this week: Dave Ewers (hip), Nick Timoney (knee), Stewart Moore (hamstring), Jude Postlethwaite (shoulder), Greg Jones (shoulder), and John Andrew (neck).

Ulster:

15. Will Addison
14. Rob Baloucoune
13. James Hume
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Billy Burns
9. John Cooney

1. Steven Kitshoff
2. Tom Stewart
3. Tom O’Toole
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Kieran Treadwell
6. Matty Rea
7. Nick Timoney
8. James McNabney

Replacements:

16. John Andrew
17. Andy Warwick
18. Marty Moore
19. Cormac Izuchukwu
20. Dave Ewers
21. Nathan Doak
22. Stewart Moore
23. Ben Moxham