Newport Gwent Dragons v Ulster: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 06/03/15 4:04pm
Iain Henderson returns to the Ulster back row for Sunday’s Guinness PRO12 clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.
Henderson has been released from international duty with Ireland and is one of two changes to the team that beat the Scarlets last weekend.
The other comes in midfield, where Samoa international Mike Stanley makes his first start in place of the suspended Luke Marshall, who has been banned for five weeks for kicking Scarlets wing Michael Tagicakibau.
Stanley’s centre partner Darren Cave will captain his province for the first time as Ulster seek a fifth successive PRO12 victory.
The Dragons crashed to a disastrous defeat against Zebre last weekend but they welcome back Wales international Andrew Coombs from injury for the visit of the Ulstermen.
Coombs starts in the second row alongside Cory Hill, while the only other change sees James Benjamin selected at openside flanker.
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Geraint Rhys Jones, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Jack Dixon, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Jonathan Evans; 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 T Rhys Thomas (c), 3 Brok Harris, 4 Andrew Coombs, 5 Cory Hill, 6 James Thomas, 7 James Benjamin, 8 Nick Crosswell.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Phil Price, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Scott Matthews, 21 Luc Jones, 22 Carl Meyer, 23 Ashton Hewitt.
Ulster: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Darren Cave (c), 12 Michael Stanley, 11 Mike Allen, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 Callum Black, 2 Rob Herring, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 4 Dan Tuohy, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Iain Henderson, 7 Clive Ross, 8 Nick Williams.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Robbie Diack, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Sam Arnold, 23 Rory Scholes.
