Ulster v Leinster (Fri)

Ulster welcome back Jared Payne from suspension and Roger Wilson after injury for Friday’s crunch Pro12 game against Leinster in Belfast.

Payne starts at outside centre, relegating Darren Cave to the bench, while Andrew Warwick comes in at prop.

For retiring captain Johann Muller and London Irish-bound Tom Court the match could be their final one at Ravenhill.

Leinster have named a team packed with Ireland internationals, including Brian O’Driscoll, who is also set to retire.

Payne was banned for two weeks for a dangerous tackle on Alex Goode in Ulster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat by Saracens last month.

Wilson sustained a broken thumb in the same match, but has been passed fit to play after seeing a specialist earlier this week.

Brian O’Driscoll starts for Leinster against Ulster

Warwick replaces back injury victim Ricky Lutton for the Irish interprovincial, with Callum Black, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, on the bench.

John Afoa (leg) is still absent, as is Declan Fitzpatrick, who recently underwent tests for an irregular heartbeat after suffering palpitations.

Stephen Ferris is again ruled out after suffering an ankle injury in training.

Fit-again Dan Touhy is handed a place among the replacements, but Rory Best, Ruan Pienaar and Robbie Diack may not feature again this season.

Paul Marshall, Paddy Jackson and Luke Marshall will play inside Payne, with Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble and Ricky Andrew continuing in the back three.

Warwick will be joined in the front row by hooker Rob Herring and Court, with Iain Henderson partnering Muller in the second row.

Wilson’s inclusion at blindside flanker means Chris Henry will switch to the other side of the scrum, while Nick Williams will remain at number eight.

Leinster make four changes to the team which accounted for Treviso last time out in a bonus point nine-try win at the RDS, while there is also a welcome return to the bench for Luke Fitzgerald.

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Ulster can thrive on pressure – Henry

The front and second rows are unchanged with Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Martin Moore lining up with Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy locking down behind. In the back row there is one change with Shane Jennings coming in for Jordi Murphy.

Elsewhere it is as you were, with Rhys Ruddock and Jamie Heaslip captaining the side from the base of the scrum.

Rob Kearney continues at full-back with Zane Kirchner on the right wing but there is a change on the left with Dave Kearney replacing man-of-the-match from the Treviso game, Darragh Fanning.

Gordon D’Arcy and O’Driscoll are together once again with Noel Reid the one to make way for D’Arcy following his two try performance last time out.

In the half backs, Ian Madigan starts in place of Jimmy Gopperth with Isaac Boss beside him at nine.

Leinster enjoy a five-point lead over Glasgow at the top of the table, with two sets of fixtures remaining before the semi-final play-off line-up is finalised.

Munster lie third in the table, with fourth-placed Ulster nine points adrift of their opponents at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Ulster will hope for a major improvement in their performance following an under-par showing in the 27-9 defeat by Glasgow in Scotstoun.

Ulster:


R Andrew; A Trimble, J Payne, L Marshall, T Bowe; P Jackson, P Marshall; T Court, R Herring, A Warwick; J Muller (capt), I Henderson; R Wilson, C Henry, N Williams.
Replacements:


N Annett, C Black, A Macklin, D Tuohy, S Doyle, M Heaney, J McKinney, D Cave.

Leinster:


R Kearney; Z Kirchner, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, D Kearney; I Madigan, I Boss; C Healy, S Cronin, M Moore; D Toner, M McCarthy; R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Heaslip (capt).
Replacements:


R Strauss, J McGrath, M Ross, L Cullen, J Murphy, L McGrath, J Gopperth, L Fitzgerald.

Article source: http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rugby/kenny-murray-joins-glasgow-warriors-coaching-team.1374834627

Ulster v Leinster (Fri)