McCloskey back for Ulster against Dupont-led Toulouse

McCloskey returns from Ireland duty for Ulster as Dupont captains Toulouse

Investec Champions Cup: Toulouse v Ulster

Venue: Ernest-Wallon stadium, Toulouse Date: Sunday, 8 December Kick-off: 15:15 GMT

Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and Radio Ulster; text updates on BBC Sport website and app

Ireland international Stuart McCloskey has returned to the Ulster line-up for Sunday's Investec Champions Cup opener against holders Toulouse, who are led by France star Antoine Dupont.

While McCloskey replaces Jude Postlethwaite at inside centre, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson and Cormac Izuchukwu will start on the bench despite having returned from Ireland duty early this week.

McCloskey is one of five changes from last week's United Rugby Championship defeat by Leinster with Andrew Warwick, Harry Sheridan, Matty Rea and Marcus Rea all recalled to the pack.

Matty Rea's return at blindside flanker also sees James McNabney move to number eight with Dave McCann, who started there against Leinster, not named in the matchday squad.

In addition to France's captain Dupont, Thomas Ramos and Romain Ntamack also start for six-time champions Toulouse, who beat Ulster 48-24 in Belfast last season.

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy is without wingers Jacob Stockdale, Ben Moxham and Zac Ward and scrum-half John Cooney because of injury.

But Werner Kok, who went off injured against Leinster, has been passed fit to start in an unchanged back three alongside Mike Lowry and Stewart Moore.

McCloskey will be partnered in midfield by Ben Carson, who scored two tries against Leinster, with Nathan Doak and Aidan Morgan retained as the half-backs.

Warwick replaces Eric O'Sullivan at loose-head prop with hooker James McCormick and tight-head prop Scott Wilson also in the front row.

Alan O'Connor captains the side from the second row alongside the returning Sheridan with the Rea brothers and McNabney completing the Irish province's line-up.

McCormick, Morgan, Carson and Kok will make their Champions Cup debuts for Ulster.

Dupont headlines a Toulouse team boasting seven France internationals. Italy wing Ange Capuozzo and Argentina centre Santiago Chocobares also start for the Top 14 leaders, but Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn is not in the squad.

Line-ups

Toulouse: Ramos; Capuozzo, Barassi, Chocobares, Lebel; R Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Ainu'u, Mauvaka, Aldeheri; Flament, Meafou, Willis, Banos, Roumat

Replacements: Marchand, Neti, Merkler, T Ntamack, Graou, Costes, Mallia

Ulster: Moore; Kok, Carson, McCloskey, Lowry, Morgan, Doak; Warwick, McCormick, Wilson; O'Connor (capt), Sheridan; Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, McNabney

Replacements: Herring, O'Sullivan, O'Toole, Henderson, Izuchukwu, Shanahan, Postlethwaite, Timoney