Copyright the42
League of Ireland Horse Racing TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture Rugby Weekly Extra Dive into all the news and analysis 3 times a week The Football Family Weekly insights from the week’s big talking points Advertisement More Stories The Lions' Renzo du Plessis on his way to scoring his side's fourth try of the match.Steve Haag Sports/Christiaan Kotze/INPHO Ulster run out of gas but pick up bonus point as Lions hand them first defeat of season Robert Baloucoune’s hat-trick contributed to Ulster’s BP, but the Lions overwhelmed their tired visitors in the final quarter. 3.13pm, 25 Oct 2025 Share options Ken Borland reports from Ellis Park ULSTER RAN OUT of gas in Johannesburg but left with a bonus point as the Lions inflicted a first defeat of the season on Richie Murphy’s men. Rob Baloucoune’s hat-trick contributed to Ulster’s four-try bonus, but the hosts overpowered the tired Irish province in the final stages of an end-to-end encounter to take maximum points at Ellis Park. Ulster were most notably second-best in the scrums, conceding several penalties in that set-piece, while the Lions forwards hit them hard with their carries and generally made it over the advantage line with more ease than the opposition. The gainline dominance of the Lions was not that surprising given Ulster had four players away with the Ireland squad and coach Richie Murphy made three other changes, fielding a youthful team missing many of their usual leaders. In that context, it was a stout effort by Ulster because Ellis Park, at 1753m altitude, is a daunting place to visit. And it was only in the last 10 minutes that the Lions ran away with the game, scoring three tries. It was the slick finishing of wing Baloucoune that kept Ulster in the contest and they trailed only 34-31 in the 70th minute. But the Ulster forwards, showing signs of wilting on a hot day that required water breaks, were ill-equipped to handle the wave of forward charges that the Lions threw at them thereafter. Advertisement The Lions' scrum was dominant in Johannesburg.Steve Haag Sports / Christiaan Kotze/INPHO Steve Haag Sports / Christiaan Kotze/INPHO / Christiaan Kotze/INPHO Fullback Michael Lowry was always willing to lead their counter-attacks but a couple of his forays saw him isolated and penalties were conceded. The Lions’ opening try came as early as the second minute. Ulster were counter-rucked off the ball after a Lowry run, conceding a penalty. From the lineout, prop SJ Kotze rumbled through a gap in the defence to score. But three minutes later, Baloucoune was able to sound an early warning of the impact he would have on the game as he knifed through a kink in the defence and finished brilliantly from the halfway line. The Lions scored again in the 15th minute off the back of a dominant scrum. But Ulster’s other wing, Zac Ward, was sound in the air and, after winning a contestable kick, he offloaded to Lowry for the counter, with out-half Jack Murphy’s lovely little dink over the top of the defence being chased down by centre James Hume to score. A yellow card to prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye for a high hit pegged the Lons back, the home side just being able to add a penalty before half-time, and Ulster had the last say before the turnaround. The Lions took too long over a clearance kick from the base of a ruck and scrumhalf Nico Steyn was forced to run back into the ruck, Ulster winning a penalty for sealing off. After the Ulster forwards were repelled over and over from close to the line, the ball was shipped wide, where Baloucoune showed great hands to gather a low pass and finished brilliantly right in the corner. Ulster led 19-17 at the break, but made something of a pig’s ear of their kicking game in the second half, allowing the Lions to dictate territory and give their powerful forwards plenty of chances to create momentum. A try after a scrum penalty and a soft penalty conceded allowed the Lions to take a 27-19 lead inside the first 10 minutes of the second half. But Ulster struck back in the 52nd minute with Baloucoune accepting his hat-trick try like daily bread after a fine carry by hooker Rob Herring and Hume regathering his own chip-kick. Baloucoune celebrates his hat-trick.Steve Haag Sports / Christiaan Kotze/INPHO Steve Haag Sports / Christiaan Kotze/INPHO / Christiaan Kotze/INPHO The Lions were contentiously awarded a try in the 67th minute when flank replacement Renzo du Plessis went to ground with the ball and then advanced without releasing it, the officials ruling he was not held even though scrum-half Nathan Doak had his hands on his back. Ulster did score again as their forwards moved the ball up through good phase play, flank David McCann then spotting a gap and stretching over the tryline, but they were unable to add to their tally in the last 13 minutes. Lions – Tries: SJ Kotze, Eduan Keyter, Ruan Venter, Renzo du Plessis, Henco van Wyk, Conraad van Vuuren, Morne Brandon. Conversions: Chris Smith (4). Penalties: Smith (2) Ulster – Tries: Rob Baloucoune (3), James Hume, David McCann. Conversions: Nathan Doak (2), Flannery Lions: Quan Horn, Eduan Keyter, Henco van Wyk, Bronson Mills, Angelo Davids, Chris Smith, Nico Steyn, SJ Kotze, Franco Marais, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Etienne Oosthuizen, Reinhard Nothnagel, Jarod Cairns, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn (CAPT) Replacements: Morne Brandon, RF Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Darrien Landsberg, Renzo du Plessis, Layton Horn, Gianni Lombard, Kelly Mpeku Ulster Rugby: Michael Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Sam Crean, Rob Herring (CAPT), Tom O’Toole, Harry Sheridan, Joe Hopes, David McCann, Tom Stewart, Juarno Augustus Replacements: James McCormick, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Werner Kok Referee: Ben Connor (WRU) Ken Borland View 13 comments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Ulster run out of gas but pick up bonus point as Lions hand them first defeat of season”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Ulster run out of gas but pick up bonus point as Lions hand them first defeat of season”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy before taking part. Leave a Comment Submit a report Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines. Damaging the good reputation of someone, slander, or libel. Racism or Hate speech An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs. Trolling or Off-topic An attempt to derail the discussion. Inappropriate language Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs. Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts. Please provide additional information Thank you for the feedback Your feedback has been sent to our team for review. Leave a commentcancel Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion News in 60 seconds FreeChampionship Ireland international Sinclair Armstrong gives Bristol City battling victory over Birmingham FreeBallina GAA Regan the hero as Ballina produce late rally to win third Mayo SFC title in a row FreePremier League Sunderland climb to second place after rocking Chelsea with 91st-minute winner 21 mins ago Wallabies count injury cost after holding off second-half fightback by Eddie Jones' Japan Freein the pool Gold for Walshe as McSharry takes silver at World Aquatics World Cup Power fighting to stay inside cut-line as play suspended again in Utah Track Cycling World champion Lara Gillespie finishes sixth in omnium race As it happened Ireland v Belgium, Nations League play-offs 'As soon as my agent told me Munster were in for me, it was a no-brainer' Welsh rugby to axe one team as part of overhaul Wave Goodbye Mason Melia bids farewell to Richmond Park with a final goal more from us Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The 42 supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem: Your Email (optional) Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online Sign in or create a free account To continue reading create a free account Or sign into an existing account
