O'Toole, Timoney and McCloskey available having completed rest period after Ireland summer tour.
Excited to see how our set piece goes against Munster. Tight five have really fronted up at scrum time.
The big man back at 12 will give the backs a bit of a lift. Benson has been good, but playing out of position.
A win and it's a good start to the season, a defeat and I'm thinking, what the fud.
I thought it was worth setting out what Ulster’s squad depth could look like next season.
This is provisional, particularly around academy/development contracts and the unconfirmed signings.
Tom O’Toole, Eric O’Sullivan, Sam Crean, Callum Reid, Jacob Boyd (academy)
O’Toole now looks likely to play primarily at loosehead after Ulster moved for Bello and Knox at Tight.
The concern is the drop off behind him. O’Sullivan, Crean and Reid are capable squad players, but none currently looks like an obvious starting loosehead for a strong URC side. Boyd has been getting regular AIL rugby at LHP for Queen’s, but asking him to burst onto the scene next season would still be a significant step.
Tom Stewart, Rob Herring, James McCormick, Henry Walker (academy), Connor Magee (academy)
First choice is strong, but Andrew’s departure removes a lot of experience.
Herring at 36 is also nearing the end of his career, so McCormick or one of the academy hookers needs to progress.
Scott Wilson, Keynan Knox (reported), Eduardo Bello (reported), Tom McAllister (academy), Flynn Longstaff (academy)
This could become one of the deepest tighthead groups Ulster have had for years.
Wilson remains a leading young prospect. Knox has just started 18 Pro D2 matches for Nevers and was praised in France for his scrum stability and mobility. Bello brings Argentina international experience but also carries a fitness risk after a long injury absence.
McAllister looked very encouraging during his late season senior appearances, while Longstaff has been playing regularly at tighthead for Queen’s.
Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Eli Snyman, Harry Sheridan, Charlie Irvine, Joe Hopes, Ben Donnell, Paddy Woods (academy)
This looks strong. Izuchukwu has played most of his recent Ireland minutes in the second row. Snyman adds experience and size, while Sheridan is already a credible senior player.
Henderson’s availability will continue to be managed, but we should be much less dependent on him than previously. Which is where we need to be honest with and say, okay.
Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus, David McCann, James McNabney, Bryn Ward, Ben Donnell, Lorcan McLoughlin, Tom Brigg, Joe Hopes
Probably the deepest part of the squad.
McNabney returning from his ACL injury should almost feel like another signing. Before his injury he had already broken into the senior side, and trained with Ireland.
A possible first choice combination would be David McCann or James McNabney at 6, Nick Timoney at 7 and Juarno Augustus at 8. That would still leave Bryn Ward and several other strong young players outside the starting side.
Nathan Doak, Matthew Devine, Conor McKee, Clark Logan (academy)
Devine should offer genuine competition rather than simply replacing David Shanahan as squad depth. McKee won't give up his place on the depth chart without a fight, he was progressing nicely.
Jack Murphy, Jamie Benson, Jake Flannery, Dan Green (academy)
A talented group, but still relatively inexperienced at the highest level.
Murphy looks like the likely starter. Benson adds another goal kicking playmaker and can also cover centre or fullback. Quins fans furious he is leaving
Inside centre: Stuart McCloskey, Jude Postlethwaite, Stewart Moore, Jamie Benson
Outside centre: James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Ben Carson, Stewart Moore, Jonny Scott (academy)
Strong depth here. McCloskey and Hume remain the obvious first choice partnership, but Postlethwaite is capable of putting real pressure on both.
Jacob Stockdale, Robert Baloucoune, Zac Ward, Ethan McIlroy, Chay Mullins (reported), Aitzol Arenzana-King (academy), Josh Gibson (academy), Rynard Gordon (academy)
Losing Werner Kok is significant, especially after the season he has had. The remaining group has pace and potential, but Stockdale and Baloucoune have both had injury interruptions and may also be involved with Ireland.
Mullins could therefore be more important than a simple depth signing. Sexton has coached at Connacht
Michael Lowry, Ethan McIlroy, Stewart Moore, Jamie Benson, Chay Mullins (reported), Aitzol Arenzana-King (academy)
There are several players who can cover fullback, but Lowry remains the only established specialist senior No. 15.
Bench: Rob Herring, Eric O’Sullivan or Sam Crean, Keynan Knox or Eduardo Bello, Iain Henderson or Harry Sheridan, James McNabney or Bryn Ward, Matthew Devine, Jamie Benson, Zac Ward
The squad looks stronger at tighthead, lock, scrum half and fly half depth. The back row could be among the strongest in the URC if McNabney returns well.
The main concerns appear to be loosehead behind Tom O’Toole, hooker depth after Stewart and Herring, a lack of a proven alternative full back, and replacing Werner Kok’s reliability and physicality.
The biggest question for me is loosehead. If O’Toole is with Ireland, injured or rested, are O’Sullivan, Crean or Reid strong enough to start important URC and European matches?
Could there still be another late prop signing, similar to the Angus Bell deal last year?