Rugby – Team news:Ulster will be without Ian Humphreys when they take on Scarlets this evening after the outhalf suffered a recurrence of a shoulder injury.
Humphreys has been replaced by Patrick Jackson for tonight’s Magners League game at Parc y Scarlets with kick-off at 7.05pm.
For Ulster it’s an important game to win if they are to challenge for the play-offs, especially considering the Scarlets are six points ahead of them alongside third-placed Cardiff Blues in the table.
The game also offers Andre Trimble game time and the chance to impress and win a place in the Ireland XV to take on Scotland next weekend. Trimble’s return from a hand injury sees Craig Gilroy switch wings and Simon Danielli drop to the bench.
Given that Tommy Bowe looks set to start against Scotland at Murrayfield, Trimble would appear to be up against Keith Earls, Fergus McFadden and Paddy Wallace for either the number 11 or 22 jersey.
Wallace wasn’t used an impact sub by Ireland in the game against France, despite the recent dip in form by centre Gordon D’Arcy. Wallace is not considered as outhalf cover either, but tonight’s game will also afford him the chance to impress.
Tom Court is the another returnee from international duty, having featured for 23 minutes against France, but significantly, Rory Best and Stephen Ferris are unavailable.
Best has been held back by the Irish camp having started against Italy and France, while Ferris has yet to recover from the knee cartilage damage sustained against Aironi last January in what seemed innocuous circumstances but is now likely to rule him out of a third Six Nations match.
As a result, TJ Anderson, Chris Henry and Pedrie Wannenburg make up a backrow that comes up against a Scarlets loose trio bolstered by the release of Josh Turnbull and Rob McCusker from the Welsh squad. Outhalf Rhys Priestland and Scottish winger Sean Lamont also return.
Scarlets:D Evans; G Maule, R King, S Williams, S Lamont; R Priestland, M Roberts; I Thomas (capt), E Phillips, R Thomas; V Cooper, L Reed; R McCusker, J Turnbull, B Morgan. Replacements: R Lawrence, R Jones, S Gardiner, J Fa'amatuainu, J Edwards, T Knoyle, D Newton, J Ajuwa.
Ulster:A D'Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, P Wallace; C Gilroy, P Jackson, R Pienaar; T Court, A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (Captain), T Barker, TJ Anderson, C Henry, P Wannenburg. Replacements: N Brady, J Cronin, B Young, R Caldwell, R Diack, P Marshall, L Marshall, S Danielli.
