Werner Kok has been a peripheral figure so far but he jumps to take a catch and disappointingly drops the ball.

Can he make an impact on his first competitive start for the men in white?

Ulster have been sluggish in the opening half hour but still find themselves well in this game.

Some good handling and footwork from the hosts sees them make some ground but scrum half Sanele Nohamba spills inside the Ulster 22.

A great tackle from Kieran Treadwell puts Tapiwa Mafura in touch to set up a good attacking position for Ulster.

However, the line-out malfunctions and only a loose kick from Rynhardt Jonker gives Richie Murphy's side the ball back.

Ian Humphreys
Former Ulster fly-half Ian Humphreys on BBC Radio Foyle

Ulster need to simplify things and keep it a little bit more accurate.

A knock-on from Ivan Van Rooyen's side stops that attack as we hit the first half water break in the searing heat.

Ulster will look to regroup as they have been on the back foot for much of this opening 23 minutes.

The Lions' maul trundles to the line again as Ulster can't stop it. However, Sam Grove-White can be heard telling them they must break away as a red-shirted player is on the ground.

They don't do so and Ulster win a scrum from which they get a penalty to release the pressure.

However, the kick doesn't make touch and here come the hosts again...

Ulster make the 22 but a clean-as-a-whistle steal from PJ Botha turns it over and full back Quan Horn unleashes an enormous kick to secure the 50-22 for his side.

Ulster on the back foot again as we hit the halfway mark of this first half.

The Lions are dominating at scrum time and win another penalty in the middle of the park.

Inside centre Rynhardt Jonker goes quick and makes ground but his team-mates are penalised for an illegal ruck entry.

Ulster breath a sigh of relief and make ground up to halfway with Aidan Morgan's boot.

Ulster are on the back foot and are pinged at the breakdown. This is an easy one straight in front and Wolhuter extends the lead.

Ian Humphreys
Former Ulster fly-half Ian Humphreys on BBC Radio Foyle

"That is probably what the Lions deserve. They have been more accurate than Ulster in the first 10 minutes, playing more mistake-free rugby.

Ulster make an incursion into the home 22 but a spillage from Matty Rea gifts a turnover.

Both sides struggling in possession early on here as it's a scrum penalty against Ulster.

The Ulster bench are shielding themselves from the heat and sun with umbrellas but the wind is turning some of them inside-out.

Such is the micro-climate here at altitude at Ellis Park.

Werner Kok gets on the wrong side of the official as the South African returns home by taking out Lions' scrum half Sanele Nohamba.

The hosts make the Ulster 22 but the visitors turn over again and make territorial gain with a lineout on halfway.

Ulster are immediately on the back foot after a drop from the restart by Nick Timoney. However, the back rower atones for that by winning a penalty at the breakdown.

The hosts get us underway on referee Sam Grove-White's whistle. It is a beautiful day but can Ulster cope with the heat and altitude?

Tony McWhirter
1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Sounds

This will be really difficult given the altitude factor. The bench will have a big part to play in this game and Ulster's kicking game has to be on point.

Lions definitely start as favourites but Ulster have to throw caution to the wind and go after tries.

As introductions go, Werner Kok made quite the first impression in an Ulster jersey.

Named as a replacement for Saturday's opening-round United Rugby Championship victory over Glasgow Warriors, the South African says he struggled to sit still waiting for his opportunity off the bench.

When called upon in the 58th minute, his first touch on the ball saw him run over sizeable visiting centre Sione Tuipolotu with the clip quickly doing the rounds on social media.

"I've been going with 'he slipped'," laughed the 31-year-old of the eye-catching collision.

"I really just wanted to get the ball in my hands. You want to put your stamp down."

Read more of Werner Kok's interview with BBC Sport NI's Jonathan Bradley here.

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: 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.

Lions: Quan Horn, Rabz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Tapiwa Mafura, Kade Wolhuter, Sanele Nohamba, Francke Horn (c), Ruan Venter, Jarod Cairns, Darrien Landsberg, Reinard Nothnagel, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, Morgan Naude

Replacements: Franco Marais, Juan Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Ruben Schoeman, Siba Qoma, Renzo du Plessis, Nico Steyn, Henco van Wyk

Image source, Presseye

Hooker John Andrew says that the retirement of his fellow Ulster front rower Marty Moore will be "a big miss" for the Irish province.

It was revealed on Monday that tight-head prop Moore was calling time on his professional rugby career "to prioritise his mental wellbeing".

The 33-year-old played 94 times for Ulster after joining the United Rugby Championship side in 2018.

Prior to moving to Belfast, Moore came through the ranks at Leinster and spent two seasons in England with Wasps.

He won 10 Ireland caps and helped Joe Schmidt's side to Six Nations titles in 2014 and 2015.

"Marty was a great lad. All of us in the squad wish him the best in what he steps into next," said Andrew at Ulster's weekly news conference.

"He's going to leave a big hole in the squad as a person, we all really loved Marty.

"It's not nice seeing someone have to retire but he has made the right decision for himself and I really hope he is all right going forward."

Image source, Inpho