Published Thursday, 09 August 2012
Ulster coach Mark Anscome has named his side to face Bayonne. (© Pacemaker)
The New Zealander has selected a team with a mix of youth and experience, and it will give him the chance to look at some interesting combinations.
The match will see Australian born openside flanker Sean Doyle make his debut for Ulster in the back row. Jared Payne will start the game at outside centre, in what will be his first outing since he damaged his achilles against Cardiff in September last year.
Doyle is joined in the back row by the experienced Robbie Diack and Mike McComish. Johann Muller will skipper the team and is partnered at lock by Neil McComb. The front row will be made up of Callum Black, Niall Annett and Adam Macklin, who will be starting a game together for the first time.
Former Methodist College classmates Blane McIlroy and Patrick Jackson will form the half back combination, while Academy player Chris Farrell will play alongside Payne in midfield. Chris Cochrane, Craig Gilroy and Peter Nelson will provide plenty of attacking intent from the back three.
The match in France is part of a four day training camp before Ulster return for home friendlies against Leicester and Newcastle later this month.
Backs: P Nelson; C Gilroy, J Payne, C Farrell, C Cochrane; P Jackson, B McIlroy.
Forwards: C Black, N Annett, A Macklin, J Muller (c), N McComb, M McComish, S Doyle, R Diack.
Replacements: R Herring, R Lutton, J Afoa, L Stevenson, A Birch, M Heaney, N O'Connor, L Marshall, M Allen, R Andrew.