Duane Vermeulen returns to Loftus Versfeld in a new-look Ulster back row for Saturday’s battle against the Vodacom Bulls in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The former Bulls skipper, Vermeulen is the only holdover from the loose trio that started in last week’s reverse against the Stormers as Jordi Murphy and Nick Timoney have been promoted in place of Greg Jones and Marcus Rea respectively.

Loosehead prop Andrew Warwick will make his 150th appearance for Ulster and is joined in the front row by Brad Roberts and Marty Moore. Iain Henderson comes in to skipper the team and partner fellow Irish international Kieran Treadwell in the second row.

Mike Lowry is selected to start at fullback, with Ben Moxham and Ethan McIlroy named on the wings. Luke Marshall and James Hume form the centre partnership while scrumhalf Ian Madigan and standoff Nathan Doak man the tactical controls.

The Ulster coaching team has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, with Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Mick Kearney, Matty Rea and Marcus Rea selected as forward reinforcements. John Cooney and Stewart Moore provide the backline cover. 

Ulster – 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Ben Moxham, 13 James Hume, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Ethan McIlroy, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Jordi Murphy, 5 Iain Henderson (c), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Brad Roberts, 1 Andrew Warwick.
Subs: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Matty Rea, 21 John Cooney, 22 Marcus Rea, 23 Stewart Moore.

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