United Rugby Championship: Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale and Robert Baloucoune return for Munster game

Robert Baloucoune and Jacob Stockdale will start Ulster’s United Rugby Championship match against Munster on New Year’s Day.

Ulster also welcome back Sean Reffell, James Hume and Billy Burns.

The northern province, who beat Connacht 22-20 in Galway last time out, are third in the URC standings and Munster 1th.

Munster, who lost 15-14 to Ulster at Thomond Park in October, have made six changes to the side that lost to Leinster on 26 December, with Mike Haley, Malakai Fekitoa and Paddy Patterson coming into the backline.

Shane Daly moves from full-back to wing, Jack Crowley switches to out-half from inside centre and Kiran McDonald makes his first URC start in the pack.

Peter O’Mahony, Tadhg Beirne, Joey Carbery and Craig Casey are all rested for the trip to Belfast.

Fit-again Baloucoune, who scored a try in Ireland’s win over Fiji in November, and Stockdale are joined in the Ulster back three by Stewart Moore.

Reffell, who has not played since being injured in the warm-up before the game against Munster in late October, is given the nod at openside flanker.

Hume restores his centre partnership with Stuart McCloskey and Burns is named at scrum-half alongside fly-half John Cooney.

Iain Henderson captains the side alongside Kieran Treadwell in the second row, while Duane Vermeulen is recalled at number eight.

Ulster: S Moore; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Burns, Cooney; Sutherland, Stewart, M Moore; Treadwell, Henderson (capt); Jones, Reffell, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Andrew, O’Sullivan, Milasinovich, Carter, Murphy, Doak, Flannery, McIlroy.

Munster: Haley; Daly, Frisch, Fekitoa, Earls; Crowley, Patterson; Kilcoyne, Scannell, Salanoa; Kleyn, McDonald; O’Donoghue (capt), Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Buckley, Wycherley, Archer, Hurley, O’Sullivan, Murray, Healy, Campbell.