Lions vs Ulster LIVE score updates from United Rugby Championship

Ulster snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last weekend to get their United Rugby Championship up and running with a dramatic win last week.

Richie Murphy's side edged out reigning URC champions Glasgow at Ravenhill, but it was far from convincing from the province.

And they will have it all to do over the next two games as they prepare for a crunch double-header in South Africa.

First up it's the Lions on Saturday morning at Ellis Park Stadium, and then it's the turn of the Bulls seven days later.

Murphy will be looking for an improved performance this weekend, and welcomes back scrum-half John Cooney and centre Stuart McCloskey who both missed that Glasgow win.

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, three of eight changes made by head coach Murphy.

Teams Lions Backs 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Sanele Nohamba. Forwards: 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Morgan Naudé. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Henco van Wyk. Ulster Backs: 15 Ethan McIlroy; 14 Werner Kok, 13 Stewart Moore, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale; 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 John Cooney Forwards: 8 Nick Timoney., 7 Sean Reffell, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Alan O’Connor (capt), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 John Andrew, 1 Andrew Warwick. Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 James McNabney, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Mike Lowry, 23 David McCann.

Check out our updates (below) from the game.

Key EventsWelcome!17:4417:48Gareth FullertonTeam news

Lions

Backs 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Sanele Nohamba.

Forwards: 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Morgan Naudé.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Henco van Wyk.

Ulster

Backs: 15Ethan McIlroy; 14 Werner Kok, 13 Stewart Moore, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale; 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 John Cooney

Forwards: 8 Nick Timoney., 7 Sean Reffell, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Alan O’Connor (capt), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 John Andrew, 1 Andrew Warwick.

Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 James McNabney, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Mike Lowry, 23 David McCann.ShareComments17:44Gareth FullertonBetting odds

Lions 3/8

Ulster 21/10

Draw 20/1ShareComments17:44Gareth FullertonIs the game on TV?

The game is being shown live on Premier Sports. More info on how to subscribe can be found HERE

Premier Sports subscribers can also stream the game live on the Premier Player.

ShareComments17:44KEY EVENTWelcome!

Welcome to our live blog.

We will have live score updates from Liosn vs Ulster in Johannesburg.

The game is scheduled to kick-off at 11.55am UK time and we will bring you all the action as it happens.

So stick with us!

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