Michael Lowry ‘happy’ to step into any role at Ulster

And as Ulster look for a sixth consecutive Pro14 victory as they face Zebre in Parma on Monday (18:00 GMT), Lowry will start his third successive game at full-back.

The 22-year-old is relishing his new role and knows the more strings he can add to his bow, the more it will benefit him in his career.

“Anywhere I can get game time I’m happy,” he said.

“It’s good to have options, especially with Billy (Burns) going to Ireland; it’s good to have players that can play in other positions and I’m happy to play anywhere.

“Obviously, longer-term down the line I’d love to make a decision but you look at Damien McKenzie, Beauden Barrett they can play multiple positions.

“I think the way the game is going, a lot of players can do that, the game is changing, it’s constantly evolving,” he added.

“There’s so many internationals coming up, you really have to rely on depth, if other players can play different positions it helps the squad.”

Lowry explained the difference between out-half and full-back.

“I think there’s a lot of frontline stuff through phase attack. At 15 you’re tracking a lot of grass in behind but say off a kick-off, ten or 15, you might just be in the backfield anyway. “If I want to attack as a 10, I know how a 15 operates now and that wasn’t really a thing for me before.

“Now I know that, it can help my game at ten and vice versa,” said Lowry.

“It is slightly different but there’s more impacts and tackles at 10, at 15 there’s a lot more grass cover at 15. You learn a lot what a ten wants from a 15 and you can pick up what the ten is looking at.

“For myself, because I’ve played ten, I do think I can play in that play-making role, there’s different kinds of 15.”

Ulster travel to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 18 points and four places ahead of Zebre in Conference A but Lowry - who will be playing his first game of senior rugby in Italy - isn’t underestimating Michael Bradley’s side.

“I think they’re going to be physical on their home patch, they’ve a dangerous back three so we have to be careful, have to connect well and put them under pressure,” he said.

“We have to match that physicality, they’ve some big ball players and they’ll try and get over the gain line.

“That’s something that we pride ourselves on. Hopefully we can nullify that and take it out of their game because that’s a real strength of theirs.”

Queen’s utility back Ethan McIlroy makes his first start for the province after a few impressive cameos from the bench while South African No8 Marcell Coetzee wins his 50th Ulster cap.

Ulster: (15-9) Michael Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, Bill Johnston, Alby Mathewson; (1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter (Capt.), Greg Jones, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Andrew Warwick, Gareth Milasinovich, David O’Connor, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Ian Madigan, Rob Lyttle.

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