Irish Rugby

Image source, Inpho

Ulster assistant Jonny Bell believes his side will need to improve "technically" rather than physically in order to get the best of the Bulls in Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The northern province were beaten 35-22 by the Lions in Johannesburg last weekend with Bell describing the players as "bitterly disappointed" by their performance in the second game of their United Rugby Championship season.

The Bulls, who had a large contingent on Springboks duty during the Rugby Championship, are one of the most physical sides in the competition but Bell knows Ulster cannot simply try to match them "toe to toe" in that regard.

"Physically, they challenge you and then they've any number of players who like to get you one on one and are dangerous," said the side's defensive specialist.

"When you play a lot of these South African teams, trying to go toe to toe with very big men, we're never going to win a battle of size.

"You can't shirk away from that but we've got to be technically good.

"Otherwise you're just giving big carriers one on ones and that's what they want."

Ulster have now lost their last three matches on South African soil, and were beaten by the hosts on their only previous URC visit to the Bulls' iconic Loftus Versfeld venue in 2022.

"We're excited by that challenge at Loftus," added Bell. "They're a big set-piece team so we need to be on our mettle around that.

"It's no small challenge but it's a great challenge."

Image source, Inpho

Zebre (15) 42

Tries: Trulla 2, Fusco 2, Licata, Prisciantelli Cons: Montemauri 3 Pens: Montemauri, Da Re

Munster (28) 33

Tries: Coombes 2, Haley, Fitzgerald, McCarthy Cons: Butler 4

Zebre secured a stunning first-ever win over Munster as they recovered from a 13-point half-time deficit to cause a major upset by defeating the Irish province 42-33 in the United Rugby Championship match between the teams at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

The Italian side ran in six tries to clinch a bonus point and end a 14-game losing streak in the competition since they drew 22-22 with Cardiff in November 2023.

Munster, narrow winners over Connacht in their season opener, had won all 20 of their previous meetings with Zebre and were unbeaten against Italian opposition in more than a decade before their loss in Parma.

The 2023 champions had a bonus point in the bag by the interval as tries from Gavin Coombes (2), Mike Haley and Bryan Fitzgerald helped their side lead 28-15.

Jacopo Trulla and Alessandro Fusco were the first-half try-scorers for the hosts.

Zebre put the next 24 points on the board as Trulla and Fusco registered their second tries and Giovanni Licata and Geronimo Prisciantelli also crossed for the home side.

Shay McCarthy's touchdown, followed by Tony Butler's fourth conversion, gave Munster hope of a recovery but a late Giacomo Da Re penalty eased any nerves for the home side and ensured that their opponents left empty-handed.

Giovanni Montemauri contributed a penalty and three conversions for the victors, who had lost 22-17 away to Cardiff on the opening weekend.

Zebre: Geronimo Prisciantelli, Jacopo Trulla, Giulio Bertaccini, Luca Morisi,Simone Gesi, Giovanni Montemauri, Alessandro Fusco, Danilo Fischetti (CAPT), Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Matteo Nocera, Matteo Canali, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Samuele Locatelli, Giovanni Licata

Replacements: Giampietro Ribaldi, Luca Rizzoli, Juan Pitinari, Andrea Zambonin, Giacomo Ferrari, Patricio Baronio, Scott Gregory, Giacomo Da Re

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Shane Daly, Tom Farrell, Thaakir Abrahams; Tony Butler, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Jack Daly, Jack O'Donoghue, Conor Murray, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy.

Image source, Getty Images

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says his squad are "learning all the time" after they went down 35-22 to the Lions in their United Rugby Championship game in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The hosts racked up five tries, with the Irish province scoring four to salvage a bonus point from the encounter.

"We have a lot of young guys out there for the first time in South Africa playing at this level so it’s been a good experience," said Murphy.

"Disappointed with the result but happy to go away with a bonus point. I thought maybe in that last play we might have been able to get back up and get a second bonus point [for being within seven points] but it wasn’t to be.

"Part of our strategy today was not to play too much at our end but our kicking game was a little bit loose and we weren’t getting into the contestable areas."

Murphy conceded that the South African side were deserving of their victory after dominating possession and territory for long spells, particularly in the first half.

"The Lions deserved their win. We started poorly and we couldn’t get into the game, with 75% territory against us. Our kicking game let us down a little bit, which normally is quite strong.

“A couple of decisions go against you early on and then you’re on the back foot so I thought the lads showed real good courage to come back in and get back into it in the second half, then we concede a couple of easy scores and the game gets away from you again.

“The few refereeing decisions which went against us early on I think have a big bearing on the game."

Ulster will next move to Pretoria where they will face the Bulls on 5 October.

Image source, Getty Images

John Cooney and Stuart McCloskey are among those recalled to an Ulster team showing eight changes for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against the Lions in Johannesburg (11:55 BST).

Cooney has recovered from a hamstring injury to replace Nathan Doak at scrum-half while McCloskey is back to partner Stewart Moore in midfield.

South African winger Werner Kok earns his first start after coming off the bench in last week's win over URC champions Glasgow in Belfast.

There are five changes in the pack. Andy Warwick and Tom O'Toole replace Eric O'Sullivan and Corrie Barrett as the props with Alan O'Connor captaining the team from the second row alongside Kieran Treadwell.

Matty Rea and Sean Reffell are recalled as the flankers. Head coach Richie Murphy - who is without Emerging Ireland players Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite and Harry Sheridan - opts for a split of six forwards and two backs on the bench.

Ulster beat the Lions in Belfast last season but lost both of their matches in South Africa in March, losing to the Sharks and the Stormers.

After Saturday's game, Ulster travel to Pretoria to face the Bulls on 5 October.

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole; Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (capt); Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, Mike Lowry, David McCann.

Listen to Lions v Ulster on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Foyle & BBC Sport website from 11:45 BST on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Scrum-half John Cooney has been included in Ulster's 30-man travelling squad for their upcoming United Rugby Championship double-header in South Africa while Tadgh McElroy has joined the club.

Cooney missed last weekend's opening URC win over Glasgow because of injury but has returned to full training this week.

Ulster have also confirmed that former Connacht and Leinster hooker McElroy has joined the club on a "short-term injury cover basis".

The 27-year-old former Ireland U20 international joins at a time when Ulster hookers Rob Herring and Tom Stewart are sidelined through injury.

Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey is also included in the squad after missing the Glasgow game.

Ulster face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday (11:55 BST) before taking on the Bulls in Pretoria on 5 October (15:00 BST).

Backs: John Cooney, Nathan Doak, Dave Shanahan, Aidan Morgan, James Humphreys, Jacob Stockdale, Mike Lowry, Ben Moxham, Werner Kok, Stuart McCloskey, Stewart Moore, Ben Carson, Ethan McIlroy

Forwards: Andy Warwick, Eric O’Sullivan, Callum Reid, John Andrew, James McCormick, Tadgh McElroy, Tom O’Toole, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson (capt), Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Charlie Irvine, James McNabney, Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, David McCann, Nick Timoney.