Ulster will aim to mark Callum Black’s 100th provincial appearance with a win over GUINNESS PRO12 title holders Glasgow Warriors, as they look to keep pace with Connacht at the top of the table.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, February 12
ULSTER (2nd) v GLASGOW WARRIORS (8th), Kingspan Stadium, 7.30pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD)
Team News: The Ulster team has been named for tonight’s match against reigning GUINNESS PRO12 champions Glasgow Warriors. Prop Callum Black will earn his 100th cap for the province.
Loosehead Black joined Ulster from Worcester Warriors in 2011 and has racked up 99 appearances to date, including 13 this season.
Sam Windsor will make his competitive debut for Ulster after being selected at out-half by director of rugby Les Kiss. The 28-year-old replaces Ian Humphreys, who suffered a concussion in the 17-15 win over the Newport Gwent Dragons last weekend.
Stuart McCloskey will start in midfield alongside Darren Cave, facilitating Stuart Olding’s switch to full-back. Jacob Stockdale and Craig Gilroy will line out on the wings, with Ruan Pienaar continuing at scrum half.
The front row of Black, captain Rob Herring and Ricky Lutton remains unchanged from the Dragons encounter. Franco van der Merwe returns to the team after a well-earned rest last week. He will partnerAlan O’Connor in the second row, while Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy and Nick Williams will form an explosive loose forward combination.
Chris Henry, who has not featured for Ulster since picking up a shoulder injury in December, is poised to make his return off the bench. John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Bronson Ross, Roger Wilson, Paul Marshall, Paddy Jackson and Sam Arnold complete the matchday 23.
A limited number of terrace tickets are still available for the Ulster v Glasgow Warriors match via www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.
Meanwhile, Gregor Hunter will make his first start for Glasgow Warriors in Belfast. Hunter signed for the Warriors in the summer of 2014 and following an ACL injury, he recovered to go on and win the Melrose Sevens last year, as well as making his Warriors debut coming off the bench against Munster earlier this season.
Glasgow did not have a game last week with the RBS 6 Nations beginning and the Warriors have five Scotland players in the squad for the game against the high-flying Ulstermen.
Peter Murchie features at full-back, while Rory Hughes starts on the left wing following his try against the Ospreys. On the opposite wing is Lee Jones.
Glenn Bryce and Sam Johnson start at centre, with Johnson lining out for his fourth consecutive appearance. Hunter and Ali Price make up the half-back pairing.
Ryan Grant, Pat MacArthur and Sila Puafisi will pack down together in the front row, while Greg Peterson and Leone Nakarawa combine in the second row.
Number 8 Ryan Wilson captains the team for the second game in-a-row, linking up with flankers Simone Favaro and Rob Harley in the back row.
Alex Allan, Josh Strauss, Chris Fusaro and Peter Horne have all returned from Scotland duty and are selected on the bench along with James Malcolm, D’arcy Rae, Grayson Hart and Taqele Naiyaravoro, who has touched down three times in the PRO12 this season.
ULSTER: Stuart Olding; Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Sam Windsor, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rob Herring (capt), Ricky Lutton, Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Nick Williams.
Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Bronson Ross, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson, Paul Marshall, Paddy Jackson, Sam Arnold.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Peter Murchie; Lee Jones, Glenn Bryce, Sam Johnson, Rory Hughes; Gregor Hunter, Ali Price; Ryan Grant, Pat MacArthur, Sila Puafisi, Greg Peterson, Leone Nakarawa, Rob Harley, Simone Favaro, Ryan Wilson (capt).
Replacements: James Malcolm, Alex Allan, D’arcy Rae, Josh Strauss, Chris Fusaro, Grayson Hart, Peter Horne, Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, Paul Haycock (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ulster to win: 1/4; Draw: 18/1; Glasgow Warriors to win: 3/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Les Kiss (Ulster) – “The fact that Glasgow are champions is a massive warning for anyone who plays them. You don’t do that without being good at a lot of things, even if the season hasn’t panned out as well as they would have liked.
“They know they have two (matches) to pick up so if they pick one up against us and one the following week and the two spares they are right back in the hunt. It would be a fool who would lower their guard and think they are gone.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “We’re heading to the Kingspan Stadium expecting a tough match against one of the strongest teams in the league, who are currently top of the GUINNESS PRO12.
“We played well in Wales against the Ospreys for around 60-65 minutes, but we’ll need an 80-minute performance on Friday night to come away with a positive result. I’m looking forward to seeing this group of players front up in what is a big game for the club.
“Gregor Hunter has worked really hard in training this season and has been playing regularly for Glasgow Hawks, so we’re expecting him to play well in a Warriors shirt on Friday.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 41; Tries: Craig Gilroy, Sean Reidy 4 each; Glasgow Warriors – Points: Rory Clegg 48; Tries: Taqele Naiyaravoro 3
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, February 22, 2013 – Glasgow Warriors 20 Ulster 14, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, September 13, 2013 – Ulster 12 Glasgow Warriors 13, Ravenhill
Friday, April 18, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 27 Ulster 9, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, October 11, 2014 – Ulster 29 Glasgow Warriors 9, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday, May 16, 2015 – Glasgow Warriors 32 Ulster 10, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, May 22, 2015 – Semi-Final – Glasgow Warriors 16 Ulster 14, Scotstoun Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Ulster hit the top of the GUINNESS PRO12 table following their victory in the rearranged round 12 game against the Dragons last Friday (the first time they have led the league table since May 2013)
– The Ulstermen’s only defeat in their last five PRO12 fixtures was 9-7 to Munster in Belfast on January 2
– Glasgow Warriors have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions: 22-5 over Racing 92 in Kilmarnock on January 23
– The Warriors’ only victory on the road in the PRO12 this season was 35-30 at Cardiff Blues on November 7, they did however draw 20-all at the Ospreys in round 13
– Ulster have won just one of their last six contests with Glasgow: 29-9 at Kingspan Stadium in the PRO12 in October 2014. Glasgow return for the first time to the scene of their title triumph last year, beating Munster in the PRO12 final there in Belfast in May
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