6 hours Ago
Scrum-half Conor McKee will make his competitive Ulster debut in Saturday's crucial United Rugby Championship home contest against the Scarlets (17:15 GMT). Ulster go into the contest in 14th place in the table after losing seven of their 11 fixtures - which include the most recent defeats by Italian sides Zebre and Benetton - and coach Richie Murphy has described Saturday's game as "must-win" for his side. McKee, 23, did score an impressive try in Ulster's friendly defeat by Queensland Reds earlier this month but has not played in the United Rugby Championship or at Champions Cup level.
He partners Jack Murphy in the half-backs as Nathan Doak and Aidan Morgan are not included in the starting line-up while John Cooney is unavailable after sustaining a calf injury in training. The Ulster pack shows three changes from the Benetton defeat. Callum Reid takes over at prop from Jacob Boyd with Matty Dalton replacing injured lock Cormac Izuchukwu and James McNabney drafted into the back row as David McCann drops out.
Izuchukwu sustained an ankle injury in the Benetton game while Iain Henderson remains unavailable because of the hamstring injury he picked up in Ireland's Six Nations win over Scotland. Prop Sam Crean is set to make his debut off the bench after joining on loan from Saracens. Andrew Warwick (ankle), Eric O'Sullivan (knee), Tom Stewart (hamstring), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Ben Moxham (knee), Michael McDonald (hamstring), Sean Reffell (calf), Marcus Rea (toe) and Rob Baloucoune (calf) are also currently ruled out for the Irish province.
Ulster: Moore; Lowry, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, McKee; Reid, Herring, Wilson; O'Connor (capt), Dalton; Matty Rea, Timoney, McNabney. Replacements: Andrew, Crean, O'Toole, Treadwell, McCann, Doak, Flannery, Postlethwaite. Watch Ulster v Scarlets on BBC Two NI and BBC iPlayer from 17:00 GMT on Saturday, 1 March.
