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Billy Burns returns to the Ulster captain for Saturday’s Guinness Pro14 semi-final against Edinburgh. The fly-half is one of three changes from last week’s meeting with Leinster.
Jacob Stockdale will take the 15th jersey again, with wingers Rob Lyttle and Louis Ludik completing the starting three defenders.
For the third consecutive game, James Hume and Stuart McCloskey will be paired in midfield. John Cooney will line up alongside Billy Burns at the midfielder positions.
The front row has not changed since the game against Leinster, with Rob Herring retaining his starting job as hooker, as well as Eric O’Sullivan and Tom O’Toole as loose-headed and tight-headed mainstays, respectively.
Alan O’Connor is the only change in the group and enters to join Sam Carter in the second row. Matthew Rea and Jordi Murphy have been named as the flankers with Marcell Coetzee at number eight.
John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Kieran Treadwell and Sean Reidy provide the advancement options from the bench, while Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan and Michael Lowry are the bottom line reinforcements.
Meanwhile, Scottish padlock Grant Gilchrist makes his 150th appearance with Edinburgh.
Gilchrist’s inclusion is one of eight changes Edinburgh shows, with Scottish international stars Mark Bennett, Rory Sutherland, Stuart McInally, WP Nel and Ben Toolis returning to start.
Jaco van der Walt and Nic Groom’s partner also gets the go-ahead for Edinburgh
Ulster Team: Jacob Stockdale, Louis Ludik, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle, Billy Burns (captain), John Cooney, Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Jordi Murphy , Marcell Coetzee.
Replacements: John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Michael Lowry.
Edinburgh Team: Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, Chris Dean; Duhan van der Merwe; Jaco van der Walt, Nic Groom; Rory Sutherland, Stuart McInally (captain), WP Nel; Ben Toolis, Grant Gilchrist; Magnus Bradbury, Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata.
Replacements: Mike Willemse, Pierre Schoeman, Simon Berghan, Andrew Davidson, Jamie Ritchie, Charlie Shiel, Nathan Chamberlain, George Taylor.
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