Stretched Cardiff without 18 for trip to Ulster

Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl admits their United Rugby Championship (URC) trip to Ulster is a serious test of the play-off hopefuls' squad strength.

The Blue and Blacks have seven players away with Wales ahead of the Six Nations – wings Josh Adams and Mason Grady, centre Ben Thomas, tight-head prop Keiron Assiratti, hooker Liam Belcher and back-row forwards Alex Mann and James Botham – and also have 11 seniors on the injured list.

That has forced Cardiff into sweeping changes from the side that edged out Benetton at the Arms Park last weekend, with a several players in unfamiliar positions.

Ulster, who were beaten at the death by Scarlets in Llanelli last week, are also impacted by an increased Ireland contingent with nine players missing the fixture.

Prop Tom O'Toole, hooker Tom Stewart, back-row forward Nick Timoney, lock or flanker Cormac Izuchukwu, scrum-half Nathan Doak, centres Stuart McCloskey and Jude Postlethwaite and wings Rob Baloucoune and Jacob Stockdale.

Van Zyl's side beat Ulster in a Challenge Cup thriller in December and the boss insists the list of absentees does not dampen their enthusiasm.

"There's a real excitement about going up to Belfast and putting in a good performance. That's been the big aim for the week," said the Blue and Blacks coach.

"Like every club at this stage of the season, we are missing players to the international game. That tests our squad but it is an opportunity and that's how we're treating it."

Cardiff start round 11 in fourth place in the URC table, just four points behind leaders Glasgow.

They have claimed match points in every league fixture this season and will hope to keep that run going against an Ulster side who are three points behind them.

"The bigger picture is important but it's about how good we can be, how excited we are for the challenge, and recognising the opportunity that's in front of us," added Van Zyl.

With Grady and Adams unavailable, versatile fly-half Ioan Lloyd makes his first start on the wing since playing there for Bristol in 2023.

Number eight Alun Lawrence is also shifted to blind-side flanker for the first time since the end of last season.

Cardiff are still able to name a team of regulars despite those missing while Wales and Lions legend Leigh Halfpenny is among the replacements.

The full-back, who made his debut in Belfast in May 2008, is joined on the bench by promising prospects Joe Cowell, Lucas de la Rua and Elijah Evans.

Ulster are without their Ireland contingent but still have experience in their line-up in the shape of hooker Rob Herring, lock Iain Henderson, Australia loose-head prop Angus Bell and South African wing Werner Kok.

Replacement back Ben Moxham is in line to make his first apperance since rupturing knee ligaments in November 2024.

Ulster: McIlroy; Kok, Hume, Carson, Ward; J Murphy, McKee; Bell, Herring, Wilson, Henderson (capt), Irvine, Dalton, Rea, McCann.

Replacements: McCormick, Crean, O'Connor, Sheridan, McLoughlin, Shanahan, Flannery, Moxham.

Cardiff: Winnett; I Lloyd, Millard, Emanuel, Bowen; Sheedy, Mulder; Barratt, E Lloyd, Sebastian, McNally (capt), Nott, Lawrence, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Cowell, Thornton, De la Rua, A Davies, E Evans, Halfpenny.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

Assistants: Robbie Jenkinson & Sam Holt (Ireland)

TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)