Pienaar to make debut against Glasgow

Rugby: Ruan Pienaar will make his first start for Ulster when Brian McLaughlin's side meet Glasgow tomorrow night

Ruan Pienaar practices his place kicking after Ulster training yesterday. The Springbok will start against Glasgow tomorrow night. Photograph: Darren Kidd/Inpho
Ruan Pienaar practices his place kicking after Ulster training yesterday. The Springbok will start against Glasgow tomorrow night. Photograph: Darren Kidd/Inpho

Rugby:Ruan Pienaar will make his first start for Ulster when Brian McLaughlin's side meet Glasgow tomorrow night. As expected, the Springbok will replace Paul Marshall at scrumhalf for the match at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Pienaar’s arrival from the Natal Sharks was delayed by South Africa’s involvement in the Tri-Nations and the 26-year-old landed in Belfast a fortnight ago carrying a slight shoulder injury. Now injury free, the big-name signing will make his first appearance in front of his new home crowd.

Ulster captain Rory Best will win his 100th cap for the province while Simon Danielli is restored to the left wing after recovering from a shoulder operation he had during the summer.

In all, McLaughlin has made five changes from the side held to a 15-15 draw by Connacht last weekend with Niall O’Connor named outhalf while Robbie Diack and Johann Muller return up front.

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Ulster:J Smith; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli; N O'Connor, R Pienaar; B Young, R Best, T Court; J Muller, D Tuohy; P Wannenburg, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements:N Brady, P McAllister, A Whitten, T Barker, W Faloon, P Marshall, I Whitten.