Joe Schmidt’s dabs appear to be all over tonight’s Ulster team selection. Schmidt recently had Darren Cave playing inside centre for the Irish Wolfhounds in their victory over the England Saxons, with Connacht’s Robbie Henshaw outside him.
Ulster have again picked Cave at 12, with Jared Payne switching from fullback to outside centre. Payne, who will qualify for Ireland this year, is some people's favourite to step into that position when Brian O'Driscoll retires.
Question
The lineup also raises the question of what Ulster coach Mark Anscombe will do when Luke Marshall returns to the province after his Six Nations stint with Ireland. Marshall is named tonight on the bench alongside Iain Henderson as both players have been released by Ireland. Marshall has fairly nailed down the Ulster inside-centre berth, while Cave was until recently largely seen as an outside centre.
Johann Müller again leads the side against Ospreys. The 34-year-old secondrow yesterday announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season after four years at Ravenhill. The former Springbok has been one of Ulster’s outstanding acquisitions along with Ruan Pienaar and John Afoa.
Tighthead prop Afoa also departs at the end of the season.
“There is still a lot of rugby to be played. Nothing has changed for me,” said Müller. “Every time that I take to the field I want to win. I am excited about these last four months, about where we are as a team and what we are capable of achieving.”
In the back three, Ricky Andrew starts at fullback, with Ireland's Craig Gilroy selected on the left wing. With Paddy Jackson on international duty, James McKinney is named at outhalf, where he will start alongside scrumhalf Pienaar.
Strong pack
Ulster line out with a strong pack. Tom Court joins Rob Herring and Afoa in the frontrow, with Muller partnering Lewis Stevenson at lock, with Robbie Diack, Seán Doyle and Roger Wilson forming the back row.
Ospreys arrive in Belfast seriously holed beneath the water line. They have lost 19 players to Wales, Wales Under 20 and Wales 7s teams as well as seven others, including the hamstrung Ryan Jones, to injury.
