GUINNESS PRO12: Stuart Olding return to Ulster fold '˜is brilliant for everyone', admits Les Kiss

The 23-year-old ruptured his ACL – the second time in as many years – last season.

Olding gave a strong performance and scored a try in last week’s Ulster ‘A’ defeat at Bristol in the British & Irish Cup and with no lingering problems it was anticipated he would face Benetton Treviso in Italy on Saturday in the Guinness PRO12.

He will start in the midfield with Darren Cave in an Ulster side which shows seven changes from that which thumped Oyonnax in the European Champions Cup last week.

Many are excited about Olding’s return including director of rugby, Les Kiss, who actually gave the young star his Ireland test debut when he was in charge of Ireland during their North American tour in 2013.

“Stuart coming back into the fray is brilliant for us. We know what he can do and what he can deliver and I think from his own perspective last week getting through the game and putting the try on and having some nice touches, it was brilliant for him.

“The big plus is that the last month and a half he has been training a lot with us in that first team preparation so he is quite familiar with it all, albeit he has been out for a long time from the game.”

Olding started at 13 for the Ulster ‘A’ side last weekend and will wear the 12 shirt on Saturday but Kiss admitted it was hard to say where his best position was.

“Wow” Kiss exclaimed!

“I gave Stu his test debut when I had the national team on the USA – Canada tour in 2013, it was a challenge even then to say where do you play him. At 12, 15, 10?

“That is what is so beautiful about the guy. I reckon he has got those options about him. It is not hard for him to play 13, he played there last weekend with the ‘A’ team and did it with consummate ease, at a lower level or rugby obviously, but did it with ease.

“I think one thing I would say whatever position he plays you want him to be able to get the ball in his hand at first or second receiver as much as possible.

“If he has got the ball in his hand and he is being resourced with the right numbers and he can operate to space he is a danger to players.

“If I played him at 15 I probably would say you do not have to play as a conventional 15 in the wide channels and hitting the second or third pass, I would let him roam and play that way. That is an important part he offers. The number on his back becomes less important. “I would encourage him to still play to his strengths despite the number he has on his back. That is the beauty of him you could put him on the wing and I think he would still go and play as a first or second received for you. He is such an intelligent rugby player.”

Looking ahead to his first game back, Olding said it was great to be involved and the challenge in Italy would be tough, in spirt of the fact Treviso have not won a game this season.

“Every time I have played Treviso we have managed to get a few scores up and they have come back to get a draw or to lose by about two points.

“They are certainly not to be taken lightly, home games they have lost have only been by a couple of points or one score, even a dropped score for an interception could have changed things

“They will get stuck into us that is for sure. We have to go there and do what we do best,” said Olding.