Ulster hope to finally scalp Scarlets in Stradey

ULSTER captain Justin Harrison wants his side to make history in Stradey Park this evening.

The northern province have never won in the Welsh venue and Harrison believes the time is right to nail the Scarlets and keep up their challenge for more Magners League honours.

Ulster trail Leinster by two points but with their Irish provincial colleagues having a free weekend Harrison is adamant his side can benefit.

Said Harrison: “We are determined to break a record run of defeats at Stradey Park. We drew with them last season, and that is the best we have done over all the years, and it stretches to some considerable length.

“Yes, we did beat them earlier this season at Ravenhill, but it was at the start of the season and home advantage meant a lot.

“They are the best form team in Wales and they do play a difficult brand of rugby. They are difficult to contain with a high amount of offloads with a very strong forward unit. The challenge for us is to get our set pieces right and ensure our first-up tackles are made. Like ourselves they will be hit by players being away on international duty.

“The mental attitude is very important. When you think that a team is bereft of its international players you are inclined to ease off a little mentally. But we have to show the players on the park more respect and treat them as the best they have. When we played the Scarlets in the Heineken Cup it was the first time I remember the Ravenhill crowd leaving the ground before the end. They beat us well so that is something we need to remember when we play tonight.”

Ulster bring back Bryan Young and Roger Wilson in the only changes from the victory over the Dragons two weeks ago. Young comes in at looses-head for Justin Fitzpatrick, while Wilson return to number 8 with Stephen Ferris shuffling across to blindside in place of the injured Neil Best.

The Scarlets are without most of their internationals with Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, Mark Jones, Matthew Rees and Alix Popham and Ireland’s Simon Easterby are rested.

SCARLETS: M Stoddard; D Daniel, Gavin Evans, R King, M Watkins; C Thomas, L Davies; I Thomas, A Gravelle, D Manu, V Cooper, S MacLeod, J Bater (capt), G Thomas, N Thomas.

Replacements: J Davies, D Jones, K Owens, I Afeaki, A Jones, C Stuart-Smith, B Davies.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, P Wallace, A Trimble; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, P Shields, S Best, J Harrison (capt), T Barker, S Ferris, N Best, R Wilson.

Replacements: S Philpott, J Fistzpatrick, R Caldwell, S Harding, K Campbell, K Maggs, P McKenzie.

Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland).