Ulster lose to Lions despite Baloucoune hat-trick

Rob Baloucoune's inspired display was not enough to secure a fourth straight win for Ulster

United Rugby Championship

Lions (17) 49

Tries: Kotze, Keyter, Venter, Du Plessis, Van Wyk, Van Vuuren, Brandon Cons: Smith 4 Pens: Smith 2

Ulster (19) 31

Tries: Baloucoune 3, Hume, McCann Cons: Doak 2, Flannery

Rob Baloucoune's superb hat-trick was not enough to stop Ulster falling to a first defeat of the season as the Lions hit seven tries to win a high-scoring United Rugby Championship encounter at Ellis Park.

Winger Baloucoune's first two tries and a fine James Hume score helped Ulster lead 19-17 at the break as they chased a fourth consecutive win.

And while Baloucoune scored his third to secure a try bonus point for the Irish province, the Lions went over five times in an impressive second-half display to take the maximum five points.

Ulster end their South African tour with six points from two matches after last week's bonus-point success over the Sharks in Durban, but they go into the autumn break with their early-season momentum dashed after running out of steam in the Johannesburg heat and altitude.

It is a second win of the season for the Lions, who were helped over the line by assured kicking from Chris Smith, the fly-half contributing 14 points.

Ulster fade in second half

Ulster went into Saturday's game without Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey, Iain Henderson and Nick Timoney, who are on Ireland duty, and they were forced into a last-minute reshuffle when Juarno Augustus failed a late fitness test.

The South African's withdrawal pushed debutant Bryn Ward into a makeshift back row alongside Tom Stewart, who made a surprising switch from hooker to open-side flanker.

In Durban, Ulster built the platform for an impressive win with early tries from Michael Lowry and Werner Kok, but they found themselves trading blows with the Lions during a chaotic opening to the game as SJ Kotze and Eduan Keyter went over for the hosts either side of Baloucoune's opening score.

Ulster have looked more expressive in attack this season under Mark Sexton's guidance, and after Keyter's second was ruled out for a forward pass, the visitors showed imagination and cutting edge to draw level again through Hume.

The centre raced on to Jack Murphy's deft chip to touch down under the posts, the score surviving a television match official (TMO) review to check the grounding.

Bryn Ward was called into the line-up to make his debut from the start after Juarno Augustus failed a late fitness test

The Lions were reduced to 14 men when Asenathi Ntlabakanye was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Jude Postlethwaite, but the hosts edged ahead through Chris Smith's 33rd-minute penalty.

Determined to finish the half on a high, Ulster took the lead for the first time when Baloucoune collected Murphy's pass and finished superbly in the corner after a sustained spell of pressure in the closing moments of the first half.

Baloucoune, who has been ravaged by injuries over the past two seasons, was not done there. After Ruan Venter re-established the Lions' lead, the Ireland international sprinted over for his third after Hume's clever chip and chase drove Ulster up the field.

Renzo du Plessis and Ulster back row Dave McCann traded tries, but the away side's hopes of completing a South African clean sweep were dashed as Henco van Wyk, Conrad van Vuuren and Morne Brandon scored late to seal a home win.

While five tries was a commendable return for Ulster, they must wait over a month before attempting to regain their momentum against Benetton at home on 28 November following the autumn break.

'Difficult one to take' - Ulster reaction

Speaking after the game, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy lamented his side's error count.

"It's a difficult one to take in the end, we're in that game for 55, 60 minutes and let it get away from us in the end," he said.

"Over the course of the game, our error count was probably too high and we just invited the Lions into the game.

"Scrum dominance from them put us under a lot of pressure, but it's a massive effort from the players in a very tough situation, 28 or 29 degrees at altitude, it's not an easy place to be."

On Baloucoune's hat-trick, Murphy added: "Incredible. We have an embarrassment of riches in the back three. Zac [Ward] has been on fire, Werner [Kok] has been really good and Mikey [Lowry]'s flying.

"Having Rob back is fantastic. He got through another full game, which is exciting for us, and long may that fitness level continue."

Line-ups

Lions: Q Horn; Keyter, Van Wyk, Mills, Davids; Smith, Steyn; Kotze, Marais, Ntlabakanye, Oosthuizen, Nothnagel, Cairns, Venter, F. Horn (capt).

Replacements: Brandon, Schoeman, van Vuuren, Landsberg, du Plessis, L Horn, Lombard, Mpeku.

Sin-bin: Ntlabakanye (27)

Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring (capt), O'Toole, Sheridan, Hopes, McCann, Stewart, B Ward.

Replacements: McCormick, Reid, Wilson, Dalton, Rea, McKee, Flannery, Kok.

Referee: Ben Connor (WRU)