Ulster make shock positional switch as Richie Murphy forced to ring changes for Lions duel

Tom Stewart (centre) will make his first start in the back row against the Lions

Having lost four players to Ireland camp, head coach Richie Murphy has made a bold selection call by naming hooker Tom Stewart at openside flanker for their United Rugby Championship meeting with the Emirates Lions on Saturday (12.45pm).

With flanker Nick Timoney joining captain Iain Henderson, centre Stuart McCloskey and winger Jacob Stockdale in heading to Chicago for next week’s massive rematch with the All Blacks in Chicago, and Sean Reffell having been injured in last week’s win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks, it is surprisingly Stewart who has been asked to fill in in their absence.