Ulster v Exeter Chiefs - Teams and Prediction

Yesterday at 09:25 AM

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Exeter Chiefs head to Belfast on Friday night to take on Ulster in their final pool stage of the Champions Cup.

Both sides are currently winless in the competition which means this weekend's game is a shootout to avoid finishing bottom of Pool One and by doing so claiming a place in the round of 16.

Chiefs come into the game off the back of an ego-bruising 17-69 defeat at home to Bordeaux-Begles, while Ulster lost 10-38 away at Leicester Tigers.

Ulster requires a bonus-point win and needs the Sharks' game with Bordeaux to go in their favour if they are to qualify for the last-16.

The Sharks also have a vastly superior points difference over Ulster.

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A draw or a win would guarantee Challenge Cup rugby at a minimum, while defeat would send Exeter, also without a win in Europe, through at Ulster's expense.

In the Chiefs ranks, there are 12 changes to the starting line-up from last weekend's game against Bordeaux Begles at Sandy Park.

Those changes begin in the front row as loosehead prop Will Goodrick-Clarke and hooker Jack Innard - handed the captain's armband for the fixture - come in to start with Josh Iosefa-Scott at tighthead.

Rusi Tuima partners Christ Tshiunza in the second row in a week when Tshiunza was announced in the Welsh Six Nations squad.

Martin Moloney is recalled from his loan to Cornish Pirates to start on the blindside flank with Richard Capstick at openside and Italy's Ross Vintcent as the No. 8.

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A young and exciting half-back pairing is formed by Ulsterman Niall Armstrong at scrumhalf and Will Haydon-Wood at flyhalf. There is a return to the matchday side for Joe Hawkins in the centerfield as he lines up alongside Will Rigg.

One week on from his try-scoring competition debut, Paul Brown-Bampoe is joined in the back three by Ben Hammersley and Harvey Skinner in the fullback shirt.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter thinks this weekend could be a great challenge for his squad, especially with the outside shot of a Challenge Cup knockout berth being secured.

"Following the Bordeaux result last weekend, this week we tried to speak to players very openly about everything as the reality is, it was a tough day. We wanted to make sure it didn't create a divide in the group as the single most important thing right now is that we stay together as a group.

"Where we are now in the season, every game is important so we're expecting this game against Ulster to give our players another chance to test themselves.

"The lads got themselves back on track in training this week very quickly and they look excited by the prospect of this game."

For Ulster flyhalf Jack Murphy will make his first Champions Cup start, following his first outing in the competition as a second-half replacement at Leicester Tigers last weekend.

Nathan Doak retains the No. 9 jersey and will start alongside Murphy in a youthful half-back pairing.

The starting XV features four players who have been called up to the wider Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations, with Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Cormac Izuchukwu, and James McNabney all included among the Ulster pack.

Michael Lowry and Stewart Moore make welcome returns from injury to start in the back three, with Lowry on the left wing, Moore at fullback, and Werner Kok on the right wing.

Coach Richie Murphy opts for a 5:3 split on the replacements bench, with a return to the matchday squad for Rob Lyttle, who has agreed a short-term deal as emergency injury cover and is line for his first Ulster appearance since 2023.

Ulster v Exeter Chiefs

(Kingspan Stadium, Belfast - Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT; 22.00 CET)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Ulster by nine points

Teams

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Harvey Skinner, 14 Ben Hammersley, 13 Joe Hawkins, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Niall Armstrong, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Richard Capstick, 6 Martin Moloney, 5 Christ Tshiunza, 4 Rusi Tuima, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 2 Jack Innard (captain), 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Jack Dunne, 20 Lewis Pearson, 21 Joe Bailey, 22 Tom Cairns, 23 Zack Wimbush

Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Carson, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Michael Lowry, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 James McNabney, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Eric O'Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Harry Sheridan, 21 John Cooney, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Rob Lyttle

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)