Jake Flannery Leads Ulster Against Ospreys in Challenge Cup Showdown
Ulster host Ospreys at the Affidea Stadium on Saturday at 8pm. The last-16 Challenge Cup tie will be shown live on Premier Sports 1.
Expect a physical contest. Ulster arrive with selection changes and concerns over recent form. Ospreys see this cup game as their best route to a positive season finish.
Team selection and key calls
Jake Flannery will start at out-half after Richie Murphy made a late call. Nathan Doak remains at scrum-half and will carry extra play-calling duties.
Jack Murphy is named on the bench. Cormac Izuchukwu returns to the pack. Angus Bell and Tom O’Toole start to shore up the scrum.
Backs and forwards to watch
Juarno Augustus starts and offers physical ball-carrying and collision traction. Nick Timoney and David McCann provide breakdown presence alongside Augustus.
Stuart McCloskey is expected to provide go-forward ball and offloads. Jacob Stockdale is one of seven changes after the Zebre win and moves to the wing.
Opposition and context
Ospreys include Jac Morgan in their lineup. Morgan and Dewi Lake will both leave for Gloucester at season’s end.
Dewi Lake misses this match. Ospreys beat Ulster recently in URC league play. They are unlikely to reach the URC top eight.
Conditions, tactics and set-piece
Storm Dave may bring strong wind and heavy rain to the Affidea Stadium. Those conditions could limit wide attacks.
Ulster struggled with their scrum at Zebre last weekend. The return of Bell and O’Toole aims to restore stability.
Match officials and broadcast
The game kicks off at 8pm on Saturday. It will be live on Premier Sports 1. The referee is A Woodthorpe from England.
Squads
Ulster starters
- Ethan McIlroy
- Willie Kok
- James Hume
- Stuart McCloskey
- Jacob Stockdale
- Jake Flannery
- Nathan Doak
- Angus Bell
- Ross Herring
- Tom O’Toole
- Iain Henderson
- Cormac Izuchukwu
- David McCann
- Nick Timoney
- Juarno Augustus
Ulster replacements
- Tom Stewart
- Sam Crean
- Scott Wilson
- Charlie Irvine
- Bryn Ward
- Charlie McKee
- Jack Murphy
- Zac Ward
Ospreys starters
- Jac Morgan (captain)
- Joe Walsh
- Dan Kasende
- Oli Watkin
- Kemsley Williams
- Luke Morgan
- Declan Edwards
- Rhys Morgan-Williams
- Gareth Thomas
- Sam Parry
- Ryan Henry
- Ryan Davies
- Roddie Smith
- Harrison Sutton
- Marco Morris
Ospreys replacements
- Edward Daniel
- Sam Thomas
- Tiaan Botha
- Josh Fender
- Huxley Deaves
- Keiron Hardy
- Elgar Boshoff
- Iestyn Hopkins
Filmogaz.com previews this cup tie with attention on Ulster’s selection calls. Jake Flannery leads the fly-half duties and will play a central role for Ulster against Ospreys in this Challenge Cup meeting.
