McLaughlin puts faith in returning internationals

Six of Ulster's World Cup players have gone straight into the starting XV to face Scarlets in the RaboDirect PRO12 tomorrow at the Parc y Scarlets.

Head Coach Brian McLaughlin has made a total of seven personnel changes and two positional switches. Johann Muller returns to captain the side from the second row, where he is resumes his partnership with Dan Tuohy.

Ireland prop Tom Court will join Andi Kyriacou and Declan Fitzpatrick in the front row.

The back row remains unchanged from the last match against Treviso, with Pedrie Wanneneburg and Mike McComish on the flanks and Chris Henry at number 8.

Paul Marshall makes way for returning Springbok Ruan Pienaar at scrumhalf, with Ian Humphreys starting in the number 10 jersey and Paddy Wallace and Nevin Spence occupying the centre positions.

Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy have been named on the wings, with Simon Danielli starting at fullback.

Jared Payne, Luke Marshall and Jerry Cronin are unavailable due to injury while Rory Best and Stephen Ferris are being rested having started in Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final against Wales.

McLaughlin is confident the returning players will benefit the team but admits it was a difficult selection process.

"We've had a very positive week with Johann at the helm as captain and we're looking to put in a positive performance on Saturday. When you and in Andrew, Simon, Paddy, Tom and Ruan, we are starting to take a bit more shape.

"We had to make a few tough decisions in terms of selection. Leaving Darren Cave out of the side was very difficult considering the form he was in.

“Paddy (Wallace) and Nevin (Spence) struck up a good relationship last season and it's a tried and tested combination. We know with Darren on the bench, it will give us a bit of quality there and it gives us great options.

Ulster (v. Scarlets):S Danielli; A Trimble, N Spence, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, P Wannenburg, M McComish, C Henry.

Replacements: N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, L Stevenson, R Diack, P Marshall, D Cave, A D'Arcy.