Ulster vs Bordeaux-Begles LIVE score updates from the Champions ...
Ulster face Bordeaux-Begle as they look to bounce back from their disastrous start to the Champions Cup.
Richie Murphy's side lost 61-21 to Toulouse away from home as a number of mistakes from the province contributed to the French side running out winners by such a big margin.
They'll be hoping for a much better showing back in front of their home fans.
Here are the teams:
Ulster: M Lowry; W Kok, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, Z Ward; A Morgan, N Doak; E O’Sullivan, R Herring, T O’Toole; I Henderson, K Treadwell; C Izuchukwu, N Timoney, D McCann.
Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, S Wilson, H Sheridan, Marcus Rea, D Shanahan, J Humphreys, R Telfer.
Bordeaux-Begles: L Bielle-Biarrey: D Penaud, N Depoortere, Y Moefana, A Retiere; J Carbery, M Lucu (capt); J Poirot, R Latterrade, C Sadie: G Petti, J Gray; M Gazzotti, L Swinton, T Tatafu.
Replacements: M Lamothe, U Boniface, B Tameifuna, A Coleman, A Ricard, B Vergnes, R Janse van Rensburg, M Garcia.
17:12KEY EVENT
It's all over the Kingspan Stadium and that was a second half demolition from Bordeaux. Ulster had a five-point lead at half time but ended up losing by 21 points! They couldn't cope with the power of the French side and seemed to run out of ideas the match got away from them. It is back to the drawing board for Richie Murphy's side unfortunately.
17:10Eamon Doggett
This is turning inot a humbling defeat for Ulster as Bordeaux carry hard and Ugo Boniface gets over from close range for another try!
17:01Eamon Doggett
Bordeuax turn the ball over in their own 22 and go on a blistering counter-attack with Bielle-Biarrey arriving on the left wing to finish off a classy move! That could be game, set and match for the French 22.
70 mins gone
16:57Eamon Doggett
A brilliant score from the away side as they go through phase after phase before they find space out wide where Penaud plays a lovely behind the back pass to Petti who gets in for the try! It's a long way back for Ulster now.
69 mins gone
16:53KEY EVENT
Bordeaux get a third try as Damian Penaud gets in the corner after patient build up. It is converted by Carbery from a tricky position and the away side now lead.
61 mins gone
16:48Eamon Doggett
Ulster making changes. Dave Shanahan and Marcus Rea replace Doak and Izuchukwu.
16:33Eamon Doggett
Bordeaux's turn to carry the ball well with Carbery keeping things ticking over before Timoney does very well to force a turnover at the breakdown.
46 mins gone
16:30Eamon Doggett
Ulster carry the ball well and advance into the Bordeaux 22 but a pass to Morgan is short and the out-half ends up knocking it on. And Bordeaux win a scrum penalty and are able to bring play up to halfway.
43 mins gone
16:26KEY EVENT
Ulster have a five-point lead heading into this final forty minutes.
16:12KEY EVENT
An absorbing first half comes into an end with Ulster holding a five-point lead thanks to tries from Izuchukwu, Timoney and Kok. Bordeaux are right in this match though. It is set up for a brilliant second half.
16:11KEY EVENT
Zac Ward is beginning to get his hands on the ball for Ulster and is making plenty of yards. It is his break that leads to Ulster winning a penalty that allows them to kick into the Bordeaux 22. It is the last chance of the half and they it count as they the ball one way and then the other before Werner Kok crashes over the line! Doak misses the conversion but Ulster regain the lead.
16:00Eamon Doggett
Bordeuax are down to 13 men as Moefana is shown to the bin. The French side do well though to turn the ball over and temporarily relieve some pressure.
32 mins gone
15:58Eamon Doggett
Another yellow card as Bordeaux's Piorot kicks the ball out of a ruck as Ulster push for another try. Meanwhile the TMO is looking at a high tackle from Moefana on Timoney.
31 mins gone
15:54KEY EVENT
Bordeaux are awarded a penalty try as Dave McCann is shown a yellow card for bringing down a maul. Another big swing in this game. We are level with Ulster down to 14 men for the next ten minutes.
27 mins gone
15:37KEY EVENT
Bordeaux's Marco Gazzotti is shown a yellow card for a clinical ploy to slow down the ball. With a one-man advantage, Ulster ramp up the pressure on their French opponent and it eventually make it count as Nick Timoney spins around, bamboozling the Bordeaux defence, before diving for the line! Ulster now lead as Doak nails a tricky conversion.
19 mins gone
15:34Eamon Doggett
Bordeaux get into a good attacking position but Ulster turn the ball over and Cormac Izuchukwu goes on a charging run before kicking the ball towards the corner flag. The Bordeaux player has to pick it up and is then bundled into touch. Good attacking position for Ulster now.
15 mins gone
15:25KEY EVENT
An immediate response from Ulster! Ward goes close to try in the corner but is bundled into touch. Then Bordeaux's lineout goes awry and Ulster latch on the ball. Herring just come up short of the line before Cormac Izuchukwu gets over! Doak converts and we are level.
8 mins gone
15:21KEY EVENT
A dream start for the away side as they go to the front man in a lineout and then from there with Tatafu powering over the line. Carberry adds the extras from the kicking tee.
3 mins gone
15:17KEY EVENT
Bordeaux are on the attack in the Ulster half in the early stages.
1 min gone
15:08Eamon Doggett
We are nearly ready to go for this Champions Cup clash at the Kingspan Stadium.
14:47Eamon Doggett
14:22Eamon Doggett
By Michael Scully
Olympics star Zac Ward will make his Champions Cup bow at Kingspan Stadium - and is in good company as crack Top 14 side Bordeaux Bègles visit Belfast on Saturday (3.15pm).
Ward, who made a big impact at Paris 2024 with the Ireland Sevens team and is the son of former Ulster favourite Andy, makes his senior debut for the province on the wing.
He is joined by new Ireland international Cormac Izuchukwu, Aidan Morgan, Jude Postlethwaite and Werner Kok in playing in the competition for the first time at Ulster's home ground.
Read on here
14:05Robert Hynes
13:51Robert Hynes
Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog for today's Champions Cup game between Ulster and Bordeaux-Begles at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.
Ulster's European campaign probably couldn't have started in much worse fashion than it did in Toulouse last weekend and they'll be hoping for a much better showing here.
However, they come up against a Bordeaux side that beat Leicester 42-28 on matchday one and who arrive in Belfast as big favourites to make it two wins from two games.
Richie Murphy has made ten personnel changes to the Ulster team that started in France six days ago, with Michael Lowry, who switches from wing to fullback to replace the injured Stewart Moore, Werner Kok, Stuart McCloskey and halfbacks Aidan Morgan and Nathan Doak the only survivors.
Zac Ward, who shone for Ireland sevens in the Paris Olympics, makes his senior debut for Ulster, starting on the left wing.
