Ulster

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Ulster back row David McCann feels Saturday's game against the Sharks in Durban is "huge" in terms of setting them up for the season.

Following bonus point home victories against the Dragons and the Bulls, Richie Murphy's side face their first away assignments on their tour to South Africa with a trip to Johannesburg to take on the Lions to come next week.

Winning on the road is crucial to mounting a challenge in the URC and following last season's disappointment, McCann feels the benefits are greater than mere points on the board.

"We need to show we can do it on the road and do it consistently," he said.

"If we can do that, then belief grows. Two games into the league, we have started with a bit of confidence and belief, this weekend is huge for us in terms of going forward.

"Getting a win this weekend is huge as it puts us in a prime position. If we could follow that up next week with another, compared to last year we'd be a much better position, but it's about taking momentum and carrying it into the rest of the year."

It will be a tough assignment on Saturday (15:00 BST) against a Sharks team that contains some World Cup-winning Springboks in the heat and humidity of Durban.

McCann feels Ulster's "energy" will be crucial to their chances of success, as will a good start to the game.

"We are focusing on starting early and bringing our energy into this week as we know Sharks will be a good side, really physical and confrontational," he added.

"It's about imposing our defence on them early and our attack is set up in a way we can expose some weaknesses in their defence, especially in around those wider channels if we go deeper into phase [play]."

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Ulster's four Ireland call-ups have been named to start against the Sharks in Durban in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Iain Henderson will captain the side from the second row while Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale also start as Ulster target a third straight win.

Michael Lowry has recovered from injury to return at full-back, and he will join Stockdale, who moves to the wing from 15, and former Sharks player Werner Kok in the back three.

Hooker Tom Stewart and prop Scott Wilson will start their first games of the season alongside Sam Crean in the front row.

With Cormac Izuchukwu having not travelled to South Africa because of the foot injury that ruled him out of the Ireland squad, Harry Sheridan gets the nod to start alongside Henderson in front of a back row of David McCann, Timoney and Juarno Augustus.

Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy retain their places at half-back, while McCloskey and James Hume start at centre.

Development lock Joe Hopes could make his first appearance since November 2023 off the bench.

The Sharks have named a strong team to face Ulster and have recalled five of their Rugby Championship-winning South Africa internationals in the shape of Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams and Andre Esterhuizen.

Sharks: E van der Merwe; E Hooker, J Julius, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; S Masuku, G Williams; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch, E Etzebeth, M Orie, S Kolisi, V Tshituka (capt), P Buthelezi.

Replacements: F Mbatha, S Matanzima, R Dreyer, B Hlekani, E Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, L Am.

Ulster: M Lowry; W Kok; J Hume, S McCloskey; J Stockdale; J Murphy, N Doak; S Crean, T Stewart, S Wilson; I Henderson, H Sheridan; D McCann, N Timoney, J Augustus.

Replacements: R Herring, C Reid, T O'Toole, J Hopes, S Reffell, C McKee, J Flannery, J Postlethwaite.

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The Sharks have recalled five of their Rugby Championship-winning South Africa internationals for Saturday's game against Ulster in Durban (15:00 BST).

World Cup winners Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi all return to the Sharks pack to join international team-mates Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch, who featured against Leinster in Dublin last week, for the United Rugby Championship encounter at Kings Park.

Springboks scrum-half Grant Williams and inside centre Andre Esterhuizen return to a backline which boasts a Test-level back three of Makazole Mapimpi, Ethan Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe.

Hendrikse brothers Jaden and Jordan and Lukhanyo Am are named among the replacements.

Wing Hooker, 22, says the Sharks are excited for their first home game of the season after defeats by Leinster and Glasgow and a draw with the Dragons on their European tour.

"I want to make my home team proud, the vibe is pretty good being back and you get that sense of a home feeling," said Hooker.

"We're all keen and looking forward to going out on Saturday and performing for our fans. They can look forward to this week's game as much as we are.

"We've trained really hard, exciting things are coming and we hope to see a full stadium coming out in support and watching a really good game of rugby."

Ulster, who have started the season with back-to-back wins, name their team on Friday.

Sharks: E van der Merwe; E Hooker, J Julius, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; S Masuku, G Williams; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch, E Etzebeth, M Orie, S Kolisi, V Tshituka (capt), P Buthelezi.

Replacements: F Mbatha, S Matanzima, R Dreyer, B Hlekani, E Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, L Am.

