TOM COURT TO MAKE 150th APPEARANCE
Ulster loosehead prop, Tom Court, will make his 150th appearance for Ulster in tomorrow evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park (kick off 18:30).
Court starts in the front-row alongside hooker Rob Herring and tighthead prop John Afoa. Johann Muller captains Ulster in the second-row where he is joined by Dan Tuohy, who makes his first start since breaking his arm playing for Ireland in February.
Stephen Ferris is picked at blindside, with Nick Williams named at Number 8 and Chris Henry, who is playing his first game for Ulster since winning the RBS 6 Nations with Ireland, selected at openside.
Jared Payne starts at fullback, with Tommy Bowe selected on the right wing and Andrew Trimble, also back for Ulster after Ireland’s 6 Nations win, starting on the left.
Luke Marshall and Darren Cave maintain their partnership in midfield, with Paddy Jackson named at outhalf and Michael Heaney continuing at scrumhalf in place of the injured Ruan Pienaar.
Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe,has picked six forwards on the bench, with Niall Annett, Andrew Warwick, Ricky Lutton, Iain Henderson, Robbie Diack and Sean Doyle joined by backs Paul Marshall and Craig Gilroy.
Rory Best and Roger Wilson are rested for the game.
Ulster are unbeaten in 2014 having won eight matches in a row.
The game is live on BBC 2 Northern Ireland and S4C.
Ulster XV and replacements to face Cardiff Blues, RaboDirect PRO12, Arms Park, Friday (kick off 18:30) (15-9): J Payne, T Bowe, D Cave, L Marshall, A Trimble, P Jackson, M Heaney; (1-8): T Court, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (Captain), D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, N Williams; Replacements (16-23): N Annett, A Warwick, R Lutton, I Henderson, R Diack, S Doyle, P Marshall, C Gilroy.
