Ulster’s big guns return for top-of-the-table encounter

Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, has made eight changes to the team that lost to Munster last Saturday for tomorrow night’s top-of-the-table clash against Llanelli Scarlets at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Having seen a relatively inexperienced outfit come up short in Limerick, Anscombe has restored several first choice players to the team with Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Jackson and Ruan Pienaar all returning to the backline.

Rob Herring and Adam Macklin are retained in the front row, while Tom Court starts at loose head.

Dan Tuohy makes his first start after recovering from a torn calf muscle and joins Lewis Stevenson in the second-row.

Chris Henry will captain Ulster and starts at openside, with Robbie Diack at blindside and Nick Williams at Number 8.

Callum Black drops to the bench, as does Neil McComb and Roger Wilson.

Paddy Wallace and John Afoa are also named as replacements alongside Niall Annett, Michael Heaney and Ricky Andrew.

The game, which is sold out, will see RaboDirect PRO12 leaders Ulster take on the team immediately below them in the table, Llanelli Scarlets.

Ulster claimed a 19-12 victory when the two sides met at Parc y Scarlets last month.

Ulster (v. Scarlets): A D’Arcy, A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar; T Court, R Herring, A Macklin, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams.

Replacements: N Annett, C Black, J Afoa, N McComb, R Wilson, M Heaney, P Wallace, R Andrew.