A fortnight on from their bonus point blitz of Benetton Treviso, Ulster will aim to aim to win on the road for the first time this season when they visit Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, October 16
EDINBURGH (2nd) v ULSTER (5th), BT Murrayfield, 7.45pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD)
Team News: Scrum half Paul Marshall will make his 150th appearance for Ulster when he lines out against Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield tonight.
Marshall, who made his senior debut against the Newport Gwent Dragons in September 2006, will again be partnered at half-back by the versatile Peter Nelson.
Luke Marshall has been ruled out with a thumb injury, so Ireland Under-20 international Sam Arnold will start the game at outside centre in what will be just his second competitive start for Ulster. Stuart McCloskey, who has impressed in the opening games of the season, will continue at inside centre.
Andrew Trimble and Louis Ludik are retained in the back-three along with Craig Gilroy, whose two-year contract extension was announced on Wednesday.
Up front, the experienced trio of Callum Black, Franco van der Merwe and Nick Williams (pictured below) return to bolster the Ulster pack. Captain Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst and Dan Tuohy retain their positions in the tight five.
With Williams packing down at number 8, Roger Wilson switches to blindside flanker, while Sean Reidy will continue in the 7 jersey. Robbie Diack was unavailable for selection after picking up a thigh injury playing for Ulster ‘A’ last Saturday.
Ian Humphreys could play his first competitive match of the season after returning from a hamstring injury to take his place on the bench. David Shanahan and Rory Scholes provide additional cover in the back-line, while Neil Doak has also included John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Lewis Stevenson and Willie Faloon in his matchday squad.
Meanwhile, there are three changes to the Edinburgh team that defeated the Ospreys in the previous round, as the Scots look to maintain their position at the business end of the table.
Greig Tonks retains his place at full-back with Tom Brown and Damien Hoyland remaining on the right and left wings respectively. Chris Dean and Andries Strauss continue in the centre, while scrum half Nathan Fowles moves up from the bench to form the half-back partnership with Phil Burleigh.
In the pack, the front row of Rory Sutherland, Neil Cochrane and John Andress at loosehead, hooker and tighthead respectively is retained, with locks Anton Bresler and Fraser McKenzie again donning the numbers 4 and 5 jerseys.
Captain Mike Coman stays on the blindside while Hamish Watson slots in at openside flanker and Nasi Manu returns from injury at number 8.
EDINBURGH: Greig Tonks; Tom Brown, Chris Dean, Andries Strauss, Damien Hoyland; Phil Burleigh, Nathan Fowles; Rory Sutherland, Neil Cochrane, John Andress, Anton Bresler, Fraser McKenzie, Mike Coman (capt), Hamish Watson, Nasi Manu.
Replacements: George Turner, Allan Dell, Simon Berghan, Alex Toolis, Cornell du Preez, Sean Kennedy, Will Helu, Jack Cuthbert.
ULSTER: Louis Ludik; Craig Gilroy, Sam Arnold, Stuart McCloskey, Andrew Trimble; Peter Nelson, Paul Marshall; Callum Black, Rob Herring (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Roger Wilson, Sean Reidy, Nick Williams.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Bronson Ross, Lewis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, David Shanahan, Ian Humphreys, Rory Scholes.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White, Mike Adamson (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Edinburgh to win: 7/5; Draw: 16/1; Ulster to win: 8/13
Pre-Match Quotes: Paul Marshall (Ulster) – “The appearances have racked up pretty quickly over the past few years so it will be really nice to get my 150th cap this weekend.
“When you’re a schoolboy you dream of playing for Ulster and to have done that on so many occasions is a real privilege. I’ve been involved in some really big games and they’ve always been fantastic, especially at home with our support and the atmosphere that they generate.
“It’s nice to hit different milestones and when I finish playing I’ll look back on some of the big occasions and take great pride in them. But for now I will just be looking forward to cap number 151, 152…and that will be the way it goes until my career ends.”
Alan Solomons (Edinburgh) – “We showed in the August pre-season friendly (againsy Ulster) that if we deliver a good performance we can win the game, and I think that’s important for us from a confidence perspective.
“Obviously a competitive match is a different kettle of fish and we’ll have to be at the top of our game in order to get the result.
“We know we’ve got a massive game on Friday against Ulster – they’ve been one of the top teams in Europe over the last four or five years and we’re really going to have to deliver a performance here.
“It’s really important that we keep the momentum going because the more we’re able to do that the more confidence it generates within the team and the better that is for us.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Edinburgh – Points: Greig Tonks 20; Tries: Damien Hoyland 3; Ulster – Points: Stuart McCloskey 24; Tries: Craig Gilroy 2
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, November 2, 2012 – Ulster 45 Edinburgh 20, Ravenhill
Friday, March 22, 2013 – Edinburgh 14 Ulster 8, Murrayfield
Friday, November 22, 2013 – Ulster 41 Edinburgh 17, Ravenhill
Friday, March 21, 2014 – Edinburgh 3 Ulster 9, Murrayfield
Friday, October 3, 2014 – Ulster 30 Edinburgh 0, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, February 20, 2015 – Edinburgh 17 Ulster 20, BT Murrayfield
MATCH FACTS:
– Edinburgh are one of three sides to have begun the new GUINNESS PRO12 campaign with three victories
– The Scotsmen have won three of their last four fixtures at BT Murrayfield in all competitions, but have been defeated in their last five contests at the venue against Irish provinces
– Ulster’s last five fixtures have all been won by the home side on the day, while their only victory on the road since February came on a trip to Connacht in April
– Edinburgh have won just one of their last nine encounters with Ulster in all competitions: 14-8 at BT Murrayfield in the PRO12 in March 2013
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