The first Irish-Italian clash of the weekend sees Ulster bidding to get back to winning ways at home to Benetton Treviso in the GUINNESS PRO12.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, October 2
ULSTER (6th) v BENETTON TREVISO (10th), Kingspan Stadium, 6.05pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland)
Team News: Andrew Trimble will become the most-capped Ulster player of all-time when he lines out against Benetton Treviso at Kingspan Stadium on Friday.
Trimble will play his 190th game for his province, taking sole ownership of the record that he currently shares with Paddy Wallace.
Speaking about hitting the milestone, the Ulster and Ireland winger said: “Whenever I started my career I wouldn’t have dreamed that I would get to 190 appearances for Ulster. Every game has been unbelievable, especially the matches at Kingspan Stadium on a Friday night.
“Paddy (Wallace) is a guy who I have a massive amount of respect for, so overtaking his total means a lot. It’s going to be a very special night for me.”
Trimble will start on the right wing with Craig Gilroy selected on the left flank. Louis Ludik completes the back-three and plays his 28th match for the Ulstermen.
Luke Marshall and Stuart McCloskey continue their partnership in midfield, with Paul Marshall and Peter Nelson paired together again at half-back.
Up front, Andrew Warwick and Wiehahn Herbst are selected alongside captain Rob Herring, who is named at hooker. Ireland international Dan Tuohy returns to the starting line-up and starts alongside Peter Browne in the second row.
With Nick Williams unavailable for selection due to personal reasons, there is a change in the back row. Robbie Diack starts at blindside flanker, Sean Reidy comes in at openside and Roger Wilson anchoring the scrum from number 8.
Head coach Neil Doak has gone for a five-three split on the replacements bench. Forwards Paul Jackson, Callum Black, Bronson Ross, Lewis Stevenson and Clive Ross (pictured below) are joined by backs David Shanahan, Sam Arnold and Rory Scholes.
Seats in the Memorial End Stand and Hughes Insurance Family Stand are now sold out, however, tickets remain available in all terraces and the Grandstand. Fans will be able to buy on the gate on Friday evening, although for the best available tickets, supporters are encouraged to purchase in advance. Click here to buy now.
With an earlier kick-off time of 6.05pm, the Ulster v Treviso game will have free pre-match entertainment for kids including face painting, jumping clay and a climbing wall. Afterwards, the ‘Line Out’ bar will be showing the New Zealand v Georgia Rugby World Cup match live, with bar facilities open to those over 18 only.
Meanwhile, Benetton Treviso head coach Umberto Casellato has made just one change to the side that lost 27-24 at home to Edinburgh in round 2.
Matteo Zanusso replaces the benched Alberto de Marchi at loosehead prop. Jayden Hayward, who kicked 14 points against the Scots, features in a back-line that includes Italy-capped centres Tommaso Iannone and Andrew Pratichetti along with Kiwi duo Sam Christie and Chris Smylie at half-back.
South African Duncan Naude continues his second row partnership with Tom Palmer, the former England international, with the New Zealand-born Dean Budd – a recent try scorer at Munster – lining out in an unchanged back row with Italian internationals Marco Barbini and Robert Barbieri.
ULSTER: Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy; Peter Nelson, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Peter Browne, Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Paul Jackson, Callum Black, Bronson Ross, Lewis Stevenson, Clive Ross, David Shanahan, Sam Arnold, Rory Scholes.
BENETTON TREVISO: Jayden Hayward; Ludovico Nitoglia, Tommaso Iannone, Andrea Pratichetti, Simone Ragusi; Sam Christie, Chris Smylie; Matteo Zanusso, Roberto Santamaria, Rupert Harden, Duncan Naude, Tom Palmer, Marco Barbini, Dean Budd, Robert Barbieri.
Replacements: Luca Bigi, Alberto de Marchi, Simone Ferrari, Jeff Montauriol, Andrea de Marchi, Abraham Steyn, Alberto Lucchese, James Ambrosini.
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ulster to win: 1/20; Draw: 45/1; Benetton Treviso to win: 10/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Peter Browne (Ulster) – “It’s great to be starting and it is an opportunity for me. The coaches and players still need to see the best of me so I need to take my opportunity.
“The Scarlets game was disappointing. Our clinical edge wasn’t there in terms of the number of turnovers we had and that is not acceptable for a team like us. But we’re looking forward and we have game on Friday night against tough opposition and we will looking to be clinical.
“I can play at six but I think, as I get older, lock is where I will probably stay because I can be an athletic lock rather than a slow six, but I’d play anywhere. Lock is a really competitive area and that pushes you. We realise we’re a squad as well and we are pushing each other every day to be better.”
Dean Budd (Benetton Treviso) – “In attack we have to do better. We know that we’re capable of hurting teams but we need better continuity to do so. We’re working hard.
“Coach (Manuel) Ferrari expects a lot from us. He demands accuracy and high standards in training, and match situations are repeated until everything’s right.
“We’re doing well in defence, but there’s still a lot work to do to reach the level we want it to be at. We’ve mentally got over the first two defeats and are in good shape to hopefully get some better results in these upcoming games.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Ulster – Points: Stuart McCloskey 15; Tries: Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey, Wiehahn Herbst, Luke Marshall, Rory Scholes 1 each; Benetton Treviso – Points: Jayden Hayward 22; Tries: Dean Budd, Andrea Pratichetti, Duncan Naude 1 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, November 23, 2012 – Benetton Treviso 15 Ulster 16, Stadio di Monigo
Friday, March 1, 2013 – Ulster 29 Benetton Treviso 29, Ravenhill
Friday, September 27, 2013 – Ulster 32 Benetton Treviso 13, Ravenhill
Sunday, February 23, 2014 – Benetton Treviso 12 Ulster 14, Stadio di Monigo
Sunday, January 11, 2015 – Benetton Treviso 20 Ulster 20, Stadio di Monigo
Friday, February 13, 2015 – Ulster 43 Benetton Treviso 3, Kingspan Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Ulster have won only one of their last five GUINNESS PRO12 fixtures: 28-6 at home to the Ospreys on the opening weekend
– The Ulstermen are unbeaten at Kingspan Stadium since Toulon visited there in the European Champions Cup in October 2014. You have to go back to May that year to discover their most recent home defeat in the PRO12 (to Leinster)
– Benetton Treviso have slipped to nine straight defeats in the PRO12 since they lowered the colours of Cardiff Blues at Stadio di Monigo in February
– The Italians have not been successful outside of Italy since a trip to the Scarlets in May 2013
– Treviso’s only previous victory over Ulster came in October 2011 in Belfast with a 23-12 scoreline. The only other occasion that they did not lose to the Ulstermen was a 29-all draw at the same venue in March 2013
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