Jenkins back as Blues go to Ulster

KINGSPAN STADIUM 7.35pm ULSTER v CARDIFF BLUES ELLIS Jenkins will make his first start for Cardiff Blues in three months as he comes into a rejigged side for tonight’s daunting Guinness PRO12 clash with in-form Ulster out in Belfast.

The Welsh international flanker was consigned to a lengthy lay-off as he struggled to fully recover from concussion after taking a knock against Glasgow in January.

But, having returned for a brief outing as a replacement versus Leinster a fortnight ago, he now comes in to start on the blindside, with Sam Warburton and Josh Navidi switching positions in a reshuffled back row, as Nick Williams drops to the bench.

There are three further changes of personnel from the side that went down to a 46-26 defeat in last Saturday’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final at Gloucester.

Wales U20s star Rhun Williams returns to the starting line-up for the first time since February, replacing Matthew Morgan at fullback, while Willis Halaholo steps up to re-form a centre partnership with Rey Lee-Lo.

Up front, Matthew Rees starts at hooker in the place of Kristian Dacey, who is rested for the trip to the Kingspan Stadium, with Kirby Myhill drafted on to the bench.

Head coach Danny Wilson said: “We’ve got Ulster this weekend, which is a massive game away from home, and another big challenge, straight after that is the turnaround for Judgement Day V.

“We’re coming off the back of a disappointing result in Europe, so we’re fully focused on getting that right. We’ve trained well and looking forward to getting back out there. It’s now all about Ulster, which will be a really tough test, and then we will begin to look at the Ospreys.”

Ireland skipper Rory Best returns at hooker for Ulster, while fellow international Paddy Jackson resumes fly-half duties. Ulster: J Payne; C Gilroy, L Marshall, S Olding, C Piutau; P Jackson, R Pienaar; A Warwick, R Best (c), W Herbst, K Treadwell, A O’Connor, I Henderson, S Reidy, R Wilson, C Henry. Reps: R Herring, C Black, R Ah You, R Diack, N Timoney, P Marshall, J Stockdale, A Trimble. Cardiff Blues: R Williams; A Cuthbert, R Lee-Lo, W Halaholo, B Scully; G Anscombe, L Williams; G Jenkins (c), M Rees, T Filise, G Earle, J Hoeata, E Jenkins, J Navidi, S Warburton. Reps: K Myhill, C Domachowski, K Assiratti, J Down, N Williams, T Williams, S Shingler, M Morgan.