Cave To Captain Ulster For First Time

Darren Cave has played 154 times for Ulster and the 27-year-old leads a team aiming to make it five league wins in a row. Samoan international Mike Stanley is named at inside centre and will start his first game for the province.

He is selected in place of the suspended Luke Marshall and is one of two changes to the side that beat Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium last weekend.

The other switch sees Ireland international Iain Henderson picked at blindside flanker in place of Roger Wilson, who also misses the game because of suspension.

Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy and Ireland Under-20s back Sam Arnold (pictured below) is named among the replacements and will make his first senior appearance for the province if called upon. 

In the forwards Callum Black starts at loosehead prop, Rob Herring continues at hooker and Wiehahn Herbst is named at tighthead. Ireland international Dan Tuohy partners Franco van der Merwe in the second row.

In the back row Henderson is joined by Nick Williams at number 8 and Clive Ross, who continues at openside.

Ruan Pienaar, who is on 499 points in the PRO12, starts at scrum half and is partnered at half-back by Ian Humphreys. Stanley and Cave start in midfield, with Craig Gilroy, Louis Ludik and Michael Allen linking up in the back-three.

Robbie Diack has recovered from injury and is named among the replacements. He is joined by fellow forwards John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross and Lewis Stevenson and backs Paul Marshall, Arnold and Rory Scholes.

ULSTER (v Newport Gwent Dragons): Louis Ludik; Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave (capt), Mike Stanley, Michael Allen; Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Clive Ross, Nick Williams.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Lewis Stevenson, Robbie Diack, Paul Marshall, Sam Arnold, Rory Scholes.