ULSTER COACH NEIL Doak has made 11 changes to his starting team for the Guinness Pro12 semi-final clash with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun tomorrow evening [KO 19.45].
Tommy Bowe is back on the right wing. Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO
Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO / William Cherry/INPHO
Only Louis Ludik, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson and Chris Henry retain their places from the side that started last weekend’s 32-10 defeat to the Warriors in the same venue.
Having opted to hold back his front-liners for that final fixture of the regular season, Doak has restored the big names for what should be a thrilling play-off encounter.
Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Darren Cave, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar, Callum Black, captain Rory Best, Iain Henderson, Dan Tuohy and Roger Wilson all return, while prolific left wing Craig Gilroy is also fit to take his place.
The major blow for Ulster is Franco van der Merwe’s absence, the influential second row having suffered a knee injury in Glasgow last weekend. Also missing is South African tighthead prop Wiehan Herbst.
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Ulster will miss Franco van der Merwe's lineout skills. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Meanwhile, Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend has made two changes to the side that beat Ulster last time out, with Henry Pyrgos coming in at scrum-half and Fraser Brown taking over at hooker.
The inclusion of Pyrgos means exciting Fijian international Niko Matawalu, bound for Bath this summer, shifts to the left wing. Canadian flyer DTH van der Merwe returns to the bench.
Ulster
15. Louis Ludik
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Jared Payne
12. Darren Cave
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Callum Black
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Ricky Lutton
4. Lewis Stevenson
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Iain Henderson
7. Chris Henry
8. Roger Wilson
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Bronson Ross
19. Robbie Diack
20. Sean Reidy
21. Paul Marshall
22. Stuart McCloskey
23. Michael Allen
Glasgow Warriors
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. Niko Matawalu
10. Finn Russell
9. Henry Pyrgos
1. Ryan Grant
2. Fraser Brown
3. Rossouw de Klerk
4. Jonny Gray
5. Al Kellock (Captain)
6. Josh Strauss
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Adam Ashe
Replacements:
16. Pat MacArthur
17. Gordon Reid
18. Mike Cusack
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Duncan Weir
22. Sean Lamont
23. DTH van der Merwe
Ulster ring the changes as front-liners return for Glasgow semi-final
ULSTER COACH NEIL Doak has made 11 changes to his starting team for the Guinness Pro12 semi-final clash with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun tomorrow evening [KO 19.45].
Only Louis Ludik, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson and Chris Henry retain their places from the side that started last weekend’s 32-10 defeat to the Warriors in the same venue.
Having opted to hold back his front-liners for that final fixture of the regular season, Doak has restored the big names for what should be a thrilling play-off encounter.
Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Darren Cave, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar, Callum Black, captain Rory Best, Iain Henderson, Dan Tuohy and Roger Wilson all return, while prolific left wing Craig Gilroy is also fit to take his place.
The major blow for Ulster is Franco van der Merwe’s absence, the influential second row having suffered a knee injury in Glasgow last weekend. Also missing is South African tighthead prop Wiehan Herbst.
Meanwhile, Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend has made two changes to the side that beat Ulster last time out, with Henry Pyrgos coming in at scrum-half and Fraser Brown taking over at hooker.
The inclusion of Pyrgos means exciting Fijian international Niko Matawalu, bound for Bath this summer, shifts to the left wing. Canadian flyer DTH van der Merwe returns to the bench.
Ulster
15. Louis Ludik
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Jared Payne
12. Darren Cave
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Callum Black
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Ricky Lutton
4. Lewis Stevenson
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Iain Henderson
7. Chris Henry
8. Roger Wilson
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Bronson Ross
19. Robbie Diack
20. Sean Reidy
21. Paul Marshall
22. Stuart McCloskey
23. Michael Allen
Glasgow Warriors
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. Niko Matawalu
10. Finn Russell
9. Henry Pyrgos
1. Ryan Grant
2. Fraser Brown
3. Rossouw de Klerk
4. Jonny Gray
5. Al Kellock (Captain)
6. Josh Strauss
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Adam Ashe
Replacements:
16. Pat MacArthur
17. Gordon Reid
18. Mike Cusack
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Duncan Weir
22. Sean Lamont
23. DTH van der Merwe
Referee: George Clancy [IRFU].
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