Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, has made six changes to the side that lost to Edinburgh last weekend for Saturday evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Leinster at the RDS (kick off 18.15).
Ruan Pienaar and Chris Henry return to the side having recovered from injury. Number 8, Nick Williams, who played the second half at Murrayfield last weekend, starts his first game since suffering a knee injury in January.
Ireland internationals, Rory Best and Craig Gilroy return to the Ulster side following the RBS 6 Nations.
With John Afoa in New Zealand for the birth of his third child, there is a first Ulster start for tighthead Ricky Lutton. The 27 year-old, who was named club player of the year at last year’s Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards, signed a development contract with the Province at the start of this season.
Robbie Diack who started at Number 8 against Edinburgh switches to blindside flanker for the game, while Dan Tuohy reverts to his usual position in the second-row.
Rob Herring, Lewis Stevenson and Paul Marshall drop to the bench. They are joined by back-row forwards Roger Wilson and Iain Henderson who have both recovered from injury.
Callum Black and Peter Nelson retain their places among the substitutes, while Academy prop, Kyle McCall, who has represented Ireland at Under-20 level, is in line to make his first appearance for Ulster.
Ulster XV and replacements to face Leinster, RaboDirect PRO12, RDS, Saturday 30th March 2013 (kick off 18.15);
(15-9): J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, C Gilroy, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, R Best, R Lutton, J Muller, D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;
Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, K McCall, L Stevenson, I Henderson, R Wilson, P Marshall, P Nelson.
