Ulster make 11 changes for Glasgow rematch

Ulster have welcomed back 11 players who did not feature in last weekend's defeat against Glasgow, for their Pro12 semi-final against the same oppositon in the same venue.

Head coach Neil Doak can call upon 10 international players who sat out the 32-10 defeat for Friday night's encounter at Scotstoun (kick off 7.45pm).

The starting fifteen now boasts an impressive 304 test caps, Tommy Bowe is reinstated on the right wing. with the Pro12's joint top try scorer Craig Gilroy returning to the left flank.

Jared Payne and Darren Cave are paired in midfield, with Paddy Jackson named at outhalf and Springbok, Ruan Pienaar, coming back in at scrumhalf.

Up front, captain Rory Best, is joined by Emerging Ireland props Callum Black and Lutton in the front row.

Louis Ludik, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson and Chris Henry are the four retained from the starting XV that played last Saturday.

Rob Herring, who was cleared of illegal stamping by a Pro12 disciplinary committee on Thursday night and is selected as a replacement.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend has made two personnel changes with scrum-half Henry Pyrgos and hooker Fraser Brown coming into the team.

Townsend says he’s expecting “a big challenge facing one of the best sides in Europe for the second time in a week and it’s knock-out rugby now so we know what’s at stake.

“We’ve had some epic battles with Ulster over the last few seasons and they’ll be eager to reverse the scoreline from last week.

“Tomorrow we expect to be playing in front of another sell-out crowd at Scotstoun for a place in another final and everyone at the club is really looking forward to the match.”

Ulster: L Ludik; T Bowe, J Payne, D Cave, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar; C Black, R Best, R Lutton; L Stevenson, D Tuohy; I Henderson, C Henry, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, B Ross, R Diack, S Reidy, P Marshall, S McCloskey, M Allen.

Glasgow Warriors: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Richie Vernon, Peter Horne, Niko Matawalu; Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos; Ryan Grant, Fraser Brown, Rossouw de Klerk, Jonny Gray, Al Kellock, Josh Strauss; Chris Fusaro, Adam Ashe.

Replacements: Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid, Mike Cusack, Leone Nakarawa, Ryan Wilson, Duncan Weir, Sean Lamont, DTH van der Merwe.