Connacht make three changes, Ulster hand Jack Murphy first start

Connacht have made three changes to their side to take on Ulster at Dexcom Stadium in Saturday's URC derby, while the visitors have handed academy out-half Jack Murphy a first start.

Head coach Pete Wilkins has drafted in half-backs Caolin Blade and Jack Carty, and wing Santiago Cordero to the side that lost 20-12 to Leinster last Saturday at Aviva Stadium.

The pack is unchanged with Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham in the front row, with Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray in the second row for the Galway clash (7.35pm, live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1).

Cian Prendergast captains the side from blindside flanker, with Shamus Hurley-Langton on the other side and Paul Boyle at number 8.

Bundee Aki and Cathal Forde continue in the centre, while Mack Hansen starts from the right wing and Piers O’Conor is at full-back.

The 6:2 split on the bench also continues, with Peter Dooley returning from injury to start as replacement loosehead prop, and Conor Oliver again wearing the 23 jersey.

Wilkins said: "Ulster have come to Dexcom Stadium in recent years with real fire in their belly.

"A few things might not have clicked for them against Munster but their intensity level was as good as I have seen for some time.

"We will need to be at the level which we were in that second half against Leinster, we can't let our execution of accuracy drop."

Meanwhile, Ulster boss Richie Murphy has handed a first start to son Jack, who gets the out-half shirt for the visit to Galway.

He made his debut as a replacement in last weekend's defeat to Munster.

Fellow academy back Rory Telfer also gets a first start after two appearances from the bench against Bordeaux and Munster.

Academy centre Wilhelm De Klerk is in line for a senior debut