Anscombe content to omit stars

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has defended his decision to field an under-strength side for tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with interprovincial rivals Munster at Thomond Park (5:30pm).

The runaway league leaders are unbeaten in the Rabo this season with 11 wins from 11 having equalled Leinster’s record-breaking start to a campaign with last weekend’s victory over Joe Schmidt’s team at Ravenhill.

With a nine-point cushion over second-placed Scarlets, and standing 14 points ahead of third-placed Munster, Anscombe has pinpointed this evening’s game in Limerick as the perfect opportunity to rest his frontline players, making 11 changes from the starting XV that faced Leinster in Belfast last Saturday and won 27-19.