CHRIS HENRY, ANDREW Trimble and Paddy Jackson are set to start as Ulster look to secure their place in the Pro12 play-offs with a win against Connacht.
Coach Mark Anscombe has recalled the Irish international trio for tomorrow night’s Pro12 derby in the Sportsground where a win would mathematically guarantee a top-four finish for Ulster.
Jared Payne, who missed last week’s win against the Dragons, returns having recovered from an ankle injury while Lewis Stevenson is given the nod alongside Dan Touhy in the second row.
Ulster are currently three points clear of Leinster at the top of the Pro12 table and can take top seeding in the semi-finals with two wins from their final two games.
Eric Elwood makes no changes to the Connacht side which beat Edinburgh last weekend. Centre Eoin Griffin was the main injury concern after he suffered a “mild concussion” in the Murrayfield win but he has been passed fit to take his place in midfield alongside Brian Murphy, who was named as the province’s player of the month for March earlier this week.
Connacht went down 25-0 when the sides met in Ravenhill earlier in the season and Elwood hopes that the memory of that defeat will give his squad some added bite tomorrow night.
“We have a point to prove in that [we]were nilled up in Belfast and that’s a big incentive. We were disappointed with our away performances in the derby fixtures so we have another opportunity for four points here.
“We’re looking forward to a physical contest. You can’t shy away from the physicality. You have to be able to go toe-to-toe, up front with Ulster and you have to be able to control the break down area. And that’s key this weekend.
“We’ll have the extra spice of the derby game at home. They’re looking for top four and we still believe we have a lot to play for with three to go. So it should be ding dong.”
Connacht: Robbie Henshaw; Danie Poolman, Eoin Griffin, Brian Murphy, Gavin Duffy (c); Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney; Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy; Mick Kearney, John Muldoon, George Naoupu. Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Rodney Ah You, JP Cooney, Andrew Browne, Mata Fifita, Paul O’Donohoe, Miah Nikora, Fetu’u Vainikolo.
Ulster: Jared Payne; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding, Tommy Bowe; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Tom Court, Rory Best (c), Ricky Lutton; Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams. Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, John Afoa, Johann Muller, Iain Henderson, Paul Marshall, Mike Allen, Peter Nelson.
Meanwhile, with nothing but pride left to play for in the Pro12 and one eye firmly on next week’s Heineken Cup semi-final, Rob Penney has made wholesale changes to his Munster side to face the Dragons.
Only three of those who started in last week’s heated defeat against Leinster remain for tomorrow’s trip to Rodney Parade. Ian Keatley gets the nod again at out-half while Denis Hurley and Damien Varley are the other two who remain.
Academy player Ronan O’Mahony makes his Pro12 debut on the wing while Marcus Horan, who has announced his decision to retire at the end of the season, is named among the replacements.
Munster: Denis Hurley; Ronan O’Mahony, Ivan Dineen, JJ Hanrahan, Johne Murphy; Ian Keatley, Cathal Sheridan; Wian du Preez, Damien Varley, Stephen Archer; Dave Foley, Billy Holland; Dave O’Callaghan, Niall Ronan, Paddy Butler. Replacements: Sean Henry, Marcus Horan, John Ryan, Ian Nagle, CJ Stander, Duncan Williams, Cian Bohane, Danny Barnes.
