Rugby – Squad news:Ulster will look to make it a Welsh one-two when they take on Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill on Friday night but they must do it without Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace and Tom Court, who have all returned to the Ireland camp.
Ulster travelled to Parc y Scarlets last weekend and defeated their hosts Scarlets with Ruan Pienaar’s last kick off the game to win for the first time in Wales.
This time around coach Brian McLaughlin has named a 29-player squad and although the Irish trio are out of the equation, Ulster are boosted with the return of Daren Cave and remain hopeful over Ian Humphreys.
Cave has been out since last November with a hamstring injury but was today named in the Ulster Ravens starting XV to take on Moseley in the British & Irish cup fixture at Ravenhill tomorrow. If he come through unscathed then Cave could start, possibly from the bench, against Cardiff.
Humphreys was named despite his late withdrawal from the Scarlets match due to a shoulder injury. Patrick Jackson, who made an impressive debut at outhalf in Humphreys’ absence, has been released to re-join the Ireland under-20 squad.
Prop Alan Whitten earns a recall to the squad but there is no place for fullback David McIlwaine.
Friday’s last gasp win over the Scarlets was a huge boost to Ulster and they now sit five points off the Magners League play-offs with a game in hand. Another win over Welsh opposition is a must for the Ulstermen to keep their play-off aspirations intact.
Friday's kick-off in Belfast is 7.05pm.
Ulster squad (v Cardiff)
Forwards: Jerry Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, Alan Whitten, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Ryan Caldwell, Neil McComb, Johann Muller, Tim Barker, Pedrie Wannenburg, TJ Anderson, Willie Faloon, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack.
Backs: Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Ian Whitten, Nevin Spence, Luke Marshall, Darren Cave, Simon Danielli, Tommy Seymour, Craig Gilroy, Jamie Smith, Adam D'Arcy.
