Dan Tuohy to captain Ulster against Munster
Dan Tuohy will captain Ulster tomorrow night in the Province’s final regular season game, against Munster, at Thomond Park (kick off 18:30).
The Ireland international second-row has captained Ulster for brief periods in matches before, but this interprovincial clash will be the first time that he has lead the Province from the start of a game, something which the 28 year-old views as a huge honour:
“Mark Anscombe pulled me to one side on Monday and sa id that I was going to captain the team – I was delighted. For me, I am just going to concentrate on my own game, get the lads behind me and hopefully we can put in a decent performance tomorrow night.”
Tuohy’s inclusion is one of 12 changes that Anscombe has made to the side that played Leinster at Ravenhill last week.
There is a completely new backline, with Craig Gilroy starting at fullback, David McIlwaine selected on the right wing and Michael Allen and Hughes Insurance Academy Player of the Year, Stuart McCloskey, starting in the centre.
Rory Scholes is named on the left wing, with James McKinney starting at outhalf and Michael Heaney picked at scrumhalf.
Up front, Callum Black starts at loosehead, with Rob Herring and Andrew Warwick keeping their places in the front row.
Lewis Stevenson partners Tuohy in the second row, while Mike McComish and Sean Doyle start either side of Nick Williams in the back row.
Bronson Ross has recovered from neck surgery and is selected on the bench along with fellow forwards Kyle McCall, Adam Macklin, Neil McComb and Conor Joyce. Backs, David Shanahan, Ricky Andrew and Peter Nelson complete the squad.
With the hard-earned point secured against Leinster, Ulster are guaranteed to finish in fourth position in the division and will be involved in a play-off next week.
Who Ulster will play in that match will be determined by results elsewhere. Full details of ticket arrangements for the play-off will be released following the completion of the final round of RaboDirect PRO12 games.
Munster v Ulster is live on BBC Two Northern Ireland and RTE Two.
Ulster XV and replacements to face Munster, RaboDirect PRO12, Thomond Park, Saturday 10th May (kick off 18:30):
(15-9): C Gilroy, D McIlwaine, M Allen, S McCloskey, R Scholes, J McKinney, M Heaney; (1-8); C Black, R Herring, A Warwick, L Stevenson, D Tuohy (Captain), M McComish, S Doyle, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): K McCall, B Ross, A Macklin, N McComb, C Joyce, D Shanahan, R Andrew, P Nelson.
