Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Sweet and sour news for Ulster
IT’S a case of two big names in, and two out, for Ulster as the season cranks up a gear.
Friday’s Pro14 inter-pro against Connacht is the last game before the back-toback European clashes with Leicester and Racing.
New head coach Darren Mcfarland got bittersweet news from his medical staff as the injuries start piling up.
Fit-again pair Ireland skipper Rory Best and winger Jacob Stockdale will make their long-awaited first appearances of the season at Kingspan Stadium.
But that good news is offset by a big blow as British and Irish Lion Iain Henderson is crocked with concussion sustained in the heavy defeat against Munster in Thomond Park.
And centre Darren Cave, the most experienced homegrown player in the squad after Best, fractured his thumb in the embarrassing 64-7 loss and has been ruled out for eight weeks.
That leaves Ulster down to the bare bones in midfield with Luke Marshall, Louis Ludik and utility back Will Addison already unavailable.
Connacht haven’t won at Ulster’s home since 1960 – but will be sensing an opportunity with a depleted home squad looking vulnerable.
However Sean Reidy, who limped out of the Munster game early on, and influential scrum-half John Cooney should also be fit to ease some of the pressure on the northern province.
Olding has penned a new deal at French side Brive keeping him there until the summer of 2020 at least.