Duane to tackle Lions at Ellis Park

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Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen will start for Ulster in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Vermeulen will be on home soil when he pulls on the number eight jersey for Ulster. The veteran completes a strong back row alongside 25-year-old Marcus Rea and Dave McCann, identified as a young talent to watch by the Ireland set-up.

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Captain Alan O’Connor, forms the second row with Wallaby Sam Carter, one of two players last week who contributed a brace of tries to the seven-try win over Ospreys.

The pack is completed by Johannesburg-born tighthead prop, Gareth Milasinovich, along with fellow South African native, Rob Herring, and Ulster Academy graduate, Eric O’Sullivan.

Rob Baloucoune, who scored a try for Emerging Ireland against the Griquas in a 7-54 victory, is joined in the starting back three by Michael Lowry and Rob Lyttle.

In a strong centre partnership, Luke Marshall will be looking to add to his three-try scorecard this season alongside Stuart McCloskey, a bulldozer of a No 12.

Leading points scorer in the URC this season, scrumhalf John Cooney, is paired with Billy Burns in the halfback positions.

Ulster – 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Rob Lyttle, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Marcus Rea, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Gareth Milasinovich, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Subs: 16 John Andrew, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Stewart Moore, 23 Ethan McIlroy.

Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

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Dylan Jack