Humphreys stands down for clash with The Borders

DAVID HUMPHREYS has pulled out of the Ulster side for their Celtic League tie against The Borders at Ravenhill tonight (7.30 pm).

The Ireland fly-half injured his calf earlier in the week and is replaced by Adam Larkin while Paddy Wallace comes on to the bench.

Humphreys is bitterly disappointed at missing out on playing for the province for the first time this season: “I’m naturally very disappointed. I love playing in front of the Ravenhill crowd. But it was decided not to risk further damaging the calf muscle’’.

However, Ulster’s other World Cup half-back partner Neil Doak is back and raring to go after failing to get a run in Australia.

He said it was important to get a victory over the Scottish visitors to maintain their one-point lead at the top over Gwent Dragons, the team they begin their Heineken Cup campaign against on Sunday week.

“We have got a strong squad and with that we have to do well on the European front,” said the former Ireland international cricketer.

Doak was full of praise for the members of the squad who had taken Ulster to the top of the Celtic League and to the cup final. “What the guys achieved during the World Cup period was fantastic. They have done so well. While in Australia, my wife was texting me results. The win at Munster was superb and the 41-3 success over Edinburgh away from home was brilliant.

“We were wondering what we would do when we came back. We could not get on the Ireland team, the boys back home were doing so well, some of us thought we may have to look for a new job!’’

Now Doak wants to using tonight’s game to prepare for the European Cup. “We have to get out of our group, because until we do that we are always going to get tough draws in the pool stages.”

“It will always be against us and we always seem to get the big, big teams. Leicester are going to be tough this season.

“But we have a strong squad and when we start to win away from home, which we are capable off, then we can prove ourselves in Europe,” Doak added.

Meanwhile, The Borders’ coach Tony Gilbert includes four World Cup players in his team although Gregor Townsend misses out through injury. Tanner Vili, Nikki Walker, Bruce Douglas and Semo Sititi all go straight into the side.

ULSTER: Bryn Cunningham; James Topping, Ryan Constable, Paul Steinmetz, Tyrone Howe; David Humphreys, Neil Doak; Simon Best, Matt Sexton, Rod Moore, Matt Mustchin, Rowan Frost, Andy Ward (capt), Neil Best, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Paul Shields, Robbie Kempson, Gary Longwell, Tony McWhirter, Kieran Campbell, Adam Larkin, Shane Stewart.

BORDERS: Tanner Vili; Nikki Walker, Gareth Morton, Kevin Utterson (capt), Cammie Murray; Clark Laidlaw, Chris Cusiter; Kelvin Todd, Ross Ford, Bruce Douglas, Scott MacLeod, Colin Stewart, Andy Rennick, Campbell Feather, Semo Sititi.

Replacements: Matthew Landels, Geoff Cross, Doddie Weir, Dan Kane, Iain Fairley, Jono Stuart, Craig Moir.