Gilroy benched for crucial Saints tie

In-form Ulster winger Craig Gilroy must be content with a place on the bench as head coach Mark Anscombe made wholesale changes for Friday’s crucial Heineken Cup meeting with Northampton Saints in Franklins Gardens (8pm).

Eight of the changes are personnel as a number of players who were rested for the trip to Scarlets on Sunday return to the fold while Andrew Trimble switches to the right flank in the one positional swap.