Rory Best To Lead Out Ulster

…Rory Best…

Ireland hooker Rory Best will captain Ulster for their Magners League trip to Edinburgh on Friday, in the absence of his sidelined brother Simon and calf injury victim Justin Harrison.

Injuries and the availability of some of his Ireland stars has meant coach Mark McCall has made five changes to his starting line-up from that which defeated the Dragons 32-25 at Rodney Parade last Saturday.

Fresh from winning his first two Ireland caps on the summer tour, Tokoroa-born scrum half Isaac Boss returns with Kieran Campbell, who has a slight hamstring injury, dropping to the bench – that is the only alteration Ulster have made to their back line.

Up front, Best and tighthead prop Bryan Young are also returning early from Ireland’s pre-season conditioning programme. They come into the province’s front row at the expense of Paul Shields and Tom Court.

With stand-in skipper Harrison ruled out, Matt McCullough will make his first start of the season, partnering Tim Barker in the second row. Ireland flanker Kieron Dawson is also preparing for his first competitive start in an Ulster jersey after coming on as a replacement in the recent wins over the Scarlets and the Dragons. Neill McMillan is the player to lose out.

Harrison’s sidelining means that former Ireland Under-21 lock Lewis Stevenson is an addition to the bench.

Friday’s game kicks off at 7.30pm at Murrayfield.

ULSTER: Bryn Cunningham; Mark Bartholomeusz, Paul Steinmetz, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Maxwell; David Humphreys, Isaac Boss; Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best (capt), Bryan Young, Tim Barker, Matt McCullough, Stephen Ferris, Kieron Dawson, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Paul Shields, Tom Court, Lewis Stevenson, Neil McMillan, Kieran Campbell, Kevin Maggs, Scott Young.