Flannery to start for Ulster against Sharks

Former Munster out-half Jake Flannery will make his fourth appearance for Ulster as he starts for the province in their rearranged BTK URC round 6 fixture on Saturday.

Flannery scored a try and four conversions in a win over the Airlink Pumas when he was last in South Africa with Emerging Ireland.

Springbok star Duane Vermeulen will captain the visitors from the back of the scrum and is joined in the back row by Nick Timoney and Jordi Murphy.

The side, which can expect to face challenging temperatures, sees Alan O'Connor paired in the second row with academy player, Harry Sheridan, who scored his first try for Ulster last weekend against Glasgow in Scotstoun Stadium.

In a change to the front row, Rory Sutherland comes in at loosehead prop, while Jeff Toomaga-Allen, who scored a try the last time out against South African opposition in the URC, retains his place at tighthead, with John Andrew set to add to his tally of over 100 caps for the province at hooker.

Scrum-half John Cooney, who racked-up 10 points when Ulster beat the Sharks last season, will be looking to repeat this performance, with Flannery coming in at fly-half.