Marshall back in midfield as Ulster try to keep European dream alive

LUKE MARSHALL WILL make his first start since October when Ulster face the Scarlets in the Champions Cup on Sunday.

The Irish international has recovered from a knee injury and returns as one of three changes for the game in Parc y Scarlets (5.15pm).

Wiehahn Herbst and Nick Williams are both ruled out with hamstring injuries and so Declan Fitzpatrick starts at tighthead and Clive Ross comes into the back row at openside with Roger Wilson shifting in to eight.

Last week’s bonus point win at Kingspan Stadium was Ulster’s first following back-to-back defeats to start the competition.

Neil Doak’s side sit third in Pool 3 behind Toulon and Leicester and are 15/2 outsiders to qualify for the knockout stages.

Ulster

15. Louis Ludik
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Darren Cave
12. Luke Marshall
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Ian Humphreys
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Callum Black
2. Rory Best (c)
3. Declan Fitzpatrick
4. Dan Tuohy
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Robbie Diack
7. Clive Ross
8. Roger Wilson

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Bronson Ross
19. Alan O’Connor
20. Mike McComish
21. Paul Marshall
22. Michael Heaney
23. Michael Allen

Five changes as Leinster partner Fitzgerald and Madigan in midfieldJJ Hanrahan starts – Here’s the Munster team to face Clermont