McAllister handed rare Ulster chance

BALLYNAHINCH’S Paddy McAllister gets a rare start when he lines out at loose-head as Ulster tackle Italian visitors Aironi in the first of important back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures at Ravenhill this evening.

The 22-year-old comes in for Ireland’s Tom Court, who is rested, and the blonde bombshell is keen to test himself at the top level in getting a chance to prove his ability in the tight against what will be a typically hard-nosed Italian front row.

McAllister is just one of two changes made by coach Brian McLaughlin from last week’s victory over the Scarlets. Springbok scrum-half Ruan Pienaar makes only his second start of the season after recovering from a pulled hamstring. It means livewire Paul Marshall is on the bench alongside new signing Stefan Terblanche, who arrived in the province last weekend from Durban.