Saracens v Ulster: Champions Cup preview
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 16/01/16 2:23pm
Ireland international Jared Payne makes his return from injury in Ulster's Champions Cup clash at Saracens on Saturday.
Payne has overcome the foot injury that brought a premature end to his Rugby World Cup and starts at full-back for the trip to Allianz Park.
Ulster have lost six of their seven previous European fixtures with Saracens, including a 27-9 round two reverse in Belfast, but three successive wins has gotten their campaign back on track.
Craig Gilroy shifts to the wing to accommodate Payne's return while half-backs Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson are restored to the starting XV after sparking Ulster's stunning comeback win over Oyonnax last Sunday.
Wiehahn Herbst takes his place in the front row after recovering from a calf strain but flanker Chris Henry has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. He is replaced at openside by Sean Reidy.
Former Ulster player and coach Mark McCall has handed starting berths to seven of the eight players who made England's elite player squad, Alex Goode missing out with a slight knock.
Ben Ramson slots in at full-back and Brad Barritt returns to captain the side at inside centre, with Richard Wigglesworth partnering Owen Farrell at half-back.
Maro IItoje comes into the second row in place of Jim Hamilton while Michael Rhodes is preferred to Jackson Wray at blindside flanker.
"Ulster have players all over the field who are capable of winning games on both the domestic and international stage," said McCall, Sarries' director of rugby.
"In the past few seasons they have always been tough opponents for us, and they have made some real strides under Les Kiss in the last four or five weeks.
"Earlier this season they provided us with a really difficult game at the Kingspan Stadium and we are expecting the same again this Saturday."
Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis, 6 Michael Rhodes, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil De Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Duncan Taylor.
Ulster: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 Kyle McCall, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 4 Franco van der Merwe, 5 Alan O'Connor, 6 Robbie Diack, 7 Sean Reidy, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Black, 18 Ricky Lutton, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Clive Ross, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Rory Scholes.