IRELAND HEAD COACH Joe Schmidt has been boosted by Chris Henry’s inclusion in Ulster’s starting line-up for the visit of Llanelli Scarlets to the Kingspan Stadium on Sunday (2.30pm).
Henry, who came off the bench in last weekend’s win over Glasgow Warriors, hasn’t started a game since December due to a shoulder injury. In one of seven personnel changes made by head coach Les Kiss, Henry replaces Sean Reidy in Ulster’s back-row.
Paddy Jackson returns at out-half to captain the side for the first time and he’ll be partnered at half-back by Paul Marshall. Ruan Pienaar subsequently drops down to the bench and there’s no place in the matchday squad for Sam Windsor.
Elswehere in the backline, Luke Marshall is named at centre in place of Stuart McCloskey. Up front, Andy Warwick replaces Callum Black and hooker John Andrew will make his first senior start at the expense of the injured Rob Herring.
Roger Wilson will make his 200th appearance for Ulster as he comes in for Nick Williams, who’s suffering from a shoulder injury.
Ulster (v Llanelli Scarlets)
15. S Olding
14. C Gilroy
13. D Cave
12. L Marshall
11. J Stockdale
10. P Jackson (captain)
9. P Marshall
1. A Warwick
2. J Andrew
3. R Lutton
4. A O’Connor
5. F van der Merwe
6. R Diack
7. C Henry
8. R Wilson
Replacements:
16. J Murphy
17. K McCall
18. B Ross
19. P Browne
20. C Ross
21. R Pienaar
22. I Humphreys
23. S Arnold
The42 Six Nations Show / SoundCloud