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Ulster assistant coach Mark Sexton says more Ulster players in the Irish squad is "better for everybody".

Iain Henderson, Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale were included in Andy Farrell's 34-man squad for the autumn internationals that begin with a trip to Chicago to face New Zealand on 1 November.

Cormac Izuchukwu missed out due to a foot injury that has seen him stay behind in Belfast to see a specialists as Ulster prepare for a URC game the Sharks in Durban on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Ulster will monitor his progress with Sexton saying they will assess whether the 25-year-old forward will join up with the squad for next week's game against the Lions in Johannesburg.

However, the inclusion of the Ulster quartet in Farrell's Ireland squad is a positive with Sexton paying tribute to Stockdale whose versatility saw him play at full-back in last week's 28-7 home win against the Lions.

"Jacob is unbelievably talented, you saw the last two nights he's been incredible," Sexton said in a media call from Ulster's base in Durban.

"He has size and power, has a good left-footed kicking game, is good in the air and his ability to beat players and offload, I can't speak highly enough about Jacob."

Sexton arrived in Ulster over the summer from Connacht as attack and backs coach.

He admits he can be "demanding" but in their opening two URC games, Ulster have scored 10 tries as they picked up maximum points.

It has been a good start, but Sexton feels there is still room for improvement with the "ability to finish line breaks" one area he has identified.

"We just didn't finish the last pass and that needs to get better," he said.

"Against the Bulls we were a bit cagey for 30 minutes, so I'd like to throw the shackles off.

"We're seeing lads express themselves, playing with smiles on their faces and playing to space. We're seeing exciting rugby which I am passionate about."

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Cormac Izuchukwu has emerged as an injury doubt for Ireland's autumn Tests after Ulster confirmed he will see a specialist about a foot injury.

The 25-year-old forward sustained the injury in Ulster's United Rugby Championship win over the Bulls last weekend and is unavailable for Saturday's fixture against the Sharks in Durban (15:00 BST).

Izuchukwu was expected to be named in Andy Farrell's Ireland squad on Wednesday after scoring tries against the Dragons and Bulls in an impressive start to the season.

The London-born player made his Ireland debut against Fiji last year and featured in the summer tour wins over Georgia and Portugal, but an ankle injury denied him a possible Six Nations debut earlier this year.

After opening their season with back-to-back wins, Ulster face the Sharks and Lions on their South African tour before the autumn break.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says he was hugely impressed by the commitment from his players in Saturday's 28-7 win over South African side Bulls.

Wilco Louw cancelled out Stuart McCloskey's try in the first half but Ulster scored three tries after the restart, through Juarno Augustus, Rob Herring and Cormac Izuchukwu, to power to victory.

It was a second bonus-point win in as many matches in the United Rugby Championship for Ulster, who have a game in hand over the majority of the league after their game in Edinburgh was postponed as a result of Storm Amy.

"Absolutely, I was blown away by their commitment, work ethic and grit to stay in the fight," Murphy said when asked if it was the best team performance since he took charge of Ulster in March 2024.

"I thought we worked really hard for each other defensively. It shows the team is building nicely and there's still loads of things we feel we can be better at.

"We have to build on it going forward now."

Ulster will now travel to South Africa for two matches against Sharks and Lions before the URC takes a break for the November internationals, and Murphy says his side are "going down there on a mission to win".

"I don't think we should worry about any team we are playing," he said.

"Going down to South Africa is obviously a very difficult place to go.

"The guys feel good about themselves at the moment and it's important we keep working hard to try and get better every week."

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Ulster prop Tom O'Toole said he is excited to face a "nearly fully strong Bulls side" in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game in Belfast (19:45 BST).

The Bulls have recalled 13 Springboks to their squad after starting the season with wins over Ospreys and Leinster in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Ulster have had a longer break since their opening victory over the Dragons after last week's fixture against Edinburgh was postponed because of Storm Amy.

"It'll be exciting to come up against the challenge of a nearly fully strong Bulls side," O'Toole told BBC Sport NI.

"The Bulls have performed really well over the last couple of weeks and hopefully we will be able to put on one of our strongest teams with the guys we have available.

"They were in the [URC] final last year for a reason, and they have really physical set of forwards, are set-piece orientated and their backs are dynamic, really quick and really dangerous over transition."

Ulster are set to welcome wing Robert Baloucoune and prop Eric O'Sullivan back from injury ahead of this weekend's clash, but backs Michael Lowry and Jacob Stockdale are doubts.

