GUINNESS PRO12: Paddy Jackson named on bench for Ulster in Dragons clash
Irish centre Luke Marshall is set to join the Centurions Club at Ulster when the Province face Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in the Guinness PRO12.
The midfield will win his 100th Ulster cap, a little over six years since he made his club debut against Munster. Marshall will form an experienced midfield partnership alongside Darren Cave, with the pair racking up 291 caps for the province between them.
Ireland duo Iain Henderson and Jared Payne return to the starting XV at blind-side flanker and full-back respectively, while Paddy Jackson is included among the replacements.
Charles Piutau and Craig Gilroy will occupy the wing berths, forming an exciting back three with Payne for the second game in succession.
The half-back partnership of Ruan Pienaar and Stuart Olding, which functioned so well in the record breaking ten-try win over Zebre last time out, is also retained.
Up front Rob Herring will captain the side from hooker and he will be joined in the front row by Andy Warwick and Wiehahn Herbst.
Kieran Treadwell and Alan O’Connor are paired once again in the engine room, while Sean Reidy comes in to join Chris Henry and Henderson in the back row.
John Andrew, Callum Black and Rodney Ah You provide the front row cover from the bench along with fellow forwards Robbie Diack and Clive Ross. Paul Marshall and Jacob Stockdale are named alongside Jackson as backline replacements.
Ulster: J Payne, C Gilroy, L Marshall, D Cave, C Piutau, S Olding, R Pienaar; A Warwick, R Herring (C), W Herbst, K Treadwell, A O’Connor, I Henderson, C Henry, S Reidy;
Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, C Black, R Ah You, R Diack, C Ross, P Marshall, P Jackson, J Stockdale.