Marshall gets major chance to move up Ulster’s pecking order

TEENAGER Luke Marshall has been given a great chance to move up the ladder after he was named in the Ulster starting line-up for tonight’s Magners League date with second-placed Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill.

The 19-year-old from Ballymena had a brief foray in a senior Ulster jersey before Christmas when he lined out against Munster at Thomond Park.

“He will do well,” said his midfield partner Nevin Spence, who himself has been a revelation this season along with another Academy star Craig Gilroy, who again starts on the left wing.

“I played with Luke right through the schools’ set-up and we got on very well together. It’s great that some of the young players are getting their chance.

“Paddy Jackson did well last week and there is a lot of youth coming through with the likes of Craig and, now Luke, so it looks good for the future. It’s good that the coaches have just thrown us in; it shows we haven’t done too bad and we’re happy enough.

“Cardiff are going well in the league and have some fantastic players, but we are playing with confidence and hopefully we can nudge ourselves further up the table.”

Marshall will have plenty of experience around him with Ian Humphreys returning from a shoulder injury to partner Ruan Pienaar at half-back while Andrew Trimble has been released from international duty to take his place on the right wing.

Up front, Bryan Young comes in for Tom Court while Willie Faloon replaces TJ Anderson in the back-row with Chris Henry moving to blindside.

ULSTER: A D’Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, L Marshall, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; B Young, A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller, capt, T Barker, C Henry, P Wannenburg, W Faloon.

Replacements: N Brady, J Cronin, P McAllister, R Caldwell, TJ Anderson, P Marshall, T Seymour, I Whitten.

Picture: Ulster's Luke Marshall with Sam Tuitupou of Munster. Picture: INPHO