South African Trio To Earn First Ulster Caps
Louis Ludik, Franco van der Merwe and Wiehahn Herbst will make their competitive debuts for Ulster against the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2.40pm).
The province travel to Wales to take on a Scarlets side who beat Gloucester last weekend and who have a squad packed full of internationals.
Louis Ludik, who joined Ulster in the summer, starts the game at full-back. Michael Allen is selected on the right wing with Jared Payne and Stuart Olding picked in the centre.
Craig Gilroy starts on the left wing with Ian Humphreys and Paul Marshall maintaining their partnership in the half-backs.
Up front, Callum Black lines out at loosehead prop, Rob Herring, who won his first cap for Ireland in the summer, resumes at hooker and new summer addition, Wiehahn Herbst, is named at tighthead prop.
Ireland’s Dan Tuohy and Springbok Franco van der Merwe join forces in the second row, while there is an all-Ireland international back row of Robbie Diack, Chris Henry and number 8 and captain Roger Wilson.
John Andrew, who is listed among the replacements, is set for his first competitive appearance for Ulster. Ireland international Luke Marshall and last season’s IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year Andrew Trimble are also bench options for interim head coach Les Kiss.
ULSTER (v Scarlets): Louis Ludik; Michael Allen, Jared Payne, Stuart Olding, Craig Gilroy; Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall; Callum Black, Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson (capt).
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Declan Fitzpatrick, Lewis Stevenson, Nick Williams, Michael Heaney, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble.