New Ulster signing Juarno Augustus is set to make his debut off the bench in Friday’s United Rugby Championship opener against the Dragons in Belfast (20:05 BST). South African number eight Augustus joined the club after helping Northampton Saints reach last season’s Investec Champions Cup final. With Augustus on the bench, David McCann starts in the back row alongside Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney.In a strong starting line-up boasting nine Ireland internationals, James Hume wins his 100th cap in midfield alongside Stuart McCloskey.Jacob Stockdale, who injured his shoulder during Ireland’s Test win over Georgia in July, starts on the left wing with Zac Ward on the right.Mike Lowry starts at full-back while Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak are paired in the half-backs. Callum Reid, Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole start in an experienced front row boasting 407 appearances, with captain Iain Henderson joined in the second row by Harry Sheridan. In addition to Augustus, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton and Sam Crean – who joined Ulster in the summer after a loan spell last season – provide forwards cover on the bench. Conor McKee, Jake Flannery and Ben Carson are the backline replacements. Ulster: Lowry; Ward, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; Reid, Herring, O’Toole, Henderson (capt), Sheridan, Izuchukwu, Timoney, McCann. Replacements: Stewart, Crean, Wilson, Dalton, Augustus, McKee, Flannery, Carson.
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United Rugby Championship: New Ulster signing Juarno Augustus on bench for Dragons opener
