How missing Ulster quartet can still play a role in final

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• Published32 minutes ago

With a combined 50 years and north of 800 appearances in white, plus an additional 198 Ireland caps, Ulster will be without four key players for their biggest game in 14 years.

Ulster will look to end their 20-year trophy drought when they take on Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final in Bilbao on Friday.

But they will have to do so without suspended captain Iain Henderson, and the injured trio of Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Rob Herring.

McCloskey, in particular, is a blow as he was having the best season of his career at the age of 33.

He was nominated for the Six Nations player of the tournament for Ireland but his campaign came to an end with a hamstring injury picked up late on in the semi-final win over Exeter Chiefs.

Stockdale sustained a facial fracture earlier in that game while making a tackle on Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, that would see him sent to the sin-bin and lead to surgery on the injury.

Henderson is serving a three-game suspension for a red card against the Stormers, while Herring's return from a troublesome calf injury was cut short just 14 minutes into the defeat by Glasgow on Friday.

"It's just trying to win it for them as much as for us," said centre James Hume.

"They can't be in the pitch so we're the ones that have to go and do it. Hopefully celebrate with them after."

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Henderson, McCloskey, Stockdale and Herring won't be on the pitch in Bilbao, but they will still have a role to play.

Looking at the squad which faced Exeter, the last time three of the four played together, the inexperience of the squad as a whole is on show.

Of the 20 remaining players, only Werner Kok and Nick Timoney are over the age of 30. Ireland international Timoney joins Tom O'Toole, Nathan Doak and Michael Lowry as those with at least a century of Ulster appearances.

"It's tough on Stu and a couple of other older lads that have been around the squad for way longer than any of us who are playing. Cup finals don't come around often," added Hume.

"Everyone understands that and have given them a decent bit of support.

"They've been great around the squad, just trying to keep in the changing rooms, trying to be around the squad and team meetings and stuff, helping where they can."

Head coach Richie Murphy added that losing the quartet was "not ideal" but they were still involved in preparations.

"Those four guys are working really hard to try and prepare the guys and help them be at their best on Friday," he said.

"You look at it and our four most experienced players, who have been in the place so long, are going to miss the final, which is not ideal for us, but the opportunity is then passed on to other people.

"What we want to try and do is make sure that we go there, make sure we attack the game and give the best account of ourselves.

"If that isn't enough then we'll have to take it, but if we can do that then we'll cause a little bit of trouble."

Montpellier v Ulster

Challenge Cup final

Friday, 22 May at 20:00 BST

Listen on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster; Build-up and live text on BBC Sport app & website

Who could replace injured quartet?

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Despite missing four key players, Ulster have options for Bilbao.

The injury to Herring is perhaps the easiest position to fill, with Tom Stewart almost certain to start in the final, with James McCormick on the bench.

McCloskey's replacement at centre also seems relatively straightforward, as Jude Postlethwaite, who has had his own injury issues this season, was rested against Glasgow with the final in mind. He is the most likely candidate to line out alongside James Hume.

Henderson's replacement in the second row is where Murphy has the most options available to him.

Given Ulster's strength in the back row, where the fit-again David McCann could join Timoney and Juarno Augustus, Cormac Izuchukwu is likely to stay in the middle of the pack.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine, who has had a breakout campaign, could fill the void left by Henderson alongside Izuchukwu.

Murphy also has a number of options to replace Stockdale on the wing. A lot depends on the availability of Robert Baloucoune, who has returned to training following the elbow injury which has kept him out since the Six Nations.

Zac Ward and Werner Kok - who will leave the province this summer - have both had impressive seasons for Ulster, with the former's flexibility on both wings key, while Ethan McIlroy had an impressive cameo off the bench against Glasgow.

Related topics

• Rugby Union
• Irish Rugby
• Ulster