Ulster’s global trawl for players justified, says Wallace

Paddy Wallace defended David Humphries’ extensive global recruitment policy, one that will likely see five non-Irish qualified players start for Ulster in Saturday’s Heineken Cup final.

Stefan Terblanche, Ruan Pienaar, John Afoa, Johann Muller and Pedrie Wannenburg are all expected to line up against a Leinster team that, with Richardt Strauss now Irish-qualified, will probably begin with just Isa Nacewa and Brad Thorn from its international brigade.

Ulster’s percentage doesn’t sit well with everyone but every signing was given the green light by an IRFU that has since attempted to reduce the numbers of such players among the three leading provinces.