ULSTER WILL BE without three of their star forwards for Saturday evening’s RaboDirect Pro12 meeting against Munster.
With the Heineken Cup final around the corner and a place in the Pro12 semi-finals now a distant prospect, coach Brian McLaughlin has decided to rest Stephen Ferris and Rory Best following their exertions against Edinburgh last weekend.
A third member of the pack, back row Chris Henry, is still recovering from the ankle sprain which forced him out of the 22-19 semi-final in Dublin, though he is responding well to treatment.
Hooker Andi Kyriacou is also sidelined with a neck injury and he’s replaced by Niall Annett, while Ireland U20 international Iain Henderson is also called into the squad.
Ulster are currently sixth in the Pro12 standings, five points behind Glasgow Warriors in the fourth and final semi-final place.
To qualify for the knockout rounds, Ulster would need the minor miracle of bonus-point win in Thomond Park combined with both Connacht beating Glasgow by seven or more points and the Scarlets losing at home to the Blues.
Provisional Ulster squad to play Munster
Forwards: Callum Black, Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Adam Macklin, Paddy McAllister, Niall Annett, Nigel Brady, Lewis Stevenson, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Iain Henderson, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg, Ali Birch, Mike McComish, Robbie Diack.
Backs: Blane McIlroy, Ruan Pienaar, Ian Porter, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Ian Whitten, Darren Cave, Nevin Spence, Michael Allen, Stefan Terblanche, Craig Gilroy, Conor Gaston, Andrew Trimble, Adam D’Arcy.
