ULSTER HAVE MADE eight changes for this weekend’s European Champions Cup opener away to Bordeaux.
Andrew Trimble returns to the wing and captains the team on Sunday, while Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding Ruan Pienaar, Andy Warwick, Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe and Sean Reidy are all back.
However, New Zealand full-back Charles Piutau misses out after picking up a concussion in the win over Ospreys a fortnight ago.
The other absentees include Tommy Bowe, Dan Tuohy, Louis Ludik, Darren Cave and Stuart McCloskey.
Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan starts for Bordeaux.
Ulster
15. Jared Payne
14. Andrew Trimble (captain)
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart Olding
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Andy Warwick
2. Rory Best
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Alan O’Connor
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Iain Henderson
7. Clive Ross
8. Sean Reidy
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Kyle McCall
18. Ross Kane
19. Pete Browne
20. Roger Wilson
21. Paul Marshall
22. Jacob Stockdale
23. Rob Lyttle
Bordeaux
15. Jean-Marcellin Buttin
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
13. Jean-Baptiste Dubié
12. Romain Lonca
11. Blair Connor
10. Ian Madigan
9. Yann Lesgourgues
1. Jefferson Poirot
2. Clement Maynadier
3. Vadim Cobilas
4. Jandre Marais (captain)
5. Cyril Cazeaux
6. Luke Jones
7. Hugh Chalmers
8 Loann Goujon
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