Magners League play-off: Ulster Rugby Starting XV v Leinster Rugby

Brian McLaughlin has made just one change to the starting XV as Ulster face Leinster at the RDS tomorrow hoping to book their place in the Magners League Grand Final (KO 7.05pm).

Tim Barker comes in to replace Dan Tuohy who injured a hamstring against the Dragons last week and was ruled out after an MRI scan. Neil McComb is the only change on the bench as he takes the place vacated by Barker. McLaughlin will also be without Willie Faloon who injured his shoulder in training two weeks ago and will undergo surgery this Thursday to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Leinster have lost just once in the Magners League at the RDS since September 2008: 12-17 to Ospreys in last season’s Grand Final. Heineken Cup finalists Leinster are possibly the form side in Europe at present and have won their last 5 games in all competitions.

Ulster have also been in good form; the 34-26 loss against Leinster at the RDS last month was their only defeat in their last 9 matches in the Magners League. McLaughlin will be expecting his team to start this game with more intensity as they never fully recovered from conceding three tries in the opening 13 minutes last month.

Ulster Team v Leinster (Magners League, RDS, Friday 13th May, kick-off 7.05pm)
(15-9): A D’Arcy; C Gilroy, D Cave, N Spence, S Danielli; I Humphreys, R Pienaar;
(1-8): T Court, R Best (capt), D Fitzpatrick, J Muller, T Barker, P Wannenburg, C Henry, R Diack;
Replacements (16-23): A Kyriacou, P McAllister, J Cronin, N McComb, T Anderson, P Marshall, I Whitten, C Gaston.