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All Blacks legend Brad Thorn on the family bond that led to Test coaching debut
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Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Heineken Champions Cup match between Ulster and Bath at Kingspan Stadium.
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With a win against Bath enough to see Ulster through to the knockout stages, they have made one change to their starting line-up after last weekend’s loss at pool leaders Clermont.
Tom O’Toole – who was named in Andy Farrell’s Ireland Six Nations squad in midweek – is the only change, the youngster stepping in at tighthead for this first start at European level following an injury to Marty Moore in France.
(Continue reading below…)
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Will Addison is named at full-back and is joined in the back three by Robert Baloucoune and Jacob Stockdale on the wings. The familiar centre pairing of Luke Marshall and Stuart McCloskey will start in midfield. John Cooney and Billy Burns retain their half-back partnership – Burns will be in direct opposition to his brother Freddie who starts for Bath.
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Jack McGrath starts at loosehead, Rob Herring at hooker, Alan O’Connor will combine with Iain Henderson in the second row, Sean Reidy is retained at blindside flanker, with Jordi Murphy at openside and Marcell Coetzee at No8.
Brotherly love for Billy Burns from across the Irish sea https://t.co/GOMPMyBVY0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 15, 2020
Bath boss Stuart Hooper makes eight changes to the starting side that lost 25-19 to Harlequins last week, including the return of England international Ruaridh McConnochie, who replaces Aled Brew in the starting XV.
ULSTER: 15. Will Addison; 14. Rob Baloucoune, 13. Luke Marshall, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale; 10. Billy Burns, 9. John Cooney; 1. Jack McGrath, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Tom O’Toole, 4. Alan O’Connor, 5. Iain Henderson (capt), 6. Sean Reidy, 7. Jordi Murphy, 8. Marcell Coetzee. Reps: 16. Adam McBurney, 17. Eric O’Sullivan, 18. Ross Kane, 19. Kieran Treadwell, 20. Nick Timoney, 21. David Shanahan, 22. Bill Johnston, 23. Craig Gilroy.
BATH: 15. Tom Homer; 14. Gabe Hamer-Webb, 13. Jackson Willison, 12. Max Wright, 11. Ruaridh McConnochie; 10. Freddie Burns, 9. Ollie Fox; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Matt Garvey, 5. Charlie Ewels (capt), 6. Tom Ellis, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Josh Bayliss. Reps: 16. Ross Batty, 17. Lucas Noguera, 18. Sam Nixon, 19. Josh McNally, 20. Mike Williams, 21. Chris Cook, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Tom de Glanville.
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