Richie Murphy's side welcome the URC leaders to the Affidea Stadium before travelling to South Africa to face the Sharks and Lions in their final two games before the autumn break.

"It's a big few weeks coming up," the 27-year-old continued.

"We have put in a lot of good work over pre-season, so we're excited for the challenge, and it'll put us in good position to see where we are.

"Three South African teams in a row is a good challenge to see where you are."

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Fit-again Robert Baloucoune will make his first appearance of the season for Ulster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against the Bulls (19:45 BST) at the Affidea Stadium, while summer signing Juarno Augustus has been handed his first start of the campaign.

Wing Baloucoune played only twice for the Irish province last term in an injury-blighted year and missed the season-opening 42-21 win over the Dragons two weeks ago with an ankle injury.

Augustus, a summer signing from Northampton, came off the bench in the win over the Welsh side in Belfast and was also named as a replacement for last week's scheduled encounter away to Edinburgh, which was postponed after falling victim to the effects of Storm Amy.

Jacob Stockdale is selected at full-back after overcoming a foot injury sustained in the game two weeks ago while prop Eric O'Sullivan is named on the bench after recovering from a knee problem.

Michael Lowry is not included in the matchday squad however as he continues to recover from an abdominal strain.

Zac Ward retains his place in the starting XV on the left wing after his try-scoring performance against the Dragons, with Stuart McCloskey and James Hume again paired in midfield.

Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak continue to form the half-back partnership.

Former Saracens forward Sam Crean starts for the first time since joining the province in the summer, packing down with Ireland internationals Rob Herring and Tom O'Toole in the front row.

Captain Iain Henderson is partnered by Cormac Izuchukwu in the second row, with David McCann, Nick Timoney and Augustus making up the back row.

Prop Callum Reid was named in the side to face Edinburgh last week but is ruled out of Saturday's match with a concussion.

The Bulls have started the season strongly, securing wins over Ospreys and defending champions Leinster, and have recalled a clutch of South Africa internationals to their squad following the conclusion of The Rugby Championship.

Last season's beaten URC finalists are without former Ulster forward Marcell Coetzee because of a concussion however.

The meeting with the Bulls is the first of three encounters against South African opposition for Richie Murphy's side as they travel to face the Sharks and Lions in the following weeks.

Ulster lost three of their four URC games against South Africa opposition last season, including a 47-21 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring, O'Toole; Henderson (capt), Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus

Replacements: Stewart, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Sheridan, Reffell, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.

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Ulster wing Zac Ward insists he is "not really thinking about" a potential Ireland call-up as he prepares to face a Bulls side loaded with Springboks in Belfast on Saturday (19:45 BST).

Former Ireland Sevens star Ward started his first full season in the 15s code in style with a try in Ulster's opening United Rugby Championship win over the Dragons a fortnight ago.

The 26-year-old was a training panellist in Paul O'Connell's Ireland squad over the summer, and while returning head coach Andy Farrell names his autumn panel next week, Ward says he is not looking beyond the URC leaders' visit to Affidea Stadium.

"I'm just worried about this game this weekend," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm not really thinking about that. It's always a goal for every player, but I just want to try and cement my place in the starting 15 here and then see what happens after that."

Having initially joined Ulster on a trial basis after last year's autumn international window, Ward admits he endured a "baptism of fire" in his debut against Bordeaux in the Investec Champions Cup.

But with four tries in 10 appearances since then, he believes his confidence has "grown massively".

"That's definitely down to the coaching staff having belief in me and not putting too much pressure on me and the guys around me galvanising me," added the 2024 Olympian.

The Bulls, who have started the season with wins over Ospreys and Leinster, have included 13 South African internationals for their European tour that also includes fixtures against Connacht and Glasgow.

Ward may come up against Canan Moodie, who is fresh off winning the Rugby Championship with the Springboks, but the Ballynahinch man is confident Ulster can overcome last season's URC finalists if they execute their gameplan.

"South African teams are always going to be massively physical, we know that.

"We can't give them too much loose ball because they have some nippy guys out wide as well, but we're confident if we stick to our gameplan and do what we set out to do, we can put on a good show and a good performance for the crowd."

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Ulster are relishing the chance to take on a Bulls side loaded with South African internationals after parking the disappointment of an unexpected weekend off, says forwards coach Jimmy Duffy.

