Lions v Ulster: McCloskey and Cooney return as Kok starts for much-changed Ulster

John Cooney and Stuart McCloskey are among those recalled to an Ulster team showing eight changes for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship game against the Lions in Johannesburg (11:55 BST).

Cooney has recovered from a hamstring injury to replace Nathan Doak at scrum-half while McCloskey is back to partner Stewart Moore in midfield.

South African winger Werner Kok earns his first start after coming off the bench in last week’s win over URC champions Glasgow in Belfast.

There are five changes in the pack. Andy Warwick and Tom O’Toole replace Eric O’Sullivan and Corrie Barrett as the props with Alan O’Connor captaining the team from the second row alongside Kieran Treadwell.

Matty Rea and Sean Reffell are recalled as the flankers. Head coach Richie Murphy – who is without Emerging Ireland players Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite and Harry Sheridan – opts for a split of six forwards and two backs on the bench.

Ulster beat the Lions in Belfast last season but lost both of their matches in South Africa in March, losing to the Sharks and the Stormers.

After Saturday’s game, Ulster travel to Pretoria to face the Bulls on 5 October.

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole; Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (capt); Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, Mike Lowry, David McCann.

Listen to Lions v Ulster on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Foyle & BBC Sport website from 11:45 BST on Saturday.