Fired-up Ulster look to ruin D’Arcy’s Leinster return

AS Gordon D’Arcy makes a long awaited return to competitive rugby action, Ulster’s Bryn Cunningham will give his side another reason to beat Magners League champions Leinster at Ravenhill tonight (7.35pm).

Ulster coach Matt Williams has given Cunningham a starting place to earn his 100th Magners League cap, as Ulster seek to storm their way further up the table after propping it up for so long this season.

Six weeks ago, Williams promised that this developing Ulster side would come good before the end of the season. He was as good as his word and a victory over Munster at Ravenhill was all that was needed to give them that crucial kick-start.

Tonight, fifth plays sixth with just a single point separating the teams, Leinster with 17 points and Ulster with 16, both from seven games. Ulster will feel they have the ability on top of the desire to move further up the table — as promised by Williams so many weeks ago.

Cunningham’s 100th cap will give Ulster fans something to hang on to from the start. If they get the performance from the team, then Leinster could struggle to cope in front of a partisan home crowd.

Williams welcomes back Timoci Nagusa from injury after missing Ulster’s two Heineken Cup games with Llanelli Scarlets, but Ulster still have injury problems — Ryan Caldwell, Simon Danielli, Cillian Willis and Carlo del Fava are all ruled out.

Williams is looking forward to the sell-out fixture against his old club, saying: “We have prepared hard for this match; with so many players out with injury’s we will really have to be on top of our game on Saturday.

“Leinster are a class act, and with the recent criticism they have had they will be out to prove their critics wrong. This game will be a battle right to the final whistle. We have prepared physically and mentally, so all we can do now is go out and play the best rugby we can and fight the Blues all the all way.”

For Leinster, the return of seasoned international centre D’Arcy, who starts for Leinster for the first time in nine months — albeit on the right wing — will be a boost.

The side shows a number of changes from the team that defeated the Dragons 29-13 in the last round of Magners League matches.

Felipe Contepomi lines up alongside Luke Fitzgerald at centre, with Isa Nacewa partnering skipper Chris Whitaker at half-back.

In the pack, John Fogarty comes into the front row alongside Cian Healy and Stan Wright, with Sean O’Brien a starter in a back-row that includes Rocky Elsom and Jamie Heaslip.

Trevor Hogan is rewarded with a place in the second row after a series of impressive displays for the Leinster ‘A’ team.

The replacements bench will be confirmed an hour before kick off.