Bell set to make Ulster debut in European opener

Australia prop Angus Bell is set to make his Ulster debut off the bench in Friday's Challenge Cup opener against Racing 92 at Belfast's Affidea Stadium (20:00 GMT).

Bell, who has joined the Irish province on a short-term deal from NSW Waratahs until the end of the season, is named among the replacements with Sam Crean starting at loose-head.

Hooker Rob Herring and tight-head prop Tom O'Toole also come into the front row as Tom Stewart and Scott Wilson drop to the bench.

With Iain Henderson, Matthew Dalton and Cormac Izuchukwu ruled out, Charlie Irvine partners Harry Sheridan are paired in the second row. Irvine, 20, played the majority of last week's win over Benetton after Dalton's early injury.

Irvine's only previous Ulster start came in last season's defeat by the Bulls in Pretoria.

Nick Timoney captains the side in Henderson's absence alongside David McCann and Juarno Augustus in an unchanged back row.

Zac Ward is restored to the left wing after not featuring against Benetton as Werner Kok drops out. In-form Rob Baloucoune is retained on the right wing.

Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy continue their half-back partnership while Jude Postlethwaite and James Hume are again named in the centres, with Jacob Stockdale starting at full-back.

Richie Murphy's side are competing in Europe's second-tier competition after failing to qualify for the Investec Champions Cup.

Ulster reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals in the 2020-21 season after dropping down from the Champions Cup after the pool stage.

Six-time French champions Racing sit 11th in the Top 14 with six wins and five defeats this season. Ulster beat Racing 31-15 when the sides met in Belfast in the 2023-24 Champions Cup pool stage.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring, O'Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Timoney (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Stewart, Bell, Wilson, Hopes, B Ward, McKee, Flannery, Moore.