Opportunity knocks for Olding against depleted Ospreys

Club priority means Irish under-20 outhalf Stuart Olding will make his first start for Ulster as his underage colleagues face…

Club priority means Irish under-20 outhalf Stuart Olding will make his first start for Ulster as his underage colleagues face up to England in Dubarry Park.

The 19-year -old, who has made three previous replacement appearances, partners Ruan Pienaar, while the mercurial Luke Marshall slots into an unfamiliar outside centre role. With Paddy Wallace at inside centre and Andrew Trimble on the wing there’s no shortage of backline experience for Olding to call upon.

Callum Black will start at loosehead prop so Tom Court moves to the other side of the scrum with Rob Herring as hooker. South African Johann Muller has returned from injury to captain the side in the second row partnering Louis Stevenson as Ulster face a side paying the price of their own success.

No less than 16 Ospreys players are unavailable for selection because of international duty with Wales seniors, U-20s and Sevens squads. Seven more s are injured. The visitors look too light against a strong Ulster side minus Craig Gilroy and Rory Best (with Ireland) and injured duo Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris.

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times