Ulster will hope to make it three home wins on the bounce in the BKT URC, after a strong start to the season. Last Friday's 21-14 victory over Interpro rivals, Munster Rugby, put Dan McFarland's men in touch with the top of the table, sitting behind Vodacom Bulls, Leinster Rugby and Glasgow Warriors, with 14 points after four fixtures.
The visitors, Emirates Lions, have endured a more difficult start to the season with 8 points on the board, however they will take a lot of confidence from their gritty win on the road against Scarlets in Round 4. The 23-24 thriller got the Lions their first win of the season and also inflicted the Scarlets' first defeat at home for over a year.
No doubt that the Lions will be hoping to claim another scalp on their travels in Belfast. The Johannesburg based side have been on the wrong side of the scoreline on three fixtures so far, but in each game they have went close in tight affairs, reflected in their three losing bonus points.
Are you ready to roar against the Lions?
Tickets are available to cheer on the Ulstermen this week, as the province chase down the top of the BKT URC table.
You can grab your tickets via the link below!
How it stands
Match Details
📅 Friday 17 November
⏰ 7.35pm
🏟️ Kingspan Stadium
🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship, Round 5
📺 BBC NI, Viaplay and URC.tv
Last Time Out
The Lions come to Kingspan Stadium hoping to turn their fortunes around from last time they came to Belfast in 2021, when Ulster recorded an impressive 26-10 win.
Reliable back-rower, Nick Timoney, was the star of the show that day, scoring two tries, with James Hume and Matty Rea also on the scoresheet.
When the two sides met last season at Ellis Park in South Africa, Ulster edged out a historic 37-39 victory, with tries from Rob Baloucoune, Billy Burns, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle and Rob Herring all securing a big away win in the high altitude.
Players To Watch
Ulster's coaching staff will have highlighted a few of the away sides potential threats in the build-up to the match.
Emirates Lions Head Coach, Ivan van Rooyen, was left purring about his classy fly-half, Sanele Nohamba, after the 10 led his side in their comeback win against the Scarlets at the weeked. The Head Coach praised Nohamba's passing, kicking and decision making in the game, calling him a 'quality rugby player' after he converted three tries and a penalty in the impressive away win.
Richard Kriel is another player to look out for, the former Vodacom Bulls and Zebre Parma player is a quick back, with an impressive charge down on Scarlets' Evans changing the match for the away side.
The man he offloaded to for the winning try, 22 year-old centre Henco van Wyk, is a powerful runner and is highly rated after he was named the Junior Springbok player of the year in 2021.
The leader of the pack, Lions captain, Marius Louw, is a man Ulster will be keeping an eye on, with the centre showing impressive form early on in the season.
Did you know?
- Ulster’s only defeat in the first four rounds of the BKT United Rugby Championship was 20-22 to Connacht in Galway in Round 3.
- Ulster have lost just one of their last seven United Rugby Championship home games: 10- 15 to Connacht in last season's quarter final.
- The Ulstermen have won their last five fixtures against South African opponents.
- Emirates Lions’ three game losing run in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship ended with their narrow victory at Scarlets last weekend.
- Lions have won just one of their eight encounters with Irish provinces: 23-21 at home to Munster in March 2022.
- Lions lost 10-26 on their only previous visit to Kingspan Stadium in October 2021.