Ulster to try Bests as McCall shuffles pack

FRONT row brothers, Simon and Rory Best have been called into the Ulster panel for Friday’s Celtic League match against Edinburgh at Ravenhill.

The former Banbridge and Belfast Harlequins duo are two of five changes made to the 22 which defeated Stade Francais 18-10 in the Heineken Cup last Saturday.

Ulster coach Mark McCall named a panel of 22 yesterday, delaying his starting XV to allow the knocks of a bruising encounter against the French champions to settle.

Irish international prop Simon Best returns to the squad from injury, while younger hooking brother Rory displaces Nigel Brady, who will line out for Dungannon this weekend in the All-Ireland League.

In the back row, Neil Best is suspended after picking up a third yellow card against Llanelli in the last Celtic League outing, which gives new South African signing Gavin Pfister his first start for the province.

With Scott Young and Jonny Bell both nursing injuries, there are call-ups to the Ulster team again for Tyrone Howe and Andrew Maxwell.

McCall said: “Last Saturday was a special occasion and we showed what we are capable of. But the next game is the most important and we have a vital Celtic League home match against Edinburgh.

“The players have stepped up again this week and we must build some momentum. No one is resting on any laurels.”

In England, Saracens head coach Rod Kafer has resigned from the Premiership club.

The 33-year-old Australian, who replaced Wayne Shelford in August 2003 stood down after a disappointing start to the season.

Saracens have promoted from within, with rugby manager Steve Diamond named as Kafer’s replacement.

“Following talks about extending my contract, I came to the conclusion my preference was to seek opportunities elsewhere,” Kafer said.

“In light of this, chief executive Mark Sinderberry and I have decided it is in the club’s best interests that I stand down as head coach.

“I would like to thank both Mark and the board of directors for their unwavering support during the last 18 months and wish the playing and management staff all the best for the remainder of the season.”

Kafer, who was part of the Australia team that won the World Cup in 1999, has been linked with a move to the new Perth-based Super 14 side.

Saracens, the perennial underachievers in the Premiership, have had a poor start to the season, with only four victories in the first 11 league games.

Despite finishing third from bottom last season, hopes were high for this campaign, but they are eighth in the table.

However, Kafer’s decision comes just two days after their convincing 52-6 victory over Parma in the European Challenge Cup.

Sinderberry said: “On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Rod for his efforts over the past 18 months.

“He took over the club at a difficult time and he leaves us in a better position with a more focused coaching and playing structure.”

On the international front France fly-half Frederic Michalak could miss the start of the Six Nations after twisting his ankle during last Saturday’s Heineken Cup victory over Northampton.

Michalak will be out for at least four weeks and France coach Bernard Laporte, already without second-choice Julien Peyrelongue, who twisted his knee in Biarritz’s Heineken Cup win over Italy’s Calvisano, admits he is worried.

“It doesn’t look good. We’ll probably be without our two first-choice No 10s so we’ll have to look elsewhere, but I admit we haven’t got a lot to look at,” he said.

Veteran Yann Delaigue, who moved to Castres in the summer after being forced out of the Toulouse side by Michalak, former Gloucester fly-half Ludovic Mercier of Pau, David Skrela of Stade Francais and Benjamin Boyet of Bourgoin were the names Laporte mentioned.

Delaigue won 11 caps between 1994 and 2003, Skrela has one cap, while Mercier and Boyet are uncapped.

But Laporte ruled out moving Stade Francais’ South African-born centre Brian Liebenberg to fly-half.

“He doesn’t fulfil the first condition, playing in that position for his club,” Laporte said.

ULSTER squad: Forwards: R McCormack, S Best, R Moore, P Shields, R Best, R Frost, M McCullough, G Longwell, M Mustchin, G Pfister, C Feather, R Wilson.

Backs: B Cunningham, T Bowe, A Maxwell, T Howe, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, A Larkin, D Humphreys, N Doak, K Campbell.