Herring set for 150th appearance as Ulster name strong line-up to face Cardiff Blues at the Kingspan

Dan McFarland has announced his Ulster team for tomorrow's big PRO14 clash at home to the Cardiff Blues

Rob Herring will make his 150th appearance after being named as hooker.

He is one of six players involved in Ireland’s unbeaten Autumn Series to return.

Jordi Murphy, John Cooney and Stuart McCloskey are also set to start, while Rory Best and Jacob Stockdale are included among the replacements.

Herring will be joined in the front row by Andy Warwick and Marty Moore, with Kieran Treadwell and captain Alan O’Connor continuing in the second row. Murphy’s inclusion at openside flanker means there is a shuffle in the back row with Sean Reidy moving to the other side of the scrum and Marcell Coetzee shifting back to the base.

Cooney, who has not featured for Ulster in six weeks due to a combination of injury and international commitments, is re-instated at scrumhalf and will resume a half-back partnership with Billy Burns.

McCloskey and Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy centre James Hume are paired in midfield, while Henry Speight, Louis Ludik and Hume’s Academy teammate Michael Lowry make up the back three.

Best, Academy prop Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, recent signing Ian Nagle and Nick Timoney are named on the bench as forward reinforcements, with Dave Shanahan, Johnny McPhillips and Stockdale covering the backline.

Ulster team to play Cardiff Blues, Guinness PRO14 Round 10, Kingspan Stadium (3.00pm):

(15-9): M Lowry; H Speight; J Hume, S McCloskey, L Ludik; B Burns, J Cooney;

(1-8): A Warwick, R Herring, M Moore, A O’Connor (captain), K Treadwell, S Reidy, J Murphy, M Coetzee;

Replacements (16-23): R Best, E O’Sullivan, R Kane, I Nagle, N Timoney, D Shanahan, J McPhillips, J Stockdale

• Ulster Rugby
• rob herring