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European Champions Cup: Addison fit for Ulster’s key Bath game but Moore out


Addison and Moore were both forced off by injury in the second half of Ulster’s defeat by Clermont
European Champions Cup Pool 3: Ulster v Bath
Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Date: Saturday, 18 January Kick-off: 15:15 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Ulster FM, BBC Sport website, app and BBC Sounds

Will Addison has been passed fit for Ulster’s vital European Champions Cup game against Bath but Marty Moore has been ruled out by an ankle injury.

Prop Moore’s injury means inclusion for Tom O’Toole in the only change from the starting side in last weekend’s defeat by pool leaders Clermont Auvergne.

Full-back Addison, who like O’Toole is in Ireland’s Six Nations squad, has recovered from a calf strain.

Bath make seven changes from the home defeat by Harlequins last weekend.

A win on Saturday will secure Ulster’s place in the last eight, but they can only top the group if Harlequins shock Clermont at the Stoop.

Last weekend’s 29-13 defeat in France put a major dent in Ulster’s hopes of a home quarter-final, with Clermont seizing control of pool three.

Even going into the round-five game, Bath were already out of contention for a quarter-finals spot but they suffered further blows with England star Anthony Watson and scrum-half Max Green suffering injuries in the contest.

Watson, who sustained a leg injury, is replaced by Tom Homer at full-back while Ollie Fox takes over from Green, who is set to undergo surgery on his leg fracture.

England’s World Cup star Sam Underhill’s return is among Bath’s five other changes.

Underhill replaces Mike Williams in the back row while another England World Cup squad member Ruaridh McConnochie takes over from Aled Brew at centre.

The other Bath changes come in the pack with Ben Obano and Will Stuart taking over from Lewis Boyce and Christian Judge in the front row and lock Charlie Ewels returning to captain the side in place of Rhys Davies.

Bath’s bench includes Welsh star Rhys Priestland.

Ulster’s bench shows three changes as Nick Timoney, Ross Kane and Craig Gilroy replace Matthew Rea, O’Toole and injured Matt Faddes.

Ulster: Addison; Baloucoune, Marshall, McCloskey, Stockdale; Burns, Cooney; McGrath, Herring, O’Toole; O’Connor, Henderson (capt); Reidy, Murphy, Coetzee.

Replacements: McBurney, O’Sullivan, Kane, Treadwell, Timoney, Shanahan, Johnston, Gilroy.

Bath: Homer; Hamer- Webb, Wright, Willison, McConnochie; Burns, Fox; Obano, Walker, Stuart, Garvey, Ewels, Ellis, Underhill, Bayliss.

Replacements: Batty, Noguera, Nixon, McNally, Williams, Cook, Priestland, De Glanville.



Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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