Ulster Select Squad For Treviso Tie

Ireland’s Andrew Trimble and Stephen Ferris have been included in a 32-man Ulster squad for Friday’s Magners League clash with Benetton Treviso at Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm).

Both Andrew Trimble and Stephen Ferris are back in contention for the Ulstermen, with the latter’s leg injury clearing up ahead of an important run of games for the province.

Out-half Ian Humphreys looks set to feature after missing the festive double against Leinster and Munster. He was sidelined by an ankle injury picked up in training.

Thomas Anderson, Ulster’s try scorer against Munster, and Luke Marshall, who made his first Magners League start in Limerick, have also been included in the extended panel for this weekend’s game, along with the South African quartet of BJ Botha, Johann Muller, Pedrie Wannenburg and Ruan Pienaar.

In addition, regular captain Rory Best,  who returned last week from a cheekbone injury, is set for his first runout at Ravenhill since early October.

Brian McLaughlin’s men will be hoping to return to winning ways on Friday, before switching their focus to their decisive Heineken Cup clash with Biarritz Olympique.

“It’s been a difficult two weeks for us having Leinster and Munster but we are still very positive. We have Treviso then we have Europe and we have got to look at that,” he said in the aftermath of last Saturday’s 35-10 defeat at Munster.

“We got some pluses from Thomond Park and we had some good individual performances.”

Ulster will be favoured to complete a season’s double over Treviso on Friday night, following on from their 19-9 victory at Stadio di Monigo in November.

ULSTER Squad (v Benetton Treviso) – Backs (14): Adam D’Arcy, David McIlwaine, Jamie Smith, Tommy Seymour, Simon Danielli, Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Paddy Wallace, Ian Humphreys, Niall O’Connor, Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar.

Forwards (18): Declan Fitzpatrick, Tom Court, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Jerry Cronin, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Tim Barker, Dan Tuohy, Johann Muller, Ryan Caldwell, Willie Faloon, Thomas Anderson, Pedrie Wannenburg, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack.