Sevens International Cairns Included On Ulster Bench

Brett Herron, Robert Lyttle and Sam Windsor come in to start in the back-line, with Peter Browne and Clive Ross joining the pack for the crucial clash with the Scottish side, currently in eighth place in the PRO12 table.

Hughes Insurance Academy player Aaron Cairns could make his senior debut for the province after being named among the replacements. 

The front five is unchanged from the one that faced Munster last weekend, Callum Black, Rob Herring and Wiehahn Herbst occupying the front row spots and Dan Tuohy and Franco van der Merwe continuing in the second row.

Browne will start in the number 6 jersey for the first time, with Ross named as the other flanker. Sean Reidy, who signed a three-year contract extension earlier this week, will pack down at number 8.

Ruan Pienaar and Herron are selected in the half-back positions, while Ballynahinch clubman Windsor will earn his third cap when he lines out in midfield alongside Luke Marshall.

Lyttle, a try-scoring replacement against Munster, will be joined in the back-three by experienced internationals Tommy Bowe and Charles Piutau.

Cairns is added to the panel following impressive displays for ‘Hinch in the Ulster Bank League, while the 24-year-old Ireland Sevens international has also collected two man-of-the-match awards for Ulster ‘A’ already this season.

John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Andrew Warwick, Conor Joyce and Paul Marshall remain on the bench, and Robbie Diack and Jacob Stockdale, who was a late withdrawal from the squad last week, complete the matchday 23.

ULSTER (v Edinburgh): Charles Piutau; Tommy Bowe, Luke Marshall, Sam Windsor, Robert Lyttle, Brett Herron, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rob Herring (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Peter Browne, Clive Ross, Sean Reidy.

Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Andrew Warwick, Robbie Diack, Conor Joyce, Paul Marshall, Aaron Cairns, Jacob Stockdale.