Ulster will target five points with high-tempo game plan

RUGBY:THE HOME side will regard this as a huge opportunity to grab five points, particularly on foot of their most recent victory against Cardiff in Belfast. Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has replaced his frontrow as Paddy McAllister, Nigel Brady and Tom Court start.

Paddy Wallace is back in the centre with Nevin Spence, Ruan Pienaar switches to outhalf in place of Ian Humphreys, with Paul Marshall at scrumhalf.

The Italian side’s coach, Rowland Phillips, switches James Marshall to fullback, making space for Riccardo Bocchino at outhalf. South African flyer Danwel Demas and New Zealand-born, Italy international Kaine Robertson, both of whom return on the wing. Pietro Travagli is at scrumhalf, while in the pack, Ulyses Gamboa replaces Staibano at tighthead and Roberto Santamaria is promoted to hooker.

Ulster will want to play the game at a high tempo, reduce the number of set-pieces to a minimum and if they can manage that remit they then seem well placed to extract the maximum reward.

ULSTER: A D’Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, P Wallace, C Gilroy; R Pienaar, P Marshall; P McAllister, N Brady, T Court; J Muller (capt), T Barker; C Henry, W Faloon, P Wannenburg. Replacements: A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, J Cronin, N McComb, R Diack, L Marshall, S Danielli, T Seymour.

AIRONI: J Marshall; K Robertson, G Pavan, M Pratichetti, D Demas; R Bocchino, P Travagli; A De Marchi, R Santamaria, U Gamboa; J Furno, M Bortolami (capt); J Sole, G Krause, N Williams. Replacements: T D’Apice, L Redolfini, A De Marchi, G Biagi, N Cattina, T Tebaldi, G Pizarro, G Rubini.

Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales).