Wiehahn Herbst finding his feet in Ulster pack

It’s just over three years since 29-year-old tight-head prop Wiehahn Herbst packed his bags and headed from Durban in the hope of starting a new sporting life in Belfast.

After 57 appearances and a plethora of injury problems, the South African is now ready to fulfill his potential at the coalface, having extended his Ulster contract until June 2019. He has started all three of Ulster’s Guinness Pro14 games so far, and is again expected to wear the number three jersey when Bernard Jackman’s Dragons come to the Kingspan Stadium tomorrow evening.

Herbst, who came to Ireland as a project player to replace All Black Gloucester-bound John Afoa, has been the cornerstone of an Ulster pack that has shown good form in the tight this season. Herbst puts that down to his hard graft under new head honcho Jono Gibbes and scrum coach Aaron Dundon.