Ulster win an attacking lineout five-metres out, can they make it count?

Sean Reffell with a smart poach on the ground over a Benetton player and Ulster win a penalty which they kick towards the visitors' 22.

Stop in play as some players receive treatment, and drinks.

The new Ulster fly-half Aidan Morgan has been involved a lot so far and seems keen to run the ball, in typical New Zealand fashion.

Not much time to breathe so far at the Kingspan with two tries on the board already.

Ulster are enjoying the majority of possession but the Italians looking dangerous in broken play.

First chance for Ulster winger Rory Telfer to show his gas down the right flank. But his chip-kick is blocked by opposing wing Onisi Ratave.

Aaron Sexton then chases his own kick down the left flank, but it is gathered in-goal and cleared by Benetton.

First fumble of the evening from the hosts and the first scrum to Benetton.

Rock solid from the Italians who get the ball out left, but they are guilty of a forward pass.

Plenty of those to be expected in this the first pre-season game of the season.

New boy Aidan Morgan gets Ulster underway at a sun-drenched Kingspan.

Zac Ward certainly caught the eye for Ireland at the Paris Olympics, the son of Ulster's European Cup winner and former captain Andy Ward excelling in the Sevens competition.

He's back trying his hand in 15s and has been on trial with Ulster this summer. Interestingly, while he previously played school and club rugby in the back-row, he's been getting a run with the backs in training.

He, along with another trialist Corrie Barrett, will be hoping to impress this evening.

"It’s great to be welcoming Zac into the squad, as we ramp up preparations for the new season," said Ulster head of rugby operations and recruitment Bryn Cunningham.

"Zac is coming off the back of a successful period playing with the national Sevens set-up, and we feel this is a good opportunity for him to bring his skills and qualities into the group in the weeks ahead.”

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Image source, Getty Images

There's been change off the pitch during the summer too.

CEO Hugh McCaughey will now stay on until the end of 2025 at the province look to recover from a series of damaging seasons financially.

"I see my role as bringing leadership, bringing stability and creating a plan that we need to take us to a different place," he told BBC Sport NI.

"But above all creating the right conditions, creating the right environment and creating the right culture."

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The big change going into this season is in the number ten jersey.

Billy Burns, Ulster's starter in the key position since 2018, departed this season for Irish rivals Munster. Ulster have brought in Irish-qualified Kiwi Aidan Morgan from the Hurricanes to fill the void.

Morgan met with BBC Sport NI this week to talk about how he has been settling in.

"The way Richie and all the Irish provinces play is a little bit different to New Zealand," he said.

"How to manage games and the kicking side of things is really important. The Irish teams play a really tight detailed system, running lines and detail are really important. Set-piece play is a massive part of the game too."

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Image source, BBC Sport

As is to be expected at this time of the year, it's a fairly unfamiliar looking Ulster side for the year's first friendly.

The small contingent of Ulster players that toured South Africa with Ireland this summer remain absent, while skipper Iain Henderson and Marty Moore are still recovering from injuries sustained last season.

Centre James Hume, sadly, will miss months of the season with a knee problem.

James McNabney debuted last season and there could be an opportunity for him to lay down a marker approaching what could be a big season for the former Irish under-20s international.

Ulster: Lowry (capt); Telfer, Moore, Postlethwaite, Sexton; Morgan, Doak; O'Sullivan, Andrew, Barrett; Sheridan, Treadwell; McNabney, Reffell, McCann.

Replacements: McCormick, Reid, Wilson, O'Connor, Marcus Rea, McKee, Humphreys, Carson, Walker, Irvine, McKillop, Brigg, Shanahan, Ward, Murphy.

Benetton: Smith, Scalabrin, Zananadrea, Drago, Ratave, G.Avaca, Uren; Destiny, Maile, Genovese, Scrafton, Favretto, Marini, Rubinato, Halafihi.

Replacements: E.Avaca, Padoan, Pasquali, Midena, Snyman, Casartelli, Koroiyadi, Casilo, Marin, Passarella, Pisani, Gasperini, Gallorini, Casilio, Zanon.

Image source, Inpho

Hello and welcome to our coverage of another new Ulster Rugby season.

The serious business of the United Rugby Championship is still two weeks away with the northern province welcoming reigning champions Glasgow to Belfast on 21 September.

The preparations will ramp up this evening with the first of the pre-season friendlies.

Benetton are in town and we'll bring you live text coverage of the game right here!

Image source, Inpho