Best back as Ulster make changes

Ireland’s most-capped hooker, Rory Best, will be back in familiar territory when he captains Ulster against Italian side Zebre this evening at a packed Kingspan Stadium.

Best returns to action after his rest period as part of Ireland’s Player Management Programme and the 32-year-old, who has made 77 appearances for Ireland, leads a side showing eight changes from the side that drew 32-32 with Scarlets last week.

Behind the scrum, and with Jared Payne sidelined for two weeks with a hip injury, Darren Cave returns to partner Luke Marshall in a new midfield partnership while interim head coach Les Kiss has named Ricky Andrew at full-back with Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy on the wings.