Ulster make seven changes to face Dragons

Tommy Bowe will make his first start since the start of December when Ulster seek to bounce back from their Heineken Cup disappointment against the Newport Gwent Dragons tomorrow night.

The Ireland international is one of seven changes made by coach Mark Anscombe to the side that was defeated by Saracens last weekend.

Paul Marshall (concussion), Jared Payne (ankle) and Johann Muller (torn bicep) are all ruled out through injury while Paddy Jackson, Chris Henry and Andrew Trimble are all rested for the match at Ravenhill.

New Zealand prop John Afoa has been granted leave to return home again. The tighthead, who came back from New Zealand last Wednesday to play against Saracens, will make his third trip to New Zealand since January to be with his family.

Ulster (v Dragons, Friday 7.05pm): P Nelson, T Bowe, D Cave, S Olding, C Gilroy; R Pienaar, P Marshall; T Court, R Best, R Lutton; I Henderson, D Tuohy; R Diack, M McComish, N Williams. Replacements: R Herring, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, A Birch, N O’Connor, M Allen, A D’Arcy.