Ulster

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Jude Postlethwaite will be available for Ulster's United Rugby Championship game against Connacht on Saturday after being released from the Emerging Ireland squad.

The 22-year-old centre scored the opening try in Emerging Ireland's win over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

While Ben Carson started Ulster's defeat by the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, Postlethwaite's return bolsters a problem area for the province's coach Richie Murphy with Stuart McCloskey and James Hume sidelined.

Gus McCarthy (Leinster) and Sean O’Brien (Munster) have also been released from the Emerging Ireland set-up.

Having won their first two games, Simon Easterby's side conclude their tour of South Africa against the Cheetahs on Wednesday (18:00 BST).

After two defeats in South Africa, Ulster host Connacht in Belfast on Saturday evening (20:00 BST).

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has emphasised that his team must now "get settled into the league" after his youthful squad suffered back-to-back defeats by the Lions and the Bulls on their two-match tour to South Africa in the United Rugby Championship.

Prior to travelling to the southern hemisphere, the Irish province edged out Glasgow in their opening match in Belfast and will next host Connacht on their home patch on Saturday 12 October.

"It's a difficult time but we'll learn from it and move on. We're quite happy about the experience of South Africa, now it's about going home and getting settled into the league and try to build some league points because we need a win now," said Murphy after Saturday's 41-27 defeat by the Bulls in Pretoria.

"We have a skilful team and our set-piece will come on as we build into this and we'll get a little bit more comfortable.

"If we can get a little bit more primary possession we'll cause teams a lot of trouble."

The Bulls, runners-up in last year's URC, ran in seven tries, while Ulster fell just short of clinching a bonus point as they scored three, including a stunning individual effort by Jacob Stockdale and well-worked touchdowns by Ben Carson and Stewart Moore.

"I thought at times today we were really good. Some of our attack has moved on from last week," reflected Murphy.

"We were under pressure a lot in and around the scrum and at the set-piece. We've got a lot of young lads out there playing their second and third caps for their province. Towards the middle or the back end of the season it will stand to us."

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Ulster have made nine changes from last weekend's 35-22 defeat by the Lions for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against the Bulls in Pretoria (15:00 BST).

Iain Henderson returns to the starting line-up to captain the Irish province as the pack shows six changes in personnel from a week ago.

James McCormick and Corrie Barrett, who scored a try after coming off the bench last weekend, take over from John Andrew and Tom O'Toole in the front row.

Henderson and Charlie Irwin replace Kieran Treadwell and last weekend's skipper Alan O'Connor in the lock positions with James McNabney and David McCann taking over from Matty Rea and Nick Timoney in the back row.

Behind the scrum, Mike Lowry comes in for Ethan McIlroy at full-back with Ben Carson named at centre in place of Stuart McCloskey and Nathan Doak taking over from John Cooney at scrum-half.

McCormick, Carson and academy lock Irvine will be making their first Ulster starts with hooker Tadgh McElroy and development fly-half, James Humphreys also in line to make their debut for the Irish province after being named in the replacements.

O'Toole, O'Connor and Timoney drop to a replacements bench that also includes Dave Shanahan as Cooney is not named in the matchday squad.

Henderson started in Ulster's opening home win over defending champions Glasgow and came on a 51st-minute replacement for Treadwell last weekend as Ulster secured a four-try losing bonus point.

The Bulls have only played one game so far which was last weekend's 22-16 home win over Edinburgh.

Ulster: Mike Lowry; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Ben Carson, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, James McCormick, Corrie Barrett; Iain Henderson(capt), Charlie Irwin; James McNabney, Sean Reffell, David McCann.

Replacements: Tadhg McElroy, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O'Toole, Alan O'Connor, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Ben Moxham.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ulster's David Shanahan says having to wait so long for his opportunities makes moments like Saturday night's winning try against Glasgow Warriors all the sweeter.

The 31-year-old made his debut for the province over 11 years ago but has spent the majority of his professional career as their third choice nine.

With John Cooney starting the season nursing an injury, the Dublin native was named on the bench against the URC champions and capped off a lengthy cameo in the dramatic 20-19 win with the all-important try four minutes into additional time.

"It does, yeah," he said when asked if the game-clinching score in the season's first game feels like a case of perseverance rewarded.

"I try to stay pretty consistent with how I think. It's up to the coaches to pick the best player and who the best two nines are.

"The way I look at it is, when I get a chance, play my very best. That's all I can do. I was happy I was able to make a decent impact, anyway."

Shanahan admitted he did not know why his score was checked by the TMO, with the delay giving the province's players and supporters a nervy wait.

Ulster's celebrations were put on ice as, while Aidan Morgan was lining up the conversion attempt with the game seemingly won, the try was reviewed by the match officials before being confirmed.

"Maybe it was illegal but the scoreline's there now and it can't be changed.

"Regardless of who you're playing it's always good to win your first game of the season.

"We're away to South Africa [to play the Lions and Bulls] so it'll be a tough couple of weeks, but hopefully we can kick on from that result and maybe get a couple of results over there, too."

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Ulster assistant coach Dan Soper says the last-gasp 20-19 victory over Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship opener was "good entertainment".

The Belfast hosts trailed the champions four minutes into the red when Dave Shanahan touched down to give Ulster a dramatic winning start to the campaign.

"This group of guys have character, they're not going to go away and they'll stay in the fight," said Soper.

"It was good entertainment - it was a bit nervy. We could be a lot more efficient, scoring a bit quicker but Dave Shanahan did the job at the death so it's a great way to start the year."

Glasgow dominated for much of the game and led 12-10 at the break but Ulster finished strongly with two tries in the final eight minutes.

"We weren't brilliant, we are all aware of that, but we did enough in the first half, we were under a lot of pressure to stay in the game and then in the second half it was much of the same.

"We did just enough to get our noses in front at the death."

Ulster now travel to South Africa to face the Lions next Saturday before a meeting with the Bulls.

"We're pretty pleased to get this result but we have a tough couple of weeks coming up so we'll need to get better."