Stuart Olding returns as Ulster ring changes
Ulster crashed to a second successive defeat last week to a late flourish by Cardiff which saw them drop from top dogs of the Guinness Pro12 to fourth.
Olding joins Luke Marshall in midfield while Craig Gilroy switches to full-back to allow Rory Scholes and Jacob Stockdale to occupy the wing positions. The two changes up front sees stand-in skipper Rob Herring return from injury while Kyle McCall starts at loose-head. Like the rest of his team, Olding was shocked at letting a 10-point lead slip last week, but hopes for a quick recovery on home turf.
“We were massively disappointed with ourselves. We just hadn’t control of the game and let them in for two late tries. The boys were beaten up about it, and after two successive defeats it’s not the position you want to be in this time of the season.
“But we are still in fourth and in a play-off position, now we hope we can crack on starting this evening. At least we are at home which is a bonus when you want to get back on the horse again. But Zebre can be very dangerous, especially from broken field rugby, and if you don’t do your basics right, they will punish you.”
C Gilroy; R Scholes, L Marshall, S Olding, J Stockdale; P Jackson, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Herring (captain), R Lutton, P Browne, F van der Merwe, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;
J Andrew, C Black, A Warwick, R Wilson, S Reidy, P Marshall, S Windsor, D Cave.
M Muliaina; G Toniolatti, G Bisegni, T Castello*, K Van Zyl; E Padovani, F Semenzato; A De Marchi, O Fabiani, D Chistolini; Q Geldenhuys, M Bortolami (capt); E Caffini, J Meyer, F Ruzza.
E Coria, G Roan, P Ceccarelli, G Koegelenberg, F Cristiano, L Burgess, I McKinley, U Beyers.
