ULSTER HAVE MADE several changes to the side facing the Scarlets in their RaboDirect PRO12 encounter at 7.05pm tomorrow.
Stephen Ferris, Rory Best, Craig Gilroy and Chris Henry all return after being rested for last week’s game against Glasgow, while New Zealander John Afoa replaces the injured Declan Fitzpatrick at prop.
Simon Danielli and Andi Kyriacou both miss out on a place in the match day squad, and scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar is named on the bench.
Jared Payne and Paddy Wallace also miss out through neck and thumb injuries respectively.
Similarly, Connacht have made several changes for the visit of Treviso this Friday (kick off 7.30pm).
Ethienne Reynecke and Ronan Loughney start in the front row, and Frank Murphy and Niall O’Connor come into midfield.
Kyle Tonetti starts at centre, while ex-Ireland under 19 star Mark McCrea takes his place on the right wing.
In addition, Munster have yet to name their side to play league leaders Ospreys.
However, they will definitely be without long-term absentee Felix Jones, Keith Earls, Jerry Flannery and David Wallace.
Ahead of the game, Munster coach Tony McGahan said he was expecting a tough encounter:
“We’re playing an Ospreys side who’re leading the table. They’ve had a fantastic start to the season both in the Heineken Cup and the RaboDirect PRO12. They turned us over at home in round six, 17-13 so we really need to make sure we make up those three points (league) that we lost there at home. And now we get an opportunity this weekend to atone for that.”
Ospreys, meanwhile, will be missing several key players who will be instead featuring in Wales’ game with Australia.
The game will take place at the Liberty Stadium this Saturday at 6.30pm.
