Conbeer targets next Irish scalp

ALL eyes will be on Kingspan Stadium for a variety of reasons today when Ulster host the Scarlets.

- ROB COLE

The home side are seeking to extend their winning run to seven games and will be looking to complete a Grand Slam over the four Welsh regions this season. Even more importantly, fans will be welcomed back to watch the game live.

Provision has been made to allow 1,000 supporters to attend the match in Belfast under strict Covid guidelines. The experiment is being seen as a vital first step to safely opening up stadia across the tournament to try to steer the professional game back to something like normality.

The Scarlets return to Ireland a week after beating Connacht 20-14 in a windswept Galway. Next week they face another unbeaten side, the reigning champions Leinster.

The return to action of Johnny McNicholl after an ankle injury made a major impact to the back division in recent weeks, but he was back on international duty with Wales yesterday in a game in which scrum-half Kieran Hardy and centre Johnny Williams made their international debuts.

Chasing hard to join them is wing Ryan Conbeer, 21, who has scored three tries in his last two outings, including a match-winning brace in Connacht.