ULSTER CAN BOOK their place in the Pro12 finals on a historic Ravenhill night against the Scarlets.
The Belfast ground’s old grandstand, which has stood since 1924, will be demolished next week and coach Mark Anscombe has made four changes in a bid to make sure that Ulster’s challenge for silverware is not brought down so easily.
Irish internationals Paddy Jackson, Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick and Dan Tuohy all return for tomorrow’s semi-final, with Ruan Pienaar shifting as usual from out-half to scrum-half to to make room for Jackson’s inclusion.
But tighthead prop John Afoa is ruled out of the clash having failed to recover from a hamstring injury picked up against the Cardiff Blues last weekend.
Ulster topped the Pro12 table with 17 wins from 22, guaranteeing top seeding and leaving them on course for their first title since 2005/2006.
They face a stiff test against a Scarlets side who will be looking to bounce back from defeat to Treviso, their first loss in six games.
Coach Simon Easterby makes three changes with Welsh international out-half Rhys Priestland passed fit to return at 10 while captain Rob McCusker has recovered from the rib injury which kept him out last Friday night.
“All that happened last week against Treviso has been firmly put to bed now,” Easterby said. “We are one of four teams that have 80 minutes of rugby in front of them to prove their ability and battle for a place in the final.
“This is where we wanted to be this season, we’ve achieved a top four finish, now we have to bring everything we have to this game to back up all the hard work we’ve put in throughout the season.”
Ulster: Jared Payne, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding, Tommy Bowe, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Tom Court, Rory Best, Declan Fitzpatrick; Johann Muller (c), Dan Tuohy; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams. Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Iain Henderson, Mike McComish, P Marshall, Mike Allen, Peter Nelson.
Scarlets: Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Andy Fenby; Rhys Priestland, Aled Davies; Phil John, Ken Owens, Samson Lee; George Earle, Johan Synman; Aaron Shingler, Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker (c). Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Rhodri Jones, Jacobie Adriannse, Jake Ball, Sione Timani, Gareth Davies, Owen Williams, Gareth Owen.