Having beaten Dragons in their United Rugby Championship opener, Ulster had hoped to maintain early-season momentum away to Edinburgh last weekend before Storm Amy forced the game's postponement hours before kick-off.

While Ulster will meet Edinburgh at a still-to-be-confirmed later date, focus has switched to Saturday's home encounter with the Bulls (19:45 BST), who have recalled 13 Springboks after opening their campaign with wins over Ospreys and Leinster.

"It certainly wasn't easy, to be honest," Duffy said of last week's postponement.

"We're trying to build momentum, we had a good pre-season, had a good game against the Dragons and it would have been nice to back it up with another game. Both Edinburgh and ourselves felt we'd prepared pretty well, we had two strong sides out.

"We're over the mental hurdle, once the disappointment of the game was parked, we got everyone home and refreshed ahead of another massive challenge this weekend."

Ulster are set to welcome back wing Robert Baloucoune and prop Eric O'Sullivan from injury, but backs Michael Lowry (abdominal strain) and Jacob Stockdale (foot) are doubts for Saturday's game at Affidea Stadium.

While the inclusion of frontline South Africa players such as Handre Pollard and Canan Moodie bolsters the Bulls ranks, last season's URC finalists are without former Ulster forward Marcell Coetzee because of concussion.

"Irrespective of what team they put out, they're going to be a handful," added Duffy.

"They've been finalists on a number of occasions. We must make sure we're mentally switched on. Physically you have to be there, but mentally you've got to be right up for the challenge."

Following the Bulls encounter, Ulster travel to South Africa to face the Sharks and Lions before the autumn break. Richie Murphy's side lost three of their four URC games against South Africa opposition last season, including a 47-21 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.

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Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune has been passed fit and is available for selection for the province's United Rugby Championship encounter with the Bulls at the Affidea Stadium on Saturday (19:45 BST).

Baloucoune suffered an injury-ravaged 2024-25 campaign as he made just two appearances for Ulster.

He was ruled out of the opening URC match of the new season against the Dragons with an ankle injury but returned to action playing for Ballynahinch in an All-Ireland League game on Saturday.

Meanwhile Richie Murphy's side have received a further boost with the news that prop Eric O'Sullivan has also returned to training after a knee injury.

Backs Michael Lowry (abdominal strain) and Jacob Stockdale (foot) are injury concerns for Saturday's game in Belfast and their fitness will be monitored during the week.

Prop Callum Reid is expected to be available for the game away to the Sharks on 18 October after concussion.

Ben Moxham, Lorcan McLoughlin and Ethan McIlroy are expected to be sidelined until December, with James McNabney's anticipated return date from a knee injury as yet unknown.

Ulster defeated Dragons at home in their opening fixture while their scheduled second game of the season away to Edinburgh was postponed in light of Storm Amy.

The Bulls have started the season positively, securing home wins over the Ospreys and defending champions Leinster.

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Friday's planned United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture between Edinburgh and Ulster has been postponed due to adverse conditions.

The sides were due to meet at Hive Stadium with the initial kick-off time of 20:05 BST brought forward to 19:00 BST to avoid the worst of Storm Amy.

However, worsening conditions in Scotland has prompted the URC to postpone the game with forecast storm winds making it unsafe to move the game to another venue.

Edinburgh managing director Douglas Struth said: "We were set to welcome a capacity crowd for tonight's game.

"However, the safety of supporters, players, partners, and everyone associated with this weekend's fixture is of the utmost importance so, while disappointing, it is absolutely the right decision to postpone tonight's game considering the escalating weather reports overnight.

"This decision has not been taken lightly. We have worked closely with the URC, Scottish Rugby, the Met Office and local authorities to ensure it is the best-informed choice."

The URC said it will now consider available dates with broadcasters and both clubs to reschedule the game.

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Werner Kok will make his first appearance of the season with Jacob Stockdale missing through injury for Ulster's trip to face Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.

Stockdale picked up a foot injury during last week's 42-21 win against the Dragons in Belfast and has not recovered in time for the game which now has an earlier kick-off time of 19:00 BST due to the expected arrival of Storm Amy.

Kok will start on the right win with Zac Ward filling in for Stockdale on the opposite flank following his try-scoring performance against the Welsh club last week.

Michael Lowry also misses out this week with a hip injury as Stewart Moore takes his pace at full-back.

In total, head coach Richie Murphy makes four changes from the side that began last week as Tom Stewart gets the nod at hooker, with Callum Reid and Tom O'Toole either side of him in the front row.

