Ulster Make Five Changes
The Ulster team has been named for Monday’s sell-out festive fixture against Leinster at Ravenhill (kick-off 4pm).
Amongst the forwards, there are two changes in personnel to the Ulster team that defeated Bath at the Recreation Ground last weekend.
With the Ireland internationals rested, Tom Court is unavailable for selection so Paddy McAllister is promoted from the replacements bench to the loosehead prop berth. Back rowers Chris Henry and Willie Faloon have also swapped positions in the matchday squad.
In the backs, winger Craig Gilroy and centre Ian Whitten return to the starting line-up in place of the unavailable Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace, while Niall O’Connor will start at out-half after Ian Humphreys injured his ankle in training this week.
Ulster assistant coach Jeremy Davidson said: “These upcoming derby games are very important for Leinster, Munster and ourselves because we are all pushing towards the top of the Magners League.
“We very much want to stay alive in both the league and the Heineken Cup, so it’s very important in this transition week that we don’t take our foot off the pedal.
“We have to push forward and get two good results out of the next two games. Leinster have gone very well beating Clermont at home last week and nearly beating them away when they got a bonus point, so they will be coming to Ravenhill full of confidence and we have to remain focused on the task in hand.
“We are very focused and have had some good training sessions and we are building nicely towards the game on Monday.”
Monday’s interprovincial derby is now officially a sell-out and gates at Ravenhill will open at 2.30pm.
Supporters holding parking passes for Aquinas School are advised that the car park will not be available for this match as it is under heavy snow and ice.
Similarly, the Park & Ride car park at Pirrie Park will also be closed. However, the Park and Ride buses will be running as usual along the Montgomery Road/Alanbrooke Road and Ladas Drive.
Ulster Rugby is urging anyone travelling to the game to do so carefully given the wintry conditions.
Ulster staff and volunteers have been working to clear the snow and ice from the walkways within the ground and gritting surfaces, and supporters are advised to take extreme care when moving around inside the ground.
ULSTER (v Leinster): Adam D’Arcy; Craig Gilroy, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli; Niall O’Connor, Ruan Pienaar; Paddy McAllister, Nigel Brady, BJ Botha, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Pedrie Wannenburg, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack.
Replacements: Andi Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Bryan Young, Tim Barker, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Luke Marshall, Tommy Seymour.