Ulster team named for crucial Zebre match

There are four changes to the starting team that faced Cardiff Blues on Sunday afternoon, one of which is Rob Herring, who returns to the side as captain.

Herring is joined in the front row by Kyle McCall at loosehead prop and Ricky Lutton at tighthead.

The rest of the pack is unchanged, with Peter Browne and Franco van der Merwe paired in the second row and Robbie Diack, Chris Henry and Nick Williams selected in the loose forward positions.

Rory Scholes comes into the backline and is named on the right wing, with Craig Gilroy moving to fullback and Jacob Stockdale retained on the left flank.

With Sammy Arnold unavailable due to a hamstring injury, Stuart Olding will switch from fullback to inside centre. He will be joined in midfield by Luke Marshall, who signed a contract extension with the Province earlier this week.

Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson will continue their half back partnership.

Paul Marshall has overcome a virus and has been selected on the bench, while Sam Windsor and Darren Cave will also provide backline cover. John Andrew, Callum Black, Andy Warwick, Roger Wilson and Sean Reidy are the forward replacements.

Tickets for the game are still available via www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.

Ulster team and replacements to play Zebre, Guinness PRO12, Kingspan Stadium, Friday 4th March, 7.35pm:
(15-9): C Gilroy, R Scholes, L Marshall, S Olding, J Stockdale, P Jackson, R Pienaar;
(1-8): K McCall, R Herring (captain), R Lutton, P Browne, F van der Merwe, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;

Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, C Black, A Warwick, R Wilson, S Reidy, P Marshall, S Windsor, D Cave.