Hume returns, Leinster change 14 & Russell makes Munster bow

James Hume and Rob Herring will both make their first appearances of the season when Ulster face the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Richie Murphy's side will be looking to secure a first league win of the campaign in Cape Town (12:45 GMT) having lost three and drawn two of their first five games in the competition.

With those in Andy Farrell's squad for four Nations Championship games next month already in international camp, Murphy is without eight players who were involved in last week's defeat by the Bulls, while Robert Baloucoune is also unavailable.

He is boosted, however, by the returns of centre Hume and hooker Herring, with both seeing their first action since the end of last season after injuries.

Flanker David McCann captains the selection that sees former Stormers forward Juarno Augustus start at number eight.

Ulster: McIlroy; Lowry, Hume, Carson, Ward; Murphy, Devine; O'Sullivan, Herring, Knox, Donnell, Snyman, Izuchukwu, McCann (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Walker, McAllister, Wilson, Sheridan, Moloney, McKee, Flannery, Mullins.

After beating Munster in Dublin last week, Leinster face a second interpro in six days as they travel to Connacht on Friday night (19:45 GMT).

The team, however, will be almost entirely different with fly-half Joey Carbery the only player who started in the Aviva Stadium last Saturday to go again at the Dexcom.

Leo Cullen has selected a whole new pack with Max Deegan coming in to captain the side from the back row.

Experienced wing Jordan Larmour will make his return from injury in the number 11 jersey, while centre Connor Fahy makes his debut.

Should he be called upon from the bench, prop Alex Mullan will also make his provincial bow.

Hosts Connacht have similarly rung the changes, making 12 alterations from their comfortable win over Zebre last week.

With eight players away on international duty, skipper Paul Boyle, prop Finlay Bealham and centre Cathal Forde are the only starters retained.

Connacht: Ioane; Bolton, Devine, Forde, Ryan; Naughton, Blade; Van Wyk, Heffernan, Bealham, Murphy, O'Connor, O'Brien, Connors, Boyle (capt).

Replacements: Victory, Cahir, Barrett, Murray, Hurley-Langton, Reilly, Treacy, Gilbert.

Leinster: Lawlor; Kenny, Fahy, Tector, Larmour; Carbery, Gunne; Usanov, McCarthy, N Smyth, Deeny, Spicer, Deegan (capt), Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: S Smyth, Dooley, Mullan, O'Tighearnaigh, Soroka, Foley, Gabriel, Mangan

Munster are the province least impacted by international call-ups with only forward Tadhg Beirne and scrum-half Craig Casey required by Farrell for the upcoming fixtures.

For Saturday's hosting of the Sharks [17:30 GMT], head coach Clayton McMillan still makes seven changes.

Former Leinster winger Rob Russell will make his Munster debut in place of the injured Shane Daly, while there is also a first provincial start for centre Gordon Wood.

Ben O'Donovan replaces Casey at scrum-half and there is also a change at 10 where the experienced JJ Hanrahan comes in for Charlie O'Shea.

Edwin Edogbo and Lee Barron are both primed for first outings of the season off the bench.

Munster: O'Connor; McCarthy, Wood, Nankivell, Russell; Hanrahan, O'Donovan; J Wycherly, Van der Merwe, Brookes; O'Connell, F Wycherly, S Edogbo, O'Donoghue (capt), Gleeson.

Replacements: Barron, Loughman, Ala'alatoa, E Edogbo, Coombes, O'Riordan, O'Shea, Kendellen.