TEAM NEWS: 100 Up for Timoney, Dupont recovers from illness

Ulster host Toulouse in the second leg of their round of 16 clash on Saturday 16 April 2022.

Toulouse head to the Kingspan off the back of 20-26 defeat at home with both sides vying for a place in the quarter-final.

Ulster flanker Nick Timoney will make his 100th appearance for the Province, as he is named to start at openside - with Marcus Rea at blindside and Duane Vermeulen at Number Eight.

Andrew Warwick comes in to start at loosehead and will pack down with Rob Herring at hooker and Marty Moore at tighthead. Captain Iain Henderson will partner with Alan O’Connor in the engine room.

Mike Lowry and Rob Baloucoune are named at full-back and on the right-wing respectively. Ethan McIlroy returns to take the left-wing starting berth. Stuart McCloskey and James Hume will form the midfield partnership, and John Cooney and Billy Burns are retained at scrum-half and out-half.

Brad Roberts, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell and Jordi Murphy will provide forward reinforcements, while Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall and Rob Lyttle will offer backline cover.

As for Toulouse, Antoine Dupont has recovered from illness, which restricted his training this week, to captain the defending Champions from scrumhalf. He is partnered with Romain Ntamack once again. 

Pita Ahki was another player who was in doubt for the match but has also recovered from illness to start in the centres. Zack Holmes does drop out of the matchday 23 altogether and is replaced at outside centre by Samoan international Tim Nanai-Williams. 

Dimitri Delibes comes into the starting lineup on the right wing for Juan Cruz Mallia after the Argentine was red-carded last weekend. Thomas Ramos and Matthis Lebel complete the back three.

Charlie Faumuina is the only change to the starting front row with Rodrigue Neti and Peato Mauvaka retaining their roles while Rory Arnold is joined by twin brother Richie in the second row, Emmanuel Meafou drops to the bench.

There are further changes in the back row with Rynhardt Elstadt now joined by Anthony Jelonch and Selevasio Tolofua. Thibaud Flament moves to the bench while Francois Cros is left out of the matchday squad.

LINEUPS

ULSTER

15. Michael Lowry, 14. Rob Baloucoune, 13. James Hume, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Ethan McIlroy, 10. Billy Burns, 9. John Cooney, 1. Andy Warwick, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Marty Moore, 4. Alan O'Connor, 5. Iain Henderson (c), 6. Marcus Rea, 7. Nick Timoney, 8. Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements:
16. Bradley Roberts, 17. Eric O'Sullivan, 18. Tom O'Toole, 19. Kieran Treadwell, 20. Jordi Murphy, 21. Nathan Doak, 22. Luke Marshall, 23. Rob Lyttle

TOULOUSE

15. Thomas Ramos, 14. Dimitri Delibes, 13. Tim Nanai-Williams, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Matthis Lebel, 10. Romain Ntamack, 9. Antoine Dupont (c), 1. Rodrigue Neti, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Richie Arnold, 6. Rynhardt Elstadt, 7. Anthony Jelonch, 8. Selevasio Tolofua.

Replacements:
16. Guillaume Cramont, 17. David Ainu'u, 18. Dorian Aldegheri, 19. Emmanuel Meafou, 20. Thibaud Flament, 21. Antoine Miquel, 22. Baptiste Germain, 23. Lucas Tauzin,