Guinness PRO12: Cardiff Blues v Ulster
(Sunday, Cardiff Arms Park, 2.30pm, live on BBC2 NI)
PADDY JACKSON will continue his captaincy of Ulster while Nick Williams returns for their Guinness PRO12 trip to play Cardiff Blues on Sunday.
The fly-half skippered them for the first time in their 21-20 defeat by Scarlets last weekend and, having been left out of the Ireland 23 for Twickenham, he pairs up with the returning Ruan Pienaar.
Williams returns from injury to lead a strong back-row that has Robbie Diack and Chris Henry on the flanks. Sammy Arnold and Luke Marshall will start together in midfield for the first time, with Craig Gilroy, Stuart Olding and Jacob Stockdale continuing in the back-three.
With Rob Herring still unavailable, John Andrew is retained at hooker having made his first start for Ulster last weekend, while Pete Browne and Franco van der Merwe combine in the second-row.
Ricky Lutton, who will start on the bench after signing a new one-year contract extension during the week, insists Ulster have belief in themselves, despite a frustrating few weeks.
“We're very positive. We know the chances we create and we know we're a good team, you know. The set-piece has been generally solid," Lutton said.
“Our backs, the likes of Gilroy and Olding, Stockdale, these guys are lethal finishers, so if we can create the space and give them good quick ball, they will score tries and will beat teams. We firmly believe, on our day, there's very few teams can live with us.”
Cardiff, meanwhile, make six changes from the side that was beaten 14-13 at home by Leinster last weekend. Welsh winger Tom James, who made his return to international duty in his county’s 16-16 draw in Dublin earlier this month, is released to line-up in a new-look back line for the hosts.
Josh Turnbull is also in the back-row after being released by Warren Gatland, while there are first starts for academy prospects Tomos Williams at scrum-half and prop Bradley Thyer.
They have beaten Connacht and Scarlets in recent home games, while Leinster were fortunate to hang on six days ago amid a late flurry of pressure. Five of the Blues’ last seven games will take place on the artificial surface at the Arms Park and they will be hoping to begin a propulsion up the table against Les Kiss’ side on Sunday.
"It's another crucial home game at a venue where we are always extremely motivated to win,” said Cardiff boss Danny Wilson.
"We are back in front of our passionate home supporters and we were very disappointed to lose last weekend. We need to bounce back with a win. Ulster are a good side, home or away they always perform, and they have depth to their squad, despite international call-ups.
"They are a very dangerous side and they will be motivated by the narrow loss to Scarlets last weekend. Ulster play good, open rugby, so it should make for an entertaining game.”
MATCH STATS
Ulster: S Olding; C Gilroy, L Marshall, S Arnold, J Stockdale; P Jackson, R Pienaar; C Black, J Andrew, B Ross; P Browne, F van der Merwe; R Diack, C Henry, N Williams; Replacements: J Murphy, K McCall, R Lutton, R Wilson, S Reidy, P Marshall, D Cave, R Scholes
Cardiff Blues: D Fish; B Scully, A Summerhill, R Lee-Lo, T James; R Patchell, T Williams; B Thyer, M Rees, S Ma’afu; J Hoeata, J Down; J Turnbull, E Jenkins, M Vosawai; Replacements: K Dacey, T Davies, T Filise, M Cook, J Navidi, L Jones, J Evans, G Smith
