Ulster 'main priority' but Tom Stewart searching for gains across the board with Glasgow next test

Stewart returns to the middle of the Ulster front row as captain for Friday evening’s trip to Scotstoun to face Glasgow as Richie Murphy’s side look to bounce from last weekend’s defeat against Edinburgh.

“Good to be away with Ireland, good to get a nice break but ready to fire in here,” said Stewart, now with seven Ireland caps. “For me, I still try not to take it for granted at all because I haven't backed up too many camps back-to-back, so every time I get an opportunity I try to make the most of it and enjoy it the best I can.

“Obviously to go to a World Cup would be unbelievable, it's always in the back of the mind – but you can't get too distracted by it and lose sight of the task right in front of your face.

“Those goals are always great to set and the long-term ones are kind of what help you drive towards things, but it's a long old season before then...it's still next season away, we have a big job to do with Ulster here first and that will be the main priority.

“It's the mantra of ‘play well for Ulster, get rewarded at Ireland’ but it's also how it is, the way out of the jungle...you keep playing well for your club and, hopefully, the coaches (Ireland) have a look at you and give you the opportunity.

“It all starts from where you get selected from school, then club, then to here to get your first debut...like Henry (Walker) at the weekend, you always get to start somewhere.”

Queen’s captain James McKillop makes his first start in a much-changed side from the Edinburgh defeat – joined by Cormac Izuchukwu, Bryn Ward and Jacob Stockdale with Nathan Doak is on the bench.

It will be Stockdale’s 150th cap.

Stewart sat out the Edinburgh defeat.

“I was actually doing the warm-up with the boys, so it was nice to feel the energy and be a part of that for a little bit,” he said. “It's hard to watch sometimes when on the sideline and you're down and you just want to help but you can't...I want to play, give me every minute I can."

Stewart added: “We have a bit to do, a bit to work on...it was obviously nice to see a bit of a reaction in the second half (against Edinburgh) but we definitely need to take some learnings from that first half.

“There is a long-sighted goal of being smart around managing your minutes...you know how physical the game is now, how quick it is.

"You look at how South Africa use their bench, it is a full 23-man effort these days.

“It’s not boys playing 80s, especially in the front row, it’s give 50 minutes, 55 minutes of your very best...I want you to go to the well and then we'll bring on the guys to finish the job.

“As much as I want to play every minute, there is a sense of realism that I probably can't.”

Glasgow will fully test the Ulster pack.

“They are a very good squad across the whole board, loads of internationals, really tough place to play,” said Stewart. “They have built a really good culture around their attacking system and how they go about things.

“Their maul, their scrum...they are definitely a tough opposition...we are looking forward to it.”

ULSTER: (15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Chay Mullins, Ethan McIlroy, Jamie Benson, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Matthew Devine; (1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart (captain), Keynan Knox, Cormac Izuchukwu, Eli Snyman, James McKillop, David McCann, Bryn Ward

Replacements: Henry Walker, Tom McAllister, Eduardo Bello, Ben Donnell, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, Jake Flannery, Juarno Augustus