Rugby – Team News:It's all change for Ulster as a number of injuries and the IRFU's ongoing management programme have played their in part in Brian McLaughlin's selection process ahead of tomorrow night's trip to Murrayfield for their Magners League encounter against Edinburgh (kick-off 7.05pm).
As Ulster look to bounce back from their Heineken Cup defeat to Biarritz last Sunday the coach has made a number of positional and personnel changes.
In the backline, only Ruan Pienaar retains the same position he played last week at scrum-half. With Simon Danielli unavailable due to injury, David McIlwaine moves from fullback to left wing while Adam D'Arcy is promoted from the bench to start at 15.
Mark McCrea will make his first competitive start as Andrew Trimble moves from the right wing to outside centre to form a partnership with Ian Whitten with Paddy Wallace moving to outhalf.
Up front, Paddy McAllister starts in the frontrow as Tom Court drops to the bench, while Dan Tuohy partners Johann Muller in the secondrow. Rotation in the backrow continues with Chris Henry to start in the Scottish capital ahead of
Pedrie Wannenburg at openside flanker as Stephen Ferris moves to the blindside. Robbie Diack retains the number eight jersey.
Edinburgh show several changes ahead of Ulster’s visit with the Scottish outfit looking for their third straight Magners League win after victories against Leinster and Aironi. Ulster, meanwhile, are unbeaten and have already beaten Edinburgh this campaign.
Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat has made three changes to the side that began last Saturday’s narrow Heineken Cup defeat against Northampton at Murrayfield.
Moffat was forced into a late change by promoting Greig Laidlaw to the starting XV at scrumhalf in place of Mike Blair, who drops to the bench.
“Mike’s had a bug in the last couple of days. He’s fit enough to play, but as a precaution he’ll be on the bench. Greig has been putting his hand up for a while now and deserves his opportunity,” said Moffat.
Two switches come in the forwards with Andrew Kelly and Ross Rennie included in the starting line-up with Ross Ford and Roddy Grant both rested. In the flanker's absence, Chris Paterson will captain the side.
Grant’s fellow openside Rennie was due to play from the off against the Saints, but was withdrawn on the morning of the match after failing to recover sufficiently from a blow to the head sustained away to Cardiff Blues the previous weekend.
Finlay Gillies, Grant Gilchrist and Scott Newlands all feature on the bench.
The coach wants a repeat of Edinburgh’s attacking intent last time out. “There was a lot to be pleased about in our display last Saturday, but we said all along that getting the win was what counted above all else, “ he said.
“The challenge this week is pretty clear: keep performing positively, keep trying to hurt the opposition, and make sure we maintain that edge from first to last.
“Ulster are the sort of team who will capitalise on any drop-off in our performance. The boys know we’ll need to be sharp all night on Friday, and after the Leinster and Aironi wins, they’re keen to keep that sequence going.”
Addressing the tweaks to his pack, Moffat confirmed: “Both Ross and Roddy have played their part in a number of really tough battles in the last few weeks, and even though they’re the sort of guys who want to be out there week-in, week-out, it’s my job to manage the squad and make sure we spread the load.
“Ned (Kelly) has done well when he’s come off the bench this season, and he’s been pushing hard for a place in the team. He’s got a chance now to remind everyone of what he can do, and I’m looking forward to seeing him take it.
“Ross (Rennie) wasn’t quite ready last Saturday, but he’s trained well this week and is raring to go. He’s just the type of player you want on your side against a team like Ulster - we’ll all be up for the battle.”
Edinburgh team (v Ulster):Chris Paterson (capt), J Thompson, B Cairns, J King, T Visser, D Blair, G Laidlaw, A Jacobsen, A Kelly, G Cross, S MacLeod, F McKenzie, A MacDonald, N Talei, R Rennie. Replacements:F Gillies, K Traynor, D Young, G Gilchrist, S Newlands, M Blair, A Grove, M Robertson
Ulster team (v Edinburgh):A D'Arcy: M McCrea, A Trimble, I Whitten, D McIlwaine; P Wallace, R Pienaar, P McAllister, R Best (capt), BJ Botha, J Muller, D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyriacou, T Court, B Young, R Caldwell, P Wannenburg, P Marshall, I Humphreys, N Spence