Ulster forced to change as stars missing for League clash with Glasgow

ULSTER will be understrength for the Celtic League visit of Glasgow to Ravenhill this evening (7.35) which will be shown live on TG4.

Apart from the five Ulster players named in Ireland's World Cup squad, Paddy Wallace and Tyrone Howe were called up for the warm-weather training week in Bilbao in advance of the tournament.

Consequently, Adam Larkin and Kieran Campbell form the half-back partnership. James Topping, who has been sidelined with a groin injury returns to action, as does Tony McWhirter at No 8 Connacht are unchanged for the first of three tough away matches on Saturday against Welsh regional side Cardiff in their second fixture of this season's Celtic League.

Understandably, Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named an unchanged side for Saturday's game at the Arms Park in Cardiff, having delivered a winning start against visitors Edinburgh last weekend.

There is just one enforced change on the bench with prop Fabien Boiroux coming for the injured Dan McFarland.

Cardiff have yet to name their team, but they will be without their five Welsh internationals, Craig Quinnell, who was red carded last weekend. Meanwhile, the Ulster U-21s take on Munster tomorrow at Thomond Park (2.30) with the starting line-up showing a number of changes. Leslie George of Coleraine, who just returned from a summer spent playing in South Africa, replaces injured prop Adrian Kirkpartick while Oisin Hennessey who has recovered from an ankle injury replaces David Burns at openside flanker and Neil Patterson replaces Johnny McLaughlin at inside centre.

Coach Gerald McCarter has made positional changes in the back three positions with Thomas Horner coming in at full-back, Richard McCarter moving from full-back to right wing and John Hill from right to left wing. The Munster selectors have made just one change to the side, with the Emmet McLoughlin (a son of former international Ginger) returning from injury to take his place in the front row with Ger Collins (Bruff) dropping to the bench.

ULSTER v Glasgow: B. Cunningham, J. Topping, R. Constable, S. Stewart, S. Young, A. Larkin, K. Campbell, R. Mccormack, M. Sexton, R. Moore, M. Mustchin, R. Frost, A. Ward (captain), T. McWhirter, N. McMillan.

CONNACHT v Cardiff: M McHugh, C McPhillips, D Yapp, T Allnutt (cpt) W Munn, E Elwood, C Keane, W O'Kelly, B Jackman, A Clarke, D Browne, A Farley, M Swift, J O'Sullivan, M Lacey. Replacements, J Fogarty, F Boiroux, M McCarthy, M Carroll, D Hewitt, C O'Loughlin, T Robinson.

ULSTER U21: R McCarter (QUB), J Hill (Malone), A Trimble (Ballymena), N Patterson (Dungannon), P McKenzie (Loughborough University), G Steenson (QUB), M Kirkwood (B. Harlequins), N Conlon (Captain Dublin University), P Currie (Portadown), L George, (Coleraine), L Stevenson (B. Harlequins), D Houston (Ballymena), G Moore (QUB), O Hennessey (Malone), C Henry (Malone)

MUNSTER: C. Garvey (UL Bohs), A. Finn (Dolphin), B. Hastings (Trinity), B. O'Donnell (UL Bos), P. Hurley (UCC), B. Keeshan (UCC), T. O'Leary (Cork Con), F. Gateley (UCC), R. Quinn (UCC), E. McLoughlin (Shannon), R. Hartigan (UL Bohs), S. O'Connor (Cork Con), M. Melbourne (Garryowen), A. Kavanagh (Garryowen), B. O'Connor (Cork Constitution, captain).