Eight changes for Ulster ahead of Scarlets match
Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, has made eight personnel changes and three positional switches to the team that recorded a bonus point win over Cardiff last Friday night for tomorrow evening’s game against the Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets (kick-off 18:30).
Eight Ulster players are away on international duty, however Andrew Trimble and Roger Wilson were released by Ireland for the game.
Johann Muller misses the match having suffered a calf injury, so Jared Payne is named as captain, a role he last fulfilled in the pre-season win over Leinster.
He will start at fullback in place of Stuart Olding who is also unavailable as he sustained concussion in the game against Cardiff.
Trimble starts on the right wing with Michael Allen selected on the left. Darren Cave and Chris Farrell are paired in midfield, with Ruan Pienaar moving from scrumhalf to outhalf and Paul Marshall starting at 9.
In the front row, the only change sees Rob Herring picked at hooker with John Afoa and Callum Black selected either side.
There is a whole new second-row with Lewis Stevenson and Neil McComb starting, while in the back row, Roger Wilson moves from the back of the scrum to openside, Robbie Diack keeps his place at blindside and Nick Williams returns at Number 8.
The game is live on the BBC Sport NI website and on S4C –
Channel 120 – Freesat viewers
Channel 166 – Virgin TV
Channel 134 – Sky
NB the game is not available for Freeview viewers outside Wales.
Ulster’s next home game is against Edinburgh on 22nd November. More than 11,000 tickets have already been sold for that match. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster or www.ulsterrugby.com/tickets.
Ulster XV and replacements to face the Scarlets, RaboDirect PRO12, Parc Y Scarlets, Saturday 2nd November (kick off 18:30); (15-9): J Payne (Captain), A Trimble, D Cave, C Farell, M Allen, R Pienaar, P Marshall; (1-8): C Black, R Herring, J Afoa, L Stevenson, N McComb, R Diack, R Wilson, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): N Annett, K McCall, R Lutton, M McComish, S Doyle, J McKinney, R Andrew, D McIlwaine.
