Return of big guns a bonus for Ulster

Ulster v ConnachtWHILE CONNACHT cannot afford to drop a prop like World Cup-winning John Afoa straight into their side, they will travel to Belfast as the team with marginally the better record in this season's RaboDirect PRO12 competition.

The New Zealand World Cup winner, Afoa, arrived in Belfast on Wednesday and debuts at tighthead in place of Declan Fitzpatrick.

The 28-year-old, signed from the Auckland Blues in March, made two appearances for the All Blacks as they went on to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy two weeks ago.

Connacht make six changes to last week’s team, two in the pack and four in the backline as they seek to hold their position, one place and two points ahead of their Ulster cousins.

Eric Elwood’s side have been good in picking up losing bonus points. While they have won three matches, they have also taken points from three of their defeats.

Ulster are without Springbok, Ruan Pienaar who pulled a hamstring in training, but they do have a heavyweight duo returning from the World Cup.

Hooker Rory Best and blindside flank Stephen Ferris will make their first starts for Ulster (Ferris, since January), while Paul Marshall, who started the opening six games of the competition, replaces Pienaar at scrumhalf.

Darren Cave partners Paddy Wallace in midfield with a lively back three of Craig Gilroy, Andrew Trimble and Simon Danielli. Best and Afoa are joined by Tom Court in an international-flavoured front row, while lock Johann Muller will continue as captain.

Pedrie Wannenburg moves to number eight to accommodate Ferris, with Chris Henry starting at openside.

That’s a decent pack by any standards and given that Elwood is giving Eoghan Grace his debut start at openside, it could be a baptism of fire for the former Ireland under-20 player. TJ Anderson reacquaints himself with his old Ulster team-mates at blindside.

Paul O’Donohoe has played in all but one of Connacht’s matches this season and partners outhalf Miah Nikora, who made his comeback from injury last weekend. Dave McSharry, earning his first full cap, links with captain Gavin Duffy in the centre while Fetuu Vainikolo and Brian Tuohy line up on the wings.

Versatile Tiernan O’Halloran is at fullback.

“They have a settled team and have started the season very well,” said Ulster coach Brian McLoughlin of tonight’s rivals.

“Three wins and three losing bonus points suggests that they are going to be very difficult opposition, but we know that already. They are quick starters so we will have to be ready at the off.”

Tradition is with Ulster, even though they have lost their last four games.

Astonishingly, Connacht have beaten them just once in the past eight seasons and have not won in Belfast since 1960, the year Elvis Presley’s It’s Now or Never hit number one.

ULSTER: S Danielli; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, P Marshall; T Court, R Best, J Afoa; J Muller, D Tuohy; S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg. Replacements: A Kyriacou, P McAllister, A Macklin, L Stevenson, R Diack, I Porter, N Spence, A D'Arcy.

CONNACHT: T O'Halloran; F Vainkolo, G Duffy , D McSharry, B Tuohy; M Nikora, P O'Donoghue; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Ah You; M Swift, M McCarthy; TJ Anderson, E Grace, G Naoupu. Replacements: E Reynecke, R Loughney, D Rogers, D Gannon, J Muldoon, F Murphy, N O'Connor, M Jarvis.

Referee: J Lacey (IRFU).

Verdict: Home win.