ULSTER WELCOME BACK captain Rory Best for tomorrow’s Champions Cup clash against Toulouse in Belfast.
Best, who signed a two-year contract extension last month to keep him with the province until June 2018, starts in the front row alongside Wiehahn Herbst and Kyle McCall.
Alan O’Connor has been given the opportunity to start in the second row with the experienced Franco van der Merwe, while Robbie Diack, Chris Henry and Nick Williams will make up the loose forward trio.
There is a new powerful centre partnership with Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall combining in midfield.
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Craig Gilroy is recalled on the left wing, with Andrew Trimble occupying the right wing berth and Louis Ludik completing the back three. Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson will continue to direct play from nine and 10.
Rob Herring, who led Ulster to a 14-7 Pro12 win over Edinburgh last weekend, is named on the replacements bench along with fellow forwards Andy Warwick, Ricky Lutton, Clive Ross and Roger Wilson.
Paul Marshall and Ian Humphreys will again provide cover for Pienaar and Jackson, with Rory Scholes also included in the squad.
Ulster’s director of rugby, Les Kiss, is well aware of the threat posed by a star-studded Toulouse side that includes Gael Fickou, Thierry Dusautoir and Louis Picamoles.
“They are predictably unpredictable,” he says.
“They have a massive squad that is full of internationals, so that gives them some really good options all over the park.
“They’re second in the Top 14 so it’s a huge challenge for us, but the boys have shown great character and we’ll step up to the plate. Hopefully the conditions are good and the supporters will see a quality game of rugby.”
Ulster: L Ludik; A Trimble, L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Best (captain), W Herbst; A O’Connor, F van der Merwe; R Diack, C Henry, N Williams.
Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, R Lutton, C Ross, R Wilson, P Marshall, I Humphreys, R Scholes.
Toulouse: C Poitrenaud; V Clerc, G Fickou, T Flood, M Médard; L McAlister, S Bézy; V Kakovin, C Flynn, C Johnston, Y Maestri, J Tekori, Y Camara, T Dusautoir, L Picamoles.
Replacements: J Marchand, C Baille, D Aldegheri, E Maka, G Lamboley, G Galan, JM Doussain, A Palisson.
Best returns to skipper side against Toulouse
ULSTER WELCOME BACK captain Rory Best for tomorrow’s Champions Cup clash against Toulouse in Belfast.
Best, who signed a two-year contract extension last month to keep him with the province until June 2018, starts in the front row alongside Wiehahn Herbst and Kyle McCall.
Alan O’Connor has been given the opportunity to start in the second row with the experienced Franco van der Merwe, while Robbie Diack, Chris Henry and Nick Williams will make up the loose forward trio.
There is a new powerful centre partnership with Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall combining in midfield.
Craig Gilroy is recalled on the left wing, with Andrew Trimble occupying the right wing berth and Louis Ludik completing the back three. Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson will continue to direct play from nine and 10.
Rob Herring, who led Ulster to a 14-7 Pro12 win over Edinburgh last weekend, is named on the replacements bench along with fellow forwards Andy Warwick, Ricky Lutton, Clive Ross and Roger Wilson.
Paul Marshall and Ian Humphreys will again provide cover for Pienaar and Jackson, with Rory Scholes also included in the squad.
Ulster’s director of rugby, Les Kiss, is well aware of the threat posed by a star-studded Toulouse side that includes Gael Fickou, Thierry Dusautoir and Louis Picamoles.
“They are predictably unpredictable,” he says.
“They have a massive squad that is full of internationals, so that gives them some really good options all over the park.
“They’re second in the Top 14 so it’s a huge challenge for us, but the boys have shown great character and we’ll step up to the plate. Hopefully the conditions are good and the supporters will see a quality game of rugby.”
Ulster: L Ludik; A Trimble, L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Best (captain), W Herbst; A O’Connor, F van der Merwe; R Diack, C Henry, N Williams.
Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, R Lutton, C Ross, R Wilson, P Marshall, I Humphreys, R Scholes.
Toulouse: C Poitrenaud; V Clerc, G Fickou, T Flood, M Médard; L McAlister, S Bézy; V Kakovin, C Flynn, C Johnston, Y Maestri, J Tekori, Y Camara, T Dusautoir, L Picamoles.
Replacements: J Marchand, C Baille, D Aldegheri, E Maka, G Lamboley, G Galan, JM Doussain, A Palisson.
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Champions Cup Leading Light Rory Best Toulouse Ulster