Ulster are aiming to stretch their unbeaten home record in the GUINNESS PRO12 to 15 matches, with stand-in captain Rob Herring calling on his team-mates to ‘kick on’ after last week’s derby disappointment in Dublin.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, December 4
ULSTER (7th) v EDINBURGH (6th), Kingspan Stadium, 7.35pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland/BBC ALBA)
Team News: Ulster’s director of rugby Les Kiss has named his matchday squad to take on Edinburgh at Kingspan Stadium in the latest round of the PRO12.
Rob Herring, who signed a two-year contract extension earlier this week, will replace Rory Best as hooker and captain for the important round 9 clash, as Kiss continues to manage his playing resources.
The 25-year-old is joined in the front row by Ricky Lutton, who will make his first start of the campaign, and Kyle McCalk.
Franco van der Merwe and Roger Wilson return to the side at lock and number 8 respectively, while Ireland internationals Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry and Iain Henderson make up the rest of the pack.
Ulster will have an all-international centre pairing as Luke Marshall is given an opportunity in midfield beside Darren Cave. Rory Scholes is due to start in a back-three that also features Andrew Trimble and Peter Nelson.
Ruan Pienaar, who won his 100th Ulster cap last weekend against Leinster, will continue at half-back alongside Paddy Jackson.
Second row Alan O’Connor (pictured below) could make his first appearance of the season after being included on the bench. John Andrew, Andrew Warwick and Wiehahn Herbst will provide front row cover, with Nick Williams named as the other forward replacement. Paul Marshall, Stuart McCloskey and Louis Ludik complete Ulster’s matchday panel.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh boss Alan Solomons has made four changes to the starting line-up he selected for last Friday’s impressive 32-13 home win over the Dragons.
Greig Tonks, who tweaked his hamstring in the early stages of the bonus point success, is replaced at full-back by Jack Cuthbert with Dougie Fife returning from injury to pull on the number 14 jersey worn by one of last week’s four try scorers, Tom Brown, who is out with a shoulder injury.
Chris Dean and Matt Scott continue their centre partnership with Will Helu retaining his place on the left wing. Out-half Phil Burleigh is paired with scrum half Sean Kennedy as Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is out with a hand injury.
Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and WP Nel again make up the front row with Anton Bresler returning to partner Alex Toolis in the second row – Fraser McKenzie is sidelined with a neck injury. Mike Coman leads the team once more from blindside flanker with John Hardie at openside and Cornell du Preez completing the back row.
ULSTER: Peter Nelson; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Rory Scholes; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Kyle McCall, Rob Herring (capt), Ricky Lutton, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O’Connor, Nick Williams, Paul Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik.
EDINBURGH: Jack Cuthbert; Dougie Fife, Chris Dean, Matt Scott, Will Helu; Phil Burleigh, Sean Kennedy; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, WP Nel, Anton Bresler, Alex Toolis, Mike Coman (capt), John Hardie, Cornell du Preez.
Replacements: Neil Cochrane, Rory Sutherland, John Andress, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Nathan Fowles, Michael Allen, Blair Kinghorn.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Kieran Barry, Frank Murphy (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ulster to win: 1/3; Draw: 16/1; Edinburgh to win: 13/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Rob Herring (Ulster) – “It has been a pretty tough month for us. The Saracens game didn’t go how we wanted to losing at home with four tries and we were bitterly disappointed. I think against Leinster we improved, our defence is going in the right direction and we maybe missed a few opportunities against them which would have made it a different scoreline.
“It’s a pretty big game for us this week, especially in front of our home crowd. We are in mid-table at the moment and although we are only four points off qualification we’re still mid-table and we don’t want to be a mid-table side.
“I don’t think anyone in the team believes that so we really want to kick on from this game. Besides the Saracens game they have all been pretty close, we are scoring a lot of tries and we are second in the PRO12 attack with 23 and our defence hasn’t been too bad either.
“I can’t really put a finger on it. I think there has been a few times we haven’t taken our chances, I guess it just boils down to that. The guys at the top of the table, they’ve had that momentum winning away from home and at home and you can see by the way they are playing, they are confident. So. hopefully we can win a few now and gain momentum.”
Alan Solomons (Edinburgh) – “Last Friday’s bonus point win over Dragons was important for us and we must build on that momentum, going into this match. Ulster at the Kingspan in front of a home crowd will be a tough ask, without a doubt, and we have to make sure that we are at our best. This will be a real test for the team, and especially for our strength in depth, bearing in mind our heavy injury toll.
“We have the benefit of a relatively unchanged line-up going into this match, and welcome back Anton Bresler and Dougie Fife from injury, to add stability to the second row and backs respectively. With Fraser McKenzie out, Anton’s return is particularly timely.
“Though we’ve beaten Ulster twice this season – at home in the PRO12 and in our pre-season friendly – we know we have to be absolutely at the top of our game on Friday.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Ulster – Points: Stuart McCloskey 29; Tries: Craig Gilroy 4; Edinburgh – Points: Greig Tonks 31; Tries: Damien Hoyland 3
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
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
Friday, October 16, 2015 – Edinburgh 16 Ulster 10, BT Murrayfield
MATCH FACTS:
– Ulster’s only defeat in the GUINNESS PRO12 at Kingspan Stadium since September 2013 came when Leinster were the visitors in May 2014. Since then the Ulstermen are unbeaten at home in the league in 14 matches
– The Ulstermen have lost their last three matches against Scottish opponents
– Edinburgh climbed to sixth in the table courtesy of their maximum point victory over the Dragons at BT Murrayfield last Friday (their first bonus point win since beating Zebre in April)
– The Scotsmen have won just once on their travels in the PRO12 this season: 27-24 at Benetton Treviso in round 2
– The two sides have already met this season with Edinburgh victorious at BT Murrayfield in round 4
– The Scottish outfit are attempting to achieve a season’s double over the Ulstermen for the first time since 2007/08, although they have not won in Belfast since September 2009
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