Ulster v DragonsULSTER'S HASTY sprint from the starting blocks this season was halted by Ospreys but that shouldn't knock the province back in this week's meeting with Dragons.

The home side have injuries in the frontrow but will present their Springbok speedster Tonderai Chavhanga for the first time to Pro 12 rugby. That should not deter Brian McLaughlin, who has made three personnel changes to the Ulster side and one positional.

Adam D’Arcy comes in at fullback for Jared Payne who drew a dead leg last week, while Nigel Brady comes in as hooker and Willie Faloon at openside flanker.

Ulster’s undoing against Ospreys was, in part, due to the number of penalties they gave away and McLaughlin is determined that greater discipline should provide a better platform. Ian Humphreys and Darren Cave are still injured and are losses in the back line.

Dragons have won just one match from four – against Aironi at home.

Ulster beat Dragons at Rodney Parade as recently as May. Given Dragons coach Darren Edwards has acknowledged they could have “teething problems” a repeat of that result is not an outrageous possibility.

DRAGONS: M Thomas; T Chavhanga, T Riley, A Smith, M Poole; J Tovey, W Evans; N Williams, T Willis, N Buck; A Jones, R Sidoli; L Evans, G Thomas, A Coombs. Replacements: R Buckley, P Price, K Jenkins D Waters, J Groves, J Bedford, G O'Driscoll, M Jones.

ULSTER: A D'Arcy; C Gilroy, N Spence, L Marshall, I Whitten; P Jackson, P Marshall; D Fitzpatrick, N Brady, J Cronin; L Stevenson, D Tuohy; P Wannenburg, W Faloon, C Henry. Replacements: A Kyriacou, K McCall, A Macklin, T Barker, R Diak, I Porter, J McKinny, C Gaston.

Referee: N Paterson (SRU).

Verdict: Ulster win.