Sean Reffell has been handed his first start of the season at open-side flanker, joining try-scorers from last week Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney in the back row.

The team is captained by Iain Henderson who partners Harry Sheridan in the second row.

Murphy has opted to retain the half-back partnership of Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy, while Stuart McCloskey and James Hume are again preferred as centres.

Jude Postlethwaite is one of three backs named among the replacements, joined by Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, while Rob Herring, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, David McCann and Juarno Augustus provide the forwards cover.

Ulster: Moore; Kok, Hume, McCloskey, Ward; Murphy, Doak; Reid, Stewart, O'Toole; Henderson (capt), Sheridan; Izuchukwu, Reffell, Timoney.

Replacements: Herring, Crean, Wilson, McCann, Augustus, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

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Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak says the side want to give Edinburgh a "right performance" on Friday night after their heavy defeat at the Hive Stadium last season.

The northern province were beaten 47-17 by their United Rugby Championship rivals in May to bring their disappointing 2024-25 campaign to a bruising close.

Richie Murphy's side began the new season in better shape with a six-try win over Dragons at home on Friday but Doak said attention quickly turned to the trip to the Scottish capital.

"Edinburgh are a very different side. What they did to us last year, we haven't forgotten that either," he said.

"That was said in the changing room after the game there, so we'll all be dusting ourselves down.

"We want to go over there and we want to give them a right performance and we'll take it to them."

Doak started the season opener against Dragons and was impressive with the boot as he went five-from-five off the tee in the 42-21 win.

After John Cooney departed for Brive in the summer, the 23-year-old will be expected to be Ulster's first-choice in the number nine jersey this season but says he is expecting competition from the likes of David Shanahan and Conor McKee.

"We all want to push each other, even with John gone," he added.

"John set a really good precedent of trying to get the best out of ourselves at scrum-half. That's definitely stayed on, even though he's left.

"Nothing's changed in that department. We're all pushing each other to try and make each other better."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy felt his side's opening performance of the United Rugby Championship season was "as you'd expect but probably not as you would like" after a 42-21 win over Dragons on Friday.

The northern province shipped three tries in the win and, despite scoring six of their own, occasionally undermined promising attacking play with errors or breakdown penalties.

Murphy said his side "looked shaky" after conceding just 12 seconds into the game through a score he felt should have been chalked off but was "delighted" to start the campaign with five points in Belfast.

"I thought at times we played some really good rugby [but] probably didn't finish enough. So plenty to work on there and defensively I thought we looked better at times, but disappointed to concede three tries," he said.

"It was kind of as you'd expect, but probably not as you would like. We go, we prepare, we come up with these plans in relation to how we're going to break down the opposition, and you can see a lot of them going right, but then there's one or two that just go wrong and that's always going to happen.

"It's just how you deal with that and how you move on."

With only one pre-season contest under their belts, Murphy felt his side "looked a little tired" in the second half but said the run-out will be "massive" moving forward as they prepare for next week's visit to Edinburgh where they were beaten 47-17 to end their disappointing 2024-25 season.

"We came here looking for five points. We started with a really positive win," he added.

"We go to Edinburgh next week and we have a point to prove over there."

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Ins: Juarno Agustus (Northampton Saints), Angus Bell (Waratahs)

Outs: John Cooney (Brive), Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins), Alan O'Connor (retired) Andy Warwick

Last season: 14th

First five games: Dragons (H), Edinburgh (A), Bulls (H), Sharks (A), Lions (A)

Prospects: The 2024-25 campaign is not one that will live long in the memory at Ulster.

The northern province were the lowest finisher among the provinces with only Zebre and Dragons below them in the standings at the end of an injury-riddled season.

That means that this time around Ulster will not play for Champions Cup rugby for the first time in the history of Europe's premier competition.

The top-eight finish required to once again dine at the top table in 2026-27 must surely be the goal this time around.

In signing number eight Juarno Augustus from Northampton, there figures to be some added ballast to the carrying game. The side's other high-profile recruit, loose-head Angus Bell, will arrive only after Australia's November campaign but is no slouch in that department either.

The arrival of Mark Sexton as attack coach, with Willie Faloon now in permanent charge of the defence, means Richie Murphy is now surrounded by his own ticket, and improvement will be expected in what is his second full season in charge.

Luckless with injuries last time around, imperative to their hopes, however, will be key players spending more time on the pitch than the treatment table.