Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, has made seven personnel changes and two positional changes, to the team that lost to Saracens in the Heineken Cup Quarter-Final for Friday evening’s game against Newport Gwent Dragons at Ravenhill (kick off 19.05).
Ireland international winger, Tommy Bowe, who won his 100th cap for Ulster when he came off the bench against Saracens, starts his first game for the Province since he injured knee ligaments against Northampton Saints in December.
Peter Nelson is named at full-back instead of Jared Payne, who picked up a slight ankle knock at Twickenham. Stuart Olding replaces Luke Marshall who suffered concussion in the Quarter-Final.
Paddy Jackson is rested for the game, so Ruan Pienaar switches to out-half, with Paul Marshall coming in at nine.
Tom Court remains at loosehead alongside Rory Best, who will captain the side tomorrow night. Ricky Lutton starts at tighthead.
With Johann Muller out for three weeks with a bicep injury, Iain Henderson is selected in the second-row alongside Dan Tuohy. Robbie Diack therefore comes in at blindside flanker.
Chris Henry is rested for the match, so Mike McComish is selected at openside with Nick Williams named at Number 8.
Ulster XV and replacements to face Newport Gwent Dragons, RaboDirect PRO12, Friday 12th April 2013 (kick off 19.05);
(15-9): P Nelson, T Bowe, D Cave, S Olding, C Gilroy, R Pienaar, P Marshall; (1-8): T Court, R Best (c), R Lutton, I Henderson, D Tuohy, R Diack, M McComish, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, A Birch, N O’Connor, M Allen, A D’Arcy.
