James McKinney, pictured in action for Ireland U20's v South Africa, gets a start for the Ravens.
Ravens coach Gary Longwell has made six personnel changes and three positional changes in his starting XV to face Currie on Friday evening.
The Ravens travel to Scotland for their second British & Irish Cup game, a week after they opened their campaign with a comprehensive 39-7 home win over Doncaster.
Andi Kyriacou replaces Nigel Brady at hooker and he will also take over the captaincy role. Conor Carey, Conor Joyce and Sean O’Connell get opportunities to impress up front as they come in for Adam Macklin, Mike McComish and Robbie Diack. Ali Birch moves from blindside to openside flanker to accommodate Joyce. Neil McComb and Tim Barker continue their second row partnership.
In the backs, James McKinney replaces Paddy Jackson at outhalf, with Blane McIlroy retaining the No. 9 jersey. Chris Farrell has dropped out of the squad so Ian Whitten moves to inside centre and Michael Allen takes over from Whitten at outside centre. Conor Gaston occupies the right wing berth vacated by Allen, with Chris Cochrane and Peter Nelson again starting in the back three.
Ulster Ravens (15-9): Peter Nelson, Conor Gaston, Michael Allen, Ian Whitten, Chris Cochrane, James McKinney, Blane McIlroy, (1-8): Callum Black, Andy Kyriacou (capt), Conor Carey, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Conor Joyce, Ali Birch, Sean O’Connell. (16-22): Niall Annett, Richard Lutton, James Simpson, Neil Faloon, Michael Heaney, Chris Quinn, Ricky Andrew
Looking like a few interesting pairings in the backs. Dungannon back three and Ballymena half backs with Quins’ Allen and Hinch’s Whitten in the centre. Has a nice feel to it and good cycling of the resources available.
Everyone is kept match fit up front with Kyriacou coming in for a run out, with Brady presumably benching at Leicester on Saturday. Callum Black continues his recovery this time with Conor Carey at loose head but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Quins pairing Annett and Lutton brought on early, if things are going well, and Black being switched across to looshead for a try out?
Back row looks a bit under powered compared to last week but we’ve been hearing great things about Conor Joyce who seems a bit of a prospect. Summer signing Sean O’Connell gets a run out at number 8 and needs to put in a big display to justify his transfer but it still looks a fairly lightweight back row.
This would be worrying if it wasn’t for second row pairing of Barker and McComb who should, once again, prove the difference for the Ravens with both having impressed at senior level this season. I’m sure they don’t want to hear this, but if they could stay together throughout the B&I Cup games this season it could be a second row pairing that takes the Ravens all the way!
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