Olding To Start At Full-Back For Ulster

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has made two personnel changes and one positional switch for Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against the Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm).

Jared Payne moves from full-back to outside centre, with Darren Cave selected on the replacement bench. Stuart Olding starts his first game for Ulster in the number 15 jersey.

Up front, Callum Black starts at loosehead prop with Tom Court, who was named in Ireland’s GUINNESS Series squad earlier this week, moving to the bench.

Mike McComish, man-of-the-match for the Ulster Ravens against Jersey last Friday night, is on the bench in place of Iain Henderson who will be out for up to six weeks with a toe injury.

Commenting on his selection at full-back, young Ireland internationl Olding said: “When the team was read out and I wasn’t playing at out-half or centre, I thought that I was going to be on the bench again, but I was really pleased when I learned that I would be starting at full-back.

“It is a position that I really enjoy playing in. I was full-back for the Ireland Under-20s in the Six Nations and the Junior World Championship, so I am very confident there and I am looking forward to tomorrow night’s game.”

ULSTER (v Cardiff Blues): Stuart Olding; Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne, Luke Marshall, Tommy Bowe; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rory Best, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Tom Court, John Afoa, Lewis Stevenson, Mike McComish, Paul Marshall, Darren Cave, Michael Allen.