AFTER conquering the Scots, Ulster now turn their attention to the Italian job as they prepare for three consecutive PRO12 matches against teams from that part of the world.
Tomorrow afternoon’s game against Zebre at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi will be followed by home matches against Benetton Treviso and a return match with tomorrow’s opponents as Ulster try and keep the push on for a top-four spot.
They travel in confidence with wins over Edinburgh and Glasgow in their last two games keeping them on the coattails of fourth-placed Scarlets.
Ulster’s pursuit of a semi-final spot ensures that it’s big occasion, and it will be an extra memorable experience for winger Tommy Bowe as the Monaghan man is set to make his 150th appearance for the province.
Bowe is just one of six players to retain his place from last week’s win over Glasgow as Les Kiss has made nine changes in all.
Rob Herring, who will captain the side, Andy Warwick, Wiehahn Herbst, Robbie Diack, Alan O’Connor and Clive Ross all come in up front while Stuart Olding, Charle Piutau and Jacob Stockdale have been brought in at the back.
Stockdale was an early replacement against Glasgow and caught the eye with two tries as Ulster racked up a 37-17 bonus-point win.
While Kiss has made wholesale changes to his starting team, it’s the appearance of Jared Payne on the replacements’ list that has garnered the most interest.
This will be Payne’s first involvement in a matchday squad since picking up a kidney injury in Ireland’s 27-24 victory over Australia back in November and he will be hoping for some action as Ulster aim for a third consecutive win in this competition.
They showed a real clinical edge against Glasgow last time out, moving into a 10-point lead at the break despite the Scottish side having the majority of possession in the first half.
Kiss’s men managed five tries in all and they’ll be hoping for another bonus-point win against a Zebre side currently propping up the table.
The Italians will be hugely under strength as 11 or their players are on international duty as Conor O’Shea’s international side travel to Twickenham to take on England, also set to take place tomorrow afternoon.
Flanker Johan Meyer and centre Tommaso Castello do return to the squad though after missing their last game against Scarlets.
Zebre have only won one PRO12 game this year – away to Edinburgh – and their last home match saw them lose by 30 points to Ospreys.
Elsewhere, reigning champions Connacht may be out of the race for a semi-final spot, but they will also be aiming for a third consecutive win as they visit Benetton Treviso tomorrow.
The side have beaten Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons in their last two fixtures, and head coach Pat Lam has recalled Bundee Aki to his starting team for this game after he recovered from an ankle injury.
Treviso have a poor record against Connacht having won just four of their 13 previous PRO12 games - although one of those wins did come in Connacht’s title-winning season last year.
The Italian outfit are currently second bottom in the table, one place above Zebre.
SCARLETS claimed the scalp of Guinness PRO12 leaders Munster with a stunning 30-21 comeback win at Thomond Park.
The Welsh region won at the Limerick ground for only the second time - they were 19-12 winners back in September 2003 - to give a big boost to their play-off hopes.
Despite a sloppy start, converted tries from Jaco Taute, Darren Sweetnam and Conor Oliver gave Munster a commanding 21-6 half-time lead, with Dan Jones booting two penalties for the Welshmen in reply.
However, Scarlets really got their running game going in the third quarter, pouncing for three quick-fire tries from Hadleigh Parkes, Johnny McNicholl and Tom Williams as the hosts' poor kicking and defending was ruthlessly punished.
Jones kicked a penalty and added all three conversions and although they finished strongly, Rassie Erasmus' men could not avoid their first defeat in nine PRO12 matches.
LEINSTER moved to the top of the Guinness PRO12 table after hammering Newport Gwent Dragons 54-22.
With Irish rivals Munster losing at home to the Scarlets, Leinster's power-play in the second half put them out of sight of the Dragons.
They scored first-half tries from number eight Jack Cowan, who got two, before scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, hooker Richard Strauss and his replacement James Tracy, replacement Hayden Triggs and two from scrum-half sub Luke McGrath put the Irishman home and dry.
Fly-half Ross Byrne kicked seven conversions against Dragons tries from wing Adam Hughes, lock Matthew Screech and one at the end from replacement scrum-half Sarel Pretorius. Fly-half Dorian Jones booted two conversions and a penalty.
