Magners League team news: Stephen Ferris will make his first competitive appearance since injury cut short his Lions tour when Ulster take on Magners League leaders Edinburgh tomorrow night. The inclusion of Ferris and second row Neil McComb are the only changes to Brian McLaughlin's side.
Having been rested under the IRFU’s World Cup performance plan for last weekend’s morale boosting win over the Ospreys, Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace have to settle for places on the replacements bench.
And there is no place in the match day 22 for Ireland international Tom Court, with McLaughlin clearly reluctant to tamper unduly with a much-needed winning formula.
“We came out all guns blazing last weekend against the Ospreys, and performed very well,” McLaughlin said today. “We must play like this time and time again, maintaining that level of play and driving it forward.
“Our defence was good, our set pieces were strong, our passing was more accurate and our finishing was clinical.
“There are always areas in which we can improve, and most importantly we need to ensure there is continuity in our game week in week out. We know there are no easy games in professional rugby anymore; they are all hard fought down to the wire.”
Gordon D’Arcy, Natan Hines and Eoin Reddan – all replacements when Leinster overcame the Dragons last Saturday – have been named in starting line-up for tomorrow’s clash with the Ospreys.
Isa Nacewa, who has excelled at fullback so far this term, is expecting an Ospreys backlash following their defeat to Ulster.
"The Ospreys will prove to be a stiff test for us coming, as it does, after having lost their last game at home to Ulster. Like us they have a proud record at home and I'm sure that they'll be determined to get back to winning ways so we'll need to be focused and wary of them.
"We've seen a fair bit of the Ospreys in recent weeks and they're an extremely talented side. Friday's game will have a Super 14 feel to it with Jerry Collins, Filo Tiatia and Marty Holah. They're three top class performers and I've played against them back in New Zealand. It will be a real battle up front to match them, but we know that the Ospreys have a lot of other threats.”
Connacht bring in Brett Wilkinson and new signing Miah Nikora for their meeting with Cardiff.
Prop Robbie Morris and centre Niva Ta'auso were not considered available to coach Michael Bradley due to injury.
Ulster(v Edinburgh): Clinton Scifcofske; Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli; Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss; Bryan Young, Andi Kyriacou, Brendon Botha; Neil McComb, Ed O'Donoghue; Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, Chris Henry. Replacements: Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Tamiati Horua, Robbie Diack, Cillian Willis, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble
Leinster(v Ospreys): Isa Nacewa; Shane Horgan, Gordon D'Arcy, Shaun Berne, David Kearney; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, John Fogarty, Stan Wright; Nathan Hines, Malcolm O'Kelly; Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings, Sean O'Brien. Replacements(from): Bernard Jackman, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Stephen Keogh, Chris Keane, Fergus McFadden, Simon Keogh
Connacht(v Cardiff): Gavin Duffy; Brian Tuohy, Troy Nathan, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr; Miah Nikora, Frank Murphy; Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan; Andrew Browne, Bernie Upton; John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa, Mike McComish. Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney, Mike McCarthy, Johnny O'Connor, Conor O'Loughlin, Ian Keatley, Aidan Wynne
