Rugby:Chris Henry will not line out for Ulster when they meet Edinburgh in Aviva stadium on Saturday, while play maker Paddy Jackson will start the match (KO: 5.45) at outhalf.
Henry has been ruled out after failing to recover from an ankle sprain picked up in the PRO12 match against Leinster last weekend. Other injury concerns Paddy Wallace, Pedrie Wannenburg and Paul Marshall have all been passed fit, with scrumhalf Marshall named among the replacements.
Forward trio Stephen Ferris, Dan Tuohy and Rory Best have all returned to the starting team after being rested last weekend. Ferris is a direct replacement for Henry, so Willie Faloon retains his position at openside flanker.
Nigel Brady makes way for the return of Best, while Lewis Stevenson makes way for Tuohy. After impressing last week in his first game in five months, Declan Fitzpatrick will start again at tighthead prop.
Coach Brian McLaughlin has named an unchanged backline, meaning Jackson is preferred over Ian Humphreys at outhalf. The Ireland U20 captain produced an accomplished display at inside centre against Connacht two weeks ago, before controlling affairs at outhalf in the home defeat to Leinster.
It is Ulster’s biggest game since they defeated Colomiers 21-6 in the 1999 European Cup final.
“Nobody wants to miss an occasion like this. These kinds of games don’t come around too often; it’s been 13 years since we’ve had a game this big. It really wasn’t easy selecting the squad this week,” said McLaughlin.
Commenting on the loss of Henry, he stated: “It’s a huge blow for us. He has probably been our most consistent player this season, probably over the past few seasons. I suppose we are fortunate in a way to have a player like Willie (Faloon) to come in. He is vastly experienced and will put everything into his performance on Saturday.”
A big performance will be needed as Edinburgh will arrive full of confidence after an excellent Heineken Cup run added McLaughlin: “Edinburgh are one of the form teams in Europe. They beat Toulouse, one of the kingpins of the competition, and you have to respect them for that.
"They have a great spine; their pack is full of internationals and they have an excellent back row. They have international half backs who are very good at controlling the game so it will be a big challenge for us. They are not going to fear coming to the Aviva.”
He is also confident that the inexperienced Jackson will rise to the occasion.
“Paddy has come in over the last few weeks and done exceptionally well. His performances have warranted selection. It’s a very tough call on Ian (Humphreys) who has been exceptional for us over the past couple of seasons, but we felt Paddy deserved a shot.”
The youngest member of the Ulster squad, Jackson had just turned 7 years of age when Ulster last played in a Heineken Cup semi-final against Stade Francais on 9th January 1999.
“I was living in England at the time, we’d moved over there because of my dad’s work, and I was more interested in football,” said Jackson. “I’m probably the one person in Ulster that doesn’t really remember what they were doing in 1999!”
“I’m delighted to be starting – I may be the youngest player in the squad but I have a job to do at 10 and I’m very comfortable making the calls. I’m playing right alongside Ruan Pienaar, with Paddy and Darren outside me and Stefan behind so there’s lots of experience around me.
“I find that it’s best if I just try to relax before a game, I don’t have a particular routine or hype myself up too much. I’ve talked to Neil Doak a fair bit this week and we’ve discussed how Saturday’s match is just another game. Obviously there will be a massive crowd and a lot of media attention but it is just a game of rugby and I’ll prepare for it in exactly the same way as I always do.
Edinburgh travelled to Dublin keeping faith with the team that earned a 19-14 win over four-time European champions Toulouse in the quarterfinal.
The only switch in the 23-man squad is on the bench, where back-row Stuart McInally (hamstring) failed a fitness test, leading to a call-up for lock Steven Turnbull.
Four thousand fans are anticipated to travel as Edinburgh go in search of a place in the final at Twickenham against either Clermont Auvergne or defending champions Leinster, who meet on Sunday.
“The size of the occasion and the backing from fans has not been lost on the players,” Bradley said.
“Tomorrow will be a huge test. The hype, the intensity, the crowd, and the fact that we’re away from home have a bearing on the size of tomorrow’s challenge.
“Ulster are one of the in-form sides in Europe and will take great confidence from their two league wins over us already this season, on top of their away win over Munster in the quarter-final.
“Our form in this competition is such that we can rightly approach this match with a lot of confidence. The character and resolve of the players has been well tested in this competition and we have prevailed.
“It’s a one-off game and the underdog tag is one we wear well as a team. Edinburgh Rugby have shown that we are a force to be reckoned with on big occasions and are relishing our first semi-final in this competition.”
There was no place for Chris Paterson, Scotland’s most capped player and record points scorer, who is set to travel with the squad and is poised to be on kicking tee duty once again.
Ulster:S Terblanche; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar; T Court, R Best, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller [capt], D Tuohy, S Ferris, W Faloon, P Wannenburg Replacements: N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, L Stevenson, R Diack, P Marshall, I Humphreys, A D'Arcy
Edinburgh:T Brown; L Jones, N De Luca, M Scott, T Visser; G Laidlaw [capt], M Blair; A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, G Gilchrist, S Cox, D Denton, R Rennie, N Talei Replacements: A Kelly, K Traynor, J Gilding, S Turnbull, R Grant, C Leck, P Godman, J Thompson
