Both sides go into the match at Kingspan Stadium with everything to fight for. Ulster are poised to launch their assault on the top two, with DHL Stormers sitting just five points ahead of the province in 2nd place.
Ulster will be aiming to consolidate a top four position that would guarantee a home Quarter-Final, plus push towards a top two spot that would secure home advantage through to the Semi-Finals.
The province return to home following a three game away block that saw the side lose to Glasgow Warriors, win in the Shark tank in Durban against the Cell C Sharks and finished it off with a commanding 20-42 win against Cardiff.
The Bulls head into the match looking to bounce back from three successive defeats in the URC. The side have played more recently than the Ulstermen, with head Coach Jake Smith naming a strong side who lost to Western Province in the South African Currie Cup competition.
Despite their recent run of form, the South Africans sit in sixth position with 43 points. Depending on results a win could see the Bulls leapfrog Munster into 5th and close the gap on the top three.
Want to be there at the Kingspan on Saturday?
Match Details
🗓️ Saturday 25 March
⏰ 7.35pm
🏟️ Kingspan Stadium
🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship
📺 BBC Sport NI
Team News
📣 Team News
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) March 24, 2023
Your Ulster team to take on @BlueBullsRugby tomorrow in the URC! 🔥
💪 Duane Vermeulen captains the side
🏆 Treads is back after the Ireland Grand Slam win
🔙 Rob Baloucoune returns pic.twitter.com/gK8pJZyL34
🚨 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) March 24, 2023
Here is your Vodacom Bulls team to take on Ulster tomorrow night in Belfast 🐂#TrueToTheBlue @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/tZJ3Y7PsPG
Last Time Out
The Bulls came out on top the last time the sides met, with Ulster facing the Bulls for the first time in Pretoria in the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The game was played in very challenging hot conditions with the Ulster side playing at an unusual altitude.
Ulster started the match well and led going into half time by six points but the Bulls bounced back to turn things around in the second half with a pivotal try from their captain and former Ulster player Marcell Coetzee ensuring the victory. Matters were made harder for the province after lock Kieran Treadwell was shown a yellow card in the 65th minute. The defeat made it back to back losses for Ulster in a mini South African tour.
Familiar territory
For Ulster's captain, Duane Vermeulen, he faces familiar faces as the Springbok played for the Bulls between 2019-2021.
The former DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls thumper was colossal in the win in Durban against Cell C Sharks, at one point storming away after a breakdown steal before sprawling fellow Bok Rohan Janse van Rensburg with a powerful fend.
Vermeulen has been a calming and seasoned presence for Ulster who were missing several players to 2023 Guinness Six Nations duty, and head coach Dan McFarland speaks glowingly of the grizzled 2019 World Cup winner.
“This is a guy who not long ago made three massive plays against the All Blacks. That is what Duane does – he is the best mauler in the world and when the team needs an important play to be made, he is the one who will make it happen,” McFarland said.
“He might not be the all singing, all dancing, carrying the ball 16 times a game player \[of his youth\] but, man, the influence he has on games is phenomenal.”
Player to Watch
The Bulls leading scorer this season is their accurate fly half, Chris Smith, who is having a successful URC season with 107 points.
He has previous joy against Ulster with his kicking, as in last year's victory in Pretoria he kicked home two conversions and two penalties.
Did you know?
· Ulster’s only defeat in their last five first team fixtures was 11-17 to Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun in Round 14 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.
· The Ulstermen have won all three fixtures they have played against South African opponents this season.
· Ulster have won all seven previous fixtures against South African visitors to Kingspan Stadium in the United Rugby Championship
· Vodacom Bulls have won only one of their last six Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounters: 29-14 against Dragons RFC in Newport in Round 12. Bulls only other victory outside of South Africa this season was on a trip to Benetton on 21 October.
· Bulls have faced Irish provinces on seven previous occasions, six of those going with home field advantage, except their 27-26 victory over Leinster in Dublin in last season’s semi-final.
· The two sides have met just once before, in Pretoria last April, with the home side winning 34-16.