Ulster Welcome Back Best, Bowe And Pienaar
Ulster head coach Neil Doak has made four changes and two positional switches to the team that beat Connacht last weekend for Saturday’s derby match against Leinster at the RDS (kick-off 2.40pm).
Ruan Pienaar has recovered from injury and starts at scrum half, while Ireland internationals Rory Best and Tommy Bowe, who were both rested against Connacht, also come back into the starting line-up.
Stuart Olding is included at inside centre having been on the bench last week, as is number 8 Roger Wilson who has recovered from the knock that he sustained against Connacht.
In the backs, Peter Nelson moves to full-back and Craig Gilroy switches flanks from the right to the left wing.
Bowe (pictured below) returns to the side in the number 14 jersey with Olding selected in midfield alongside Darren Cave. Paddy Jackson continues at out-half where he will have Pienaar inside him.
In the front row Callum Black and Wiehahn Herbst are selected either side of returning captain Best. The second row remains unchanged with Dan Tuohy partnering Franco van der Merwe.
There are also no changes to the back row as Wilson anchors the scrum, Robbie Diack starts at blindside flanker and former Lansdowne player Clive Ross is selected at openside.
Man-of-the-match from last week, Rob Herring, starts on the bench as do fellow forwards Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Alan O’Connor and Sean Reidy. Backs Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys and Luke Marshall complete the matchday squad.
ULSTER (v Leinster): Peter Nelson; Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Clive Ross, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Alan O’Connor, Sean Reidy, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Luke Marshall.