Cooney and Treadwell among Ulster players recalled for Connacht

United Rugby Championship - Ulster v Connacht

Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Date: Saturday, 12 October Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

John Cooney and Kieran Treadwell have been recalled as Ulster make six changes for Saturday's United Rugby Championship interpro against Connacht.

Cooney replaces Nathan Doak at scrum-half while Treadwell returns to partner captain Iain Henderson in the second row.

Jude Postlethwaite is named at 12 after being released early from the Emerging Ireland tour, with John Andrew, Tom O'Toole and Nick Timoney also recalled.

Andrew Warwick and Alan O'Connor are in line for their 200th Ulster caps on Saturday while Timoney will win his 150th.

Ben Murphy, the son of Ulster head coach Richie Murphy, will start at scrum-half for Connacht.

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson (capt), Kieran Treadwell; David McCann, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, Mike Lowry.

Connacht: Santiago Cordero; Mack Hansen, Piers O'Conor, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (capt) Sean O’Brien, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Temi Lasisi, Oisin Dowling, David O’Connor, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Conor Oliver (88).