Connacht v Ulster: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 11/04/15 2:43pm
Ireland trio Rory Best, Tommy Bowe and Jared Payne return to the Ulster team to face Connacht in Saturday’s Guinness PRO12 derby at the Sportsground.
They are three of 13 Ireland internationals in the visitors’ 23-man squad as they look to maintain their push for a home semi-final.
Hooker Best captains the side, with Payne partnering Darren Cave in midfield and Bowe joined in the back three by Louis Ludik and Craig Gilroy.
In the forwards, Chris Henry makes his first start since recovering from heart surgery. He starts at blindside flanker with Iain Henderson and Roger Wilson completing the back row.
Ulster have lost just once to Connacht in 17 outings, and they travel to Galway chasing a sixth win in seven PRO12 matches.
Connacht’s top-six spot is under threat after back-to-back defeats but they welcome back Bundee Aki after three months out following ankle surgery.
Aki is named in midfield alongside Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw, who switches to outside centre, while Craig Ronaldson is preferred to Jack Carty at fly-half.
"We have no doubt that Saturday will be a massive challenge against a quality Ulster side who have been up near the top of the table for the whole season,” said Connacht head coach Pat Lam.
“With their Six Nations stars back they'll be coming here all guns blazing as they vie for a home semi-final.
"But we are back on our Sportsground for the first time in six weeks and we're in a really exciting place in the league.
“We have put ourselves in a position where we still have so much to play for at this time of the season. A top-six finish is still very much in our hands”
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Craig Ronaldson, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 John Muldoon (c), 7 Eoghan Masterson, 8 George Naoupu.
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 John Cooney, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Darragh Leader.
Ulster: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Darren Cave, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 Callum Black, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 4 Dan Tuohy, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Iain Henderson, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Clive Ross, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Stuart McCloskey.
Watch Connacht v Ulster live on Sky Sports 1 on Saturday from 2.30pm
