Ulster line-up shows major changes

Team news: Mark McCall has today named a very different Ulster side from that team that was defeated in Llanelli last weekend…

Team news:Mark McCall has today named a very different Ulster side from that team that was defeated in Llanelli last weekend.

With Eddie O'Sullivan selecting six Ulster players for the Autumn International against South Africa, Ulster are without six members of the starting line up from last weekend.

The team shows a further two changes to the starting line-up with Mark Bartholomeusz replacing the injured Bryn Cunningham and Tim Barker coming in for Matt McCullough.

Former Ulster Academy player Paul McKenzie who signed a development contract at the start of this season is named on the bench for the first time.

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Meanwhile, Lifiemi Mafi will make his first start for Munster when he lines out in the centre with Barry Murphy for Munster's Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets in Stradey Park on Sunday (5.35pm).

Mafi takes over from Trevor Halstead who is named on the bench in a Munster side that will be led by Mick O'Driscoll.

There are ten changes from the side that played against Edinburgh in mid-October. Munster completed their preparations this afternoon in Thomond Park where Anthony Horgan and Christian Cullen took part in training.

Meanwhile, James Bater will lead the Scarlets out for the first time on Sunday. The Scarlets show nine changes, one positional, from the side that defeated Ulster last Friday in the Heineken Cup.

In the Leinster camp Christian Warner will make his 50 thappearance for the province against the Dragons as one of seven changes to the starting XV who started last week's narrow defeat away to Edinburgh.

Luke Fitzgerald starts at full-back and is joined in a pacy-looking back three by Gary Brown and Denis Hickie.

In the pack, there is a first start for Samoan international prop Fosi Pala'amo while Owen Finegan will partner Cameron Jowitt in the second row.

Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson and Jamie Heaslip continue in the back row, while the side will be captained by Felipe Contepomi.

Kick-off at Donnybrook is at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Ulster: Mark Bartholomeusz; Scott Young; Kevin Maggs; Paul Steinmetz ; Andrew Maxwell; David Humphreys; Kieran Campbell; Justin Fitzpatrick; Paul Shields; Simon Best; Justin Harrison (C); Tim Barker; Stephen Ferris; Kieron Dawson; Roger Wilson

Replacements: Nigel Brady; Declan Fitzpatrick; Matt McCullough; Neil McMillan; Paul Marshall; Adam Larkin; Paul McKenzie

Munster:Darragh Hurley, Andy Kyriacou, Federico Pucciariello, Chris Wyatt, Mick O'Driscoll (C), John O'Sullivan, Tim McGann, Alan Quinlan, Tomas O'Leary, Jeremy Manning, Ian Dowling, Lifeimi Mafi, Barry Murphy, John Kelly, Shaun Payne

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tim Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, James Coughlan, Gerry Hurley, Eoghan Hickey, Trevor Halstead.

Leinster:Luke Fitzgerald, Gary Brown, Kieran Lewis, Christian Warner, Denis Hickie, Felipe Contepomi, Cillian Willis, Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, Fosi Pala'amo, Owen Finegan, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: Reggie Corrigan, Harry Vermaas, Adam Byrnes, Niall Ronan, Andrew Dunne, Michael Berne, Ross McCarron