John Andrew ready for bench press

Patience is a virtue for Ulster hooker John Andrew. He has won 31 caps for the province, but will only start his fifth game in three seasons when the Conference B table-toppers head to Italy on Saturday to face Michael Bradley’s Zebre outfit.

The 24-year-old from Ballymena has had to wait diligently on the bench as Ireland skipper Rory Best and his erstwhile rival Rob Herring had the number two jersey sewn up unless injury came into the equation.

But Andrew, who scored his one and only try for Ulster two weeks ago has patience in spades, and the right attitude.