URC preview: In-form Ulster seek prized Leinster scalp in Belfast

• Published date: 30 September 2022

The game of the season so far for sure. These are early stages admittedly, but this third-round match is an early summit meeting, with the width of the table between these two and their Irish provincial rivals

Although Leinster are, for once, not defending champions, they remain the most prized scalp of any visitors, arguably across the board in the URC, but certainly for Ulster.

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland went so far as to say: "It's one of the biggest games of the year, if not, the biggest game of the year in terms of interest, and the fact that it's a home game for us. Leinster is a team that plays really good rugby, and they will test us both sides of the ball. We've been tested a fair bit in different ways over the last two rounds, but Leinster bring an all-round game that will test all aspects of our game. It will be a good barometer, and I look forward to seeing how we go."

Although the 13,500 sold as of yesterday — with tickets still available on the Ulster website — is still shy of the 18,000 capacity, the atmosphere is bound to crackle. Thankfully too, the forecast is for tomorrow's heavy rain to relent by early or late afternoon, because these two sides do like to play positive rugby, which in turn might make Andrew Brace's big job relatively easier.

They've scored a combined 23 tries, albeit in Leinster's case against the Italian duo, while Ulster put Connacht away before last week's freewheeling 12-try bonanza away to the Scarlets.

Both appear as locked and loaded as they can be. But while each supplies seven players for the opening game of Emerging Ireland's less than ideally timed tour to South Africa, arguably Ulster have been harder hit, given Robert Baloucoune would surely have started here (and would have been better served doing so?), while Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore and Tom Stewart would surely have been involved as well.

Jack Crowley and Nathan Doak pivotal figures in Emerging Ireland plan

'We touched on it' - Leinster smarting over double defeat ahead of Ulster trip

By contrast, Leinster's more notable absentees are due to injury, with perhaps only Joe McCarthy denied to a probable Leinster "23" for this game.

In any event, Ulster make just one change, with Tom O'Toole starting ahead of fellow try-scorer last week, Marty Moore. He is named on the bench, where John Andrew, Greg Jones and Ben Moxham return.

Leinster make two changes, with Ross Byrne restored and Jack Conan named for his seasonal bow, as is the case for James Ryan...