Big Guns Return For Ulster’s Semi-Final Clash
Ulster head coach Neil Doak has made 11 changes to the side that lost to Glasgow Warriors last weekend for Friday night’s GUINNESS PRO12 semi-final against the same opposition at Scotstoun Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).
Ten internationals come back into a side that boasts 304 Test caps, with only Louis Ludik, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson and Chris Henry retained from the province’s starting line-up for last Saturday’s round 22 fixture.
Ludik starts at full-back with Ireland and Lions winger Tommy Bowe resuming on the right wing. The PRO12’s joint top try scorer this season, Craig Gilroy, returns from injury to take his place on the left flank.
Jared Payne and Darren Cave link up again in the centre, with Paddy Jackson named at out-half and Springbok Ruan Pienaar coming back in at scrum half.
Up front, captain Rory Best is joined by Emerging Ireland props Callum Black and Lutton in the front row.
Stevenson and Dan Tuohy are selected in the second row with Iain Henderson, Henry, last week’s stand-in skipper, and Roger Wilson forming an all-Ireland international back-row.
Rob Herring, who was cleared of foul play by a PRO12 disciplinary committee yesterday, is selected as a replacement, as are fellow forwards Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Robbie Diack and Sean Reidy. Backs Paul Marshall, Stuart McCloskey and Michael Allen complete the matchday squad.
ULSTER (v Glasgow Warriors): Louis Ludik; Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rory Best (capt), Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Paul Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Michael Allen.