Ferris and Best Back For Ulster

Ulster Coach Brian McLaughlin has named his side for Ulster’s final pre-season friendly match against Leeds at Ravenhill this Thursday (7.30pm) and is boosted by the return to action of Rory Best and Stephen Ferris who are each allowed to play 40 minutes under IRFU guidelines.

The side shows six changes of personnel and one positional change from the side which was defeated by Harlequins at The Stoop last Saturday.

Among the backs, Adam D’Arcy, a rugby league player from Manly in Australia who is currently on trial with Ulster is named at fullback in place of David McIlwaine while Tommy Seymour replaces Nevin Spence on the wing. Centre Darren Cave and Ian Whitten start their third consecutive game while halfbacks Niall O’Connor and Ian Porter and U20 winger Craig Gilroy retain their places from the Harlequins match.

Up front, Rory Best’s inclusion at hooker sees Nigel Brady drop to the bench and the Irish International assumes the captaincy. Tim Barker comes into the second row for Ryan Caldwell while Stephen Ferris’ availability for selection means that Robbie Diack misses out as Pedrie Wannenburg moves from the blindside flank to No8 while TJ Anderson makes room for Willie Faloon at openside.

ULSTER: (15-9) A D’Arcy; C Gilroy, D Cave, I Whitten, T Seymour, N O’Connor, I Porter: (1-8) B Young, R Best (Captain), D Fitzpatrick, J Muller, T Barker, S Ferris, W Faloon, P Wannenburg

Replacements: (16-25) N Brady, Paddy McAllister, A Macklin, R Caldwell, TJ Anderson, R Diack, M Heaney, I Humphreys, J Shiels, D McIlwaine