Ulster make four changes for trip to Edinburgh

Werner Kok starts on the wing with Zac Ward switching to replace the injured Jacob Stockdale

Werner Kok will make his first appearance of the season with Jacob Stockdale missing through injury for Ulster's trip to face Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.

Stockdale picked up a foot injury during last week's 42-21 win against the Dragons in Belfast and has not recovered in time for the game which now has an earlier kick-off time of 19:00 BST due to the expected arrival of Storm Amy.

Kok will start on the right win with Zac Ward filling in for Stockdale on the opposite flank following his try-scoring performance against the Welsh club last week.

Michael Lowry also misses out this week with a hip injury as Stewart Moore takes his pace at full-back.

In total, head coach Richie Murphy makes four changes from the side that began last week as Tom Stewart gets the nod at hooker, with Callum Reid and Tom O'Toole either side of him in the front row.

Sean Reffell has been handed his first start of the season at open-side flanker, joining try-scorers from last week Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney in the back row.

The team is captained by Iain Henderson who partners Harry Sheridan in the second row.

Murphy has opted to retain the half-back partnership of Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy, while Stuart McCloskey and James Hume are again preferred as centres.

Jude Postlethwaite is one of three backs named among the replacements, joined by Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, while Rob Herring, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, David McCann and Juarno Augustus provide the forwards cover.

Ulster: Moore; Kok, Hume, McCloskey, Ward; Murphy, Doak; Reid, Stewart, O'Toole; Henderson (capt), Sheridan; Izuchukwu, Reffell, Timoney.

Replacements: Herring, Crean, Wilson, McCann, Augustus, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite