Ulster bid to unleash Best and Afoa

ULSTER hope to include Ireland’s Rory Best and World Cup winner John Afoa in their starting line-up for Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 derby against Connacht at Ravenhill.

Both however, will have to undergo medical assessments before coach Brian McLaughlin can parade his full-strength line-up ahead of the Heineken Cup opener against Clermont Auvergne on November 12.

Tight-head prop Afoa was released early from his New Zealand contract following talks between Ulster’s Director of Rugby David Humphreys and the NZRU. Afoa is expected to arrive in the province later this afternoon much to the relief of McLaughlin, who has three front-line props — Jerry Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick and up-and-coming Academy player Kyle McCall — out through injury.

Meanwhile, Best, who made a remarkable recovery from a shoulder injury during the World Cup, was involved in a full training session yesterday with the squad and the coaching staff are awaiting to see if there were any setbacks today. Also returning is Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris, who will start at number six, with Tom Court at loose head, Springbok Johann Muller at lock and Ruan Pienaar joining Ian Humphreys at half-back. Paddy Wallace is available to play in midfield, probably alongside Daren Cave, with Simon Danielli reverting to the wing.

ULSTER (squad v Connacht): T Court, J Afoa, P McAllister, A Macklin, C Black, A Kyriacou, N Brady, R Best, J Muller, T Barker, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, N McComb, C Henry, R Diack, M McComish, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, S Ferris, R Pienaar, P Marshall, I Porter, I Humphreys, P Jackson, P Wallace, I Whitten, N Spence, D Cave, A Trimble, C Gilroy, S Danielli, A D’Arcy.