Treviso tough nuts to crack at home

RUGBY:IN A month where attentions have been diverted towards the international stage, Ulster have been holding their own nicely in the Magners League. While they lost to Munster in Belfast two weeks ago they come into tonight's game against the Italians having comprehensively trimmed Cardiff Blues last week.

Paddy Wallace is back in the centre, having been released by Declan Kidney this week. Wallace reforms his partnership with Darren Cave, who has recovered from a hamstring injury. That forces last week’s centre pairing of Nevin Spence and Ian Whitten to the bench. The heralded Craig Gilroy, who scored two tries last week, retains his place on the wing, with Adam D’Arcy at fullback and Scottish international Simon Danielli on the other side.

In the front row, Bryan Young replaces Paddy McAllister, while a neck injury to Johann Muller means Tim Barker is called into the engine room alongside Ireland’s Dan Tuohy. Injury to Robbie Diack forces a rejig there and Chris Henry moves from openside flanker to number eight with Willie Faloon coming in.

Treviso have won four of their five homes games so far in the league and are building something of a reputation in Stadio Monigo.

BENETTON TREVISO: K Burton; L Nitoglia, A Pratichetti, G Garcia, J Maddock; W De Waal, T Botes; I Rouyet, E ceccato, P Di Santo; A Pavenello (c), C Van Zyl, F Minto, V Bernabo, M Filippucci. Replacements: F Sbaraglini, M Muccignat, A Allori, E Pavanello, C Padro, B De Jager, F Semenzato, M Sepe.

ULSTER: A D’Arcy; C Gilroy, D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli; I Humphreys, P Marshall; B Young, N Brady, BJ Botha, T Barker, D Tuohy, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, C Henry (c). Replacements: A Kyriacou, P McAllister, J Cronin, N McComb, A Birch, I Porter, I Whitten, N Spence.

Referee: G Knox (SRU).

Verdict: Treviso.