Ulster won't go 'toe to toe' with Bulls - Bell

Ulster assistant Jonny Bell believes his side will need to improve "technically" rather than physically in order to get the best of the Bulls in Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The northern province were beaten 35-22 by the Lions in Johannesburg last weekend with Bell describing the players as "bitterly disappointed" by their performance in the second game of their United Rugby Championship season.

The Bulls, who had a large contingent on Springboks duty during the Rugby Championship, are one of the most physical sides in the competition but Bell knows Ulster cannot simply try to match them "toe to toe" in that regard.

"Physically, they challenge you and then they've any number of players who like to get you one on one and are dangerous," said the side's defensive specialist.

"When you play a lot of these South African teams, trying to go toe to toe with very big men, we're never going to win a battle of size.

"You can't shirk away from that but we've got to be technically good.

"Otherwise you're just giving big carriers one on ones and that's what they want."

Ulster have now lost their last three matches on South African soil, and were beaten by the hosts on their only previous URC visit to the Bulls' iconic Loftus Versfeld venue in 2022.

"We're excited by that challenge at Loftus," added Bell. "They're a big set-piece team so we need to be on our mettle around that.

"It's no small challenge but it's a great challenge."