Published Thursday, 30 August 2012
Anscombe has announced the squad for his first competitive game with Ulster. (© Pacemaker)
Mark Anscombe has handed competitive debuts to new signings Sean Doyle, Nick Williams, Rob Herring and Michael Heaney.
Doyle and Williams will be joined in the back row by Robbie Diack, while Johann Muller continues as skipper alongside Lewis Stevenson.
In the front row, Irish qualified South African hooker Herring is joined by props Callum Black and John Afoa.
Behind the scrum, Heaney will start at scrumhalf where he is partnered by former Methodist College schoolmate Paddy Jackson at halfback.
Luke Marshall and Chris Farrell will form an all new centre partnership in the youthful backline.
Right wing Michael Allen will make only his second ever appearance for the Province, while Craig Gilroy - the most capped player in the backline with 43 caps - will play on the other flank.
The back three is completed by fullback Jared Payne who will play his first Pro12 game since he ruptured his Achilles tendon against Cardiff nearly a year ago.
On the bench the eight replacements, with over 500 caps between them, will support the less experienced starting 15. Included on the bench are Ireland squad members Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Paul Marshall and Darren Cave.
The new Ulster coach is expecting a tough challenge from the travelling Scots.
"They have named a strong side as we expected and they will provide a formidable test. They have brought a few Internationals into the starting lineup and have another couple on the bench," he said.
"We have a strong bench too but we will see how the game pans out. Our Internationals on the bench haven't played much rugby or had much contact but if we need to use them we will. I'm really excited about this game, hopefully we can start the season off with a good win."
Ulster XV & replacements:
(15-9): J Payne; M Allen, C Farrell, L Marshall, C Gilroy; P Jackson, M Heaney;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (c), L Stevenson, R Diack, S Doyle, N Williams.
Replacements (16-23): N Brady, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, N McComb, M McComish, P Marshall, N O'Connor, D Cave.