McKenzie gets first Ulster start

PAUL McKENZIE will start the biggest game of his short career when he lines-out against Leinster in the eagerly-awaited Magners League clash at Ravenhill this evening (7.30pm).

The 22-year-old Belfast Harlequins winger has only ten minutes’ experience in a senior Ulster shirt after an substitute appearance against the Borders last month.

Ulster have found themselves without three first-choice wingers in Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe and Andy Maxwell, who are all injured, so McKenzie gets his big chance.

Coach Mark McCall however, has been given a boost with scrum-half Isaac Boss and centre Paul Steinmetz able to start after coming through fitness tests.

Ireland prop Simon Best will also make his first start of the season and he takes over the captaincy from Australian Justin Harrison.

McCall starts Kieron Dawson at open side, leaving last month’s Ireland debutant Stephen Ferris on the bench, but Ulster still have two other internationals in the back row, with Roger Wilson accompanying the ebullient Neil Best.

Best has quickly attained iconic status following his performance against Australia, and he is approaching this game like it was an international.

“That’s the only way I can play,” said Best.

“I’m playing against some of the best players in the world, so I have to at least match them.

“I love playing against the likes of Drico, Darce, Shaggy and big Mal. It gives me a chance to show them that I’m not a bad player either. I want them to say ‘that fella’s some player’. For your fellow players to say that is a real bonus.

“You don’t really know just how good these guys are, because you are always with them, but tonight I will find out for myself as I will be on the receiving end. Better still, they will be on the receiving end of me. I have to throw everything at them because if know that if I don’t, they will make me look daft.”

Best says that after playing in the autumn internationals there will be no drop down in standard.

“The level may be very slightly different, but not by much. It’s a great match to start an important run of big games. These are games that could define our season.

“It’s important now that we can slot in a rhythm. We have just come off a four-week break from our provinces where we were running different patterns and different calls.

“It’s going to be a big challenge and a really massive game for both sides. Last season they beat us home and away and it was disappointing, so, it’s a chance to get revenge. The next four games are crucial for us. I hope we don’t let ourselves down the way we did last season when our form fell away.”

ULSTER: B Cunningham; M Bartholomeusz; P Steinmetz, P Wallace, P McKenzie; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best, M McCullough, J Harrison, N Best, K Dawson, R Wilson.

Replacements: P Shields, J Fitzpatrick, T Barker, S Ferris, K Campbell, K Maggs, S Young.