Ulster Rugby: De Klerk and Ward start for Ulster against Warriors

Academy player Wilhelm De Klerk and Bryn Ward are two of 10 changes made by Richie Murphy for Friday’s final regular season United Rugby Championship match against leaders Glasgow Warriors in Belfast.

Ulster need a positive result to secure a play-off spot and Champions Cup qualification and are bolstered by the return of Rob Herring and James Hume from injury.

However, they are without captain Iain Henderson as they await the outcome of a disciplinary hearing following his red card against Stormers.

It is a huge few weeks for the northern province and they will also be wary of their upcoming Challenge Cup final against Montpellier in Bilbao on 22 May.

Sam Cream starts at loosehead prop with Tom O’Toole, who missed the draw against Stormers through illness, back at tighthead prop alongside Herring.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine start in the second row with development forward Joe Hopes and academy forward Ward handed starts in the back row.

Nick Timoney retains his position as openside flanker and will captain the side, while Conor McKee starts at scrum-half and Jake Flannery at fly-half.

In the midfield, De Klerk begins as the inside centre for the first time with Hume at outside centre.

After all registering tries against the Stormers, the back row remains unchanged with Zac Ward starting on the left wing, Werner Kok on the right wing and Michael Lowry at full-back.

Tom Stewart, Angus Bell, Scott Wilson, Cormac Izuchukwu and Lorcan McLoughlin the forward replacements, while Nathan Doak, Jack Murphy and Ethan McIlroy are the backline options.

Glasgow have a one-point lead at the top of the URC and ended their three-game run without a win against Cardiff Rugby in their last match.

Ulster: Lowry; Kok; Hume, De Klerk; Z Ward; Flannery, McKee; B Ward, Timoney (capt), Hopes, Irvine, Sheridan, O’Toole; Herring, Crean.

Replacements: Stewart, Bell, Wilson, Izuchukwu, McLoughlin, Doak, Murphy, McIlroy.