Rugby:Iain Henderson will make his home debut for Ulster in tomorrow's Heineken Cup Pool 4 opener against Castres Olympique at Ravenhill (8.0).
Stephen Ferris moves to number eight in the absence of Nick Williams who has failed to recover from a rib injury picked up in the 25-0 win over Connacht last Friday night. Henderson, who comes in at blindside flanker, will make his fourth appearance for the province, his first in the Heineken Cup.
It follows yesterday’s news that the 20 year old has signed his first full contract, keeping him at the club until June 2015. Henderson’s inclusion is the only change to the team that started against Connacht. There is one change on the bench with Ruan Pienaar, who returned from Rugby Championship duty with South Africa earlier in the week, named in place of Michael Heaney.
Looking ahead to the game, Henderson said: “I can’t wait. I’ve been watching games at Ravenhill since I was a kid and I’m really looking forward to pulling on the white jersey and experiencing the atmosphere as a player.
“My first aim for the season was to be involved in a few Pro12 games but with the few injuries that we have in the back row, I’ve been given an opportunity and I have to try and grab it with both hands. Castres are a very physical team but they also throw the ball wide and have an expansive kicking game. That should make for a tough, but entertaining game. We’ll have to work really hard to nullify their threats."
Castres currently occupy sixth position in the Top 14 having beaten Clermont Auvergne at the weekend, and with Ulster undefeated in the RaboDirect PRO12, it promises to be a tantalising clash. Former Ravenhill crowd favourite Pedrie Wannenburg will line up for the French side after his summer switch.
Ulster:
J Payne; T Bowe, D Cave, P Wallace, A Trimble; P Jackson, P Marshall; T Court, R Best, J Afoa; J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, I Henderson; C Henry, S Ferris.
Replacements:
R Herring, C Black, A Macklin, L Stevenson, M McComish, R Pienaar, L Marshall, C Gilroy.
Castres Olympique:
R Teulet; M Garvey, S Bai, D Kirkpatrick, M Andreu; P Barnard, T Lacrampe; Y Forrestier, M Bonello, M Coetzee; M Rolland, R Capo Ortega; P Fassalele, Y Caballero, P Wannenburg.
Replacements:
MA Ralier, G Marmoiton, H Lazar, J Tekori, A Claasen, R Kockott, P Bonnefond, T Sanchou.
