Luke Marshall Returns To Ulster Team
Luke Marshall has recovered from injury to be named in the Ulster team to face Scarlets in the European Champions Cup at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday evening (kick-off 5.15pm).
Luke Marshall suffered a knee injury while playing for Ulster Ravens in October, but he returns to senior action this weekend at inside centre.
Marshall’s inclusion is one of three personnel changes and one positional switch to the starting line-up that recorded a bonus point win over the same opposition at Kingspan Stadium last weekend.
Nick Williams and Wiehahn Herbst miss the game with hamstring injuries so Roger Wilson moves to number 8, Clive Ross (pictured below) is named at openside flanker, with Ireland international Declan Fitzpatrick selected at tighthead prop.
Stuart Olding also misses the game having suffered concussion in last Saturday’s 24-9 success in Belfast.
Ruan Pienaar continues at scrum half alongside Ian Humphreys, Marshall partners last weekend’s man-of-the-match, Darren Cave, in the centre with Louis Ludik at full-back and Ireland internationals Tommy Bowe and Craig Gilroy selected in the back-three.
The province’s captain Rory Best is joined by Callum Black and Fitzpatrick in the front row, while Franco van der Merwe has recovered from the head injury he suffered last weekend.
The influential South African starts in the second row along with Ireland international second row Dan Tuohy, and Ross and Wilson link up with Robbie Diack in the back row.
Prop Bronson Ross is named among the replacements and is in line to make his first European appearance if called upon. He is joined on the bench by forwards Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Alan O’Connor and Mike McComish.
Backs Paul Marshall, Michael Allen and Michael Heaney complete the matchday squad for the round 4 trip to Llanelli.
Sunday evening’s game will be live on BT Sport 2 with radio coverage on BBC Radio Ulster MW and BBC Radio Wales.
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ULSTER (v Scarlets): Louis Ludik; Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy, Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rory Best (capt), Declan Fitzpatrick, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Clive Ross, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Alan O’Connor, Mike McComish, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Michael Allen.