Connacht lose Aki

Connacht have been dealt a blow with the news that Bundee Aki is out until the middle of February.

Aki is to go under the knife in a bid to cure an ongoing ankle injury. He will miss the team's final two Champions Cup games, against Zebre and Toulouse, along with at least four PRO12 matches.

Connacht team and replacements to face Ulster:

(15-9): Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Rory Parata, Danie Poolman, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion. 

(1-8): Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, James Cannon, Sean O’Brien, Nepia Fox-Matamua, John Muldoon (capt). 

Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Tom McCartney, JP Cooney, Ultan Dillane, Eoin McKeon, Caolin Blade, Ciaran Gaffney, Naulia Dawai.