Jackson Returns To Ulster Team

Paddy Jackson’s inclusion is one of four personnel and three positional changes to the side that defeated the Ospreys at Ravenhill last weekend.

Jared Payne moves from outside centre to full-back with Darren Cave reverting to his more familiar role in the number 13 jersey. Craig Gilroy continues on the right wing with Michael Allen keeping his place on the left.

Luke Marshall starts at inside centre alongside Cave, with Jackson at out-half and Ruan Pienaar, who played his 75th game for Ulster against the Ospreys, named at scrum half.

There are no changes to the front row where Tom Court, Rob Herring and John Afoa all start, while Johann Muller captains the side from the second row where Iain Henderson partners him.

Roger Wilson moves across the back row to blindside flanker, with Sean Doyle continuing at openside and Nick Williams coming in at number 8.

Robbie Diack and Ricky Andrew, who both started last time out, are named among the replacements.

Ulster have lost just once at Ravenhill in the past 12 months, however, the Scarlets beat Mark Anscombe’s men in Llanelli earlier in the season.

The round 14 match is sold out – the tenth game to be sold out at Ravenhill this season.

There are fewer than 250 tickets remaining for Ulster’s next home game against the Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday, February 28. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster or through the Ulster Rugby website.

ULSTER (v Scarlets): Jared Payne; Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Michael Allen; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Tom Court, Rob Herring, John Afoa, Johann Muller (capt), Iain Henderson, Roger Wilson, Sean Doyle, Nick Williams.

Replacements: Niall Annett, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Robbie Diack, Mike McComish, Paul Marshall, Rory Scholes, Ricky Andrew.