Lions claim bonus-point win over Ulster in URC opener in Johannesburg

The Currie Cup finalists started brightly and would dominate the first half, taking the lead 10 minutes in through Rabz Maxwane before Kade Wolhuter kicked a penalty to make it 8-0 five minutes later.

The Lions' powerful maul paid dividends again late in the first half as Francke Horn made it 15-0, but Ulster got on the board just before the break, with John Cooney touching down after the clock had turned red.

The visitors cut the deficit to 15-10 three minutes after the restart through Aidan Morgan but Lions responded quickly.

They put their maul to good use once again to allow Franco Marais to touch down, before Quan Horn broke four tackles to help set up Henco van Wyk moments later as they went 27-10 up.

Former Sharks star Werner Kok scored his first try for Ulster to cut the deficit on the hour mark and a late score from Corrie Barrett earned the bonus point, but Wolhuter had the final say for Lions at the death, bagging the hosts' fifth try to put the result beyond question.

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