SOUTH AFRICA’S Johann Muller has been handed the captain’s armband for Ulster’s opening friendly match of the season tonight in Belfast. The secondrow leads out several of the club’s new signings against English Premiership side Bath, with blindside flanker Pedrie Wannenburg and lock Tim Barker also named.
Tonight’s is the first of Ulster’s three pre-season friendly fixtures.
It makes for a pack with plenty of bang and in a hardened frontrow Bryan Young, at loosehead prop, lines out with hooker Nigel Brady and Declan Fitzpatrick.
Muller, who has 22 caps for the Springboks and stands at 6ft 7ins, will partner Tim Barker in the engine room, while the former Bulls player Wannenburg, who has played 20 times for South Africa, forms a backrow with Robbie Diack and Willie Faloon.
Wannenburg became the first player to make 100 appearances for the Bulls this year and has won three Super 14 titles and was a member of the Bulls side that won the Currie Cup five times.
There’s a youthful profile to the back three of Jamie Smith, Mark McCrea and Tommy Seymour, who have an average age of just 22 years.
Ian Whitten and Darren Cave form the centre pairing, while Ian Humphreys and Paul Marshall are named at half-backs.
A further contingent of younger players – Paddy McAllister, Adam Macklin, Ian Porter and Nevin Spence – have all been named on the bench.
Andrew Trimble and Simon Danielli are injured, while Stephen Ferris and Rory Best are rested.
Bath arrive having lost 29-24 to Aix last week following a week-long training camp in Provence.
ULSTER: J Smith; M McCrea, D Cave, I Whitten, T Seymour; I Humphreys, P Marshall; B Young, N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, T Barker, J Muller, capt, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyiacou, P McAllister, A Macklin, N McComb, TJ Anderson, I Porter, N O'Connor, N Spence.
BATH: TBA
