Ulster v Clermont Auvergne: Rory Best back for Champions Cup clash

Rory Best returns to captain Ulster

Ulster welcome back Rory Best and Paddy Jackson for Saturday's must-win Champions Cup tie with Clermont Auvergne, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 12.30pm.

Best returns at hooker after captaining Ireland during their historic November series, with Jackson named at fly-half as Ulster seek an eighth win in nine home games against French opposition.

There are two further changes to the team that were five-try winners at Cardiff Blues last weekend as Robbie Diack comes into the second row and Louis Ludik is named on the wing.

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Pool 5 leaders Clermont have picked up maximum points from their opening two games against Exeter and Bordeaux, and they travel to Belfast seeking a sixth successive win over Irish opposition.

The two-time finalists have made wholesale changes to the side that lost 40-35 at Pau last weekend as French internationals Wesley Fofana and Scott Spedding are restored to their backline.

Camille Lopez resumes his half-back partnership with Morgan Parra with former England internationals David Strettle and Nick Abendanon named on the wings.

Ulster: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Louis Ludik, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 Kyle McCall, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 4 Pete Browne, 5 Robbie Diack, 6 Iain Henderson, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Sean Reidy.

Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Clive Ross, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Darren Cave, 23 Jacob Stockdale.

Clermont Auvergne: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 David Strettle, 13 Remi Lamerat, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Nick Abendanon, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra; 1 Raphael Chaume, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 4 Flip Van Der Merwe, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 6 Damien Chouly (c), 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 8 Peceli Yato.

Replacements: 16 Yohan Beheregaray, 17 Etienne Falgoux, 18 Clément Ric, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Camille Gerondeau, 21 Ludovic Radosavljevic , 22 Benson Stanley, 23 Alivereti Raka.

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