Bowe back in Ulster starting XV

Winger Tommy Bowe will start his first game for Ulster since injuring his knee in December tomorrow night when the Dragons visit Ravenhill in the third last round of the RaboDirect PRO12 (7.05pm).

Bowe earned his 100th cap for the province when he came off the bench in the defeat to Saracens, but tomorrow’s clash will mark his first appearance in the starting XV since suffering ligament damage in a Heineken Cup pool game against Northampton Saints.

His inclusion is one of seven personnel changes head coach Mark Anscombe has made to the side that lost out against Saracens.

Peter Nelson is named at full-back instead of Jared Payne, who picked up a slight ankle knock at Twickenham.

Stuart Olding replaces Luke Marshall who suffered concussion in the quarter-final.

Paddy Jackson is rested for the game, so Ruan Pienaar switches to out-half, with Paul Marshall coming in at nine.

Tom Court remains at loosehead alongside Rory Best, who will captain the side tomorrow night. Ricky Lutton starts at tighthead.

With Johann Muller out for three weeks with a bicep injury, Iain Henderson is selected in the second-row alongside Dan Tuohy. Robbie Diack therefore comes in at blindside flanker.

Chris Henry is rested for the match, so Mike McComish is selected at openside with Nick Williams named at Number 8.

Ulster (v. Dragons): P Nelson, T Bowe, D Cave, S Olding, C Gilroy, R Pienaar, P Marshall; T Court, R Best (c), R Lutton, I Henderson, D Tuohy, R Diack, M McComish, N Williams.

Replacements: R Herring, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, A Birch, N O’Connor, M Allen, A D’Arcy.