Bulls v Ulster: Henderson included in Irish province’s nine changes for URC game in Pretoria

Ulster made nine changes last weekend’s 35-22 loss to the Lions for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match against the Bulls in Pretoria.

Iain Henderson returns to the starting line-up as Ireland captain as the squad makes six personnel changes from a week ago.

James McCormick and Corrie Barrett, who scored a try after coming off the bench last weekend, take over from John Andrew and Tom O’Toole in the front row.

Henderson and Charlie Irwin replace Kieran Treadwell and skipper Alan O’Connor from last weekend in the closing positions, while James McNabney and David McCann take over from Matty Rea and Nick Timoney in the back row.

Behind the scrum, Mike Lowry comes in for Ethan McIlroy at wing-back, with Ben Carson at center in place of Stuart McCloskey and Nathan Doak taking over from John Cooney at scrum-half.

McCormick, Carson and Academy Lock Irvine will make their first Ulster starts with hooker Tadgh McElroy and development fly-half, James Humphreys also in line to make their debuts for the Irish province after being named in the replacements.

O’Toole, O’Connor and Timoney drop to a replacement bench that also includes Dave Shanahan, as Cooney is not named in the matchday squad.

Henderson started Ulster’s opening win over defending champions Glasgow and came on as a 51st-minute substitute for Treadwell last weekend as Ulster secured a four-try loss bonus point.

The Bulls have only played one match so far, last weekend’s 22-16 home win over Edinburgh.

Ulster: Mike Lowry; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Ben Carson, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, James McCormick, Corrie Barrett; Iain Henderson (captain), Charlie Irwin; James McNabney, Sean Reffell, David McCann.

Replacements: Tadhg McElroy, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Ben Moxham.