FULL TIME! 15-31. The Bulls weren't at their best, but come away from Emirates Airline Park with a fairly comfortable victory. Flyhalf Chris Smith kicked four penalties, while Wessels' try made sure there was no way back for the Lions, who will be disappointed with their discipline and handling errors in the game.

The Lions have one last go at the tryline, but Van Staden forces the knock-on, allowing the Bulls to get the ball back and boot it into touch to bring an end to the match.

The Lions have an attacking maul in the Bulls' 22, but the visitors manage to regain possession. After Nkosi breaks from the 22, Tshituka forces the knock-on and the Lions will have one last chance to score from an attacking scrum.

CONVERSION, BULLS, STEYN! 15-31. Morne Steyn converts his first kick at goal from the touchline to send the Bulls into a 16-point lead with just seven minutes to play.

TRY, BULLS, WESSELS! 15-29. The Bulls win a scrum penalty and kick into the 22. From the lineout, a powerful maul allows replacement hooker Wessels to score in the corner and perhaps seal the game for the visitors.

The Bulls are penalised for obstruction from the maul and the Lions can clear their lines.

The Lions are penalised for a tackle without the ball. The Bulls have a chance to seal the game with an attacking lineout inside the Lions' 22.

PENALTY, BULLS, SMITH! 15-24. Smith converts his fourth penalty to take the Bulls beyond a seven-point lead.

The Bulls pounce on a handling error from the Lions from a midfield scrum. Zak Burger wins a penalty at the breakdown and Smith will have another shot at goal.

The Bulls defend the maul excellently, before Nkosi wins a penalty at the breakdown. Smith clears to beyond the 22m line.

The Bulls are penalised for a trip from the kick-off. Coetzee's kick gives the Lions a five-metre lineout.

PENALTY, BULLS, SMITH! 15-21. Smith converts his third penalty of the match to give the Bulls a six-point lead.

Following a short water break, the Bulls win a penalty from a scrum. Chris Smith makes no mistake with his kick for touch and the Bulls have lineout outside the 22.

The Lions are giving away needless penalties, but the Bulls are struggling to capitalise. Chris Smith sends his kick over the dead-ball line, so the Lions have an attacking scrum on the 10m line.

It's the Bulls' turn to win a penalty from a maul. Smith kicks the visitors to the Lions' 22 line. The Lions win a turnover and Hendrikse clears.

The Lions pressure the Bulls into giving them an attacking lineout on the 10m line. Despite a strong drive from the Lions forwards, hooker Visagie puts a foot into touch.

PENALTY, BULLS, SMITH! 15-18. The Bulls are right back on the front foot and win a penalty, which Smith converts to put the visitors back in the lead.

CONVERSION, LIONS, HENDRIKSE! 15-15. Hendrikse lands his conversion to draw the scores level.

TRY, LIONS, LOUW! 13-15. The Lions take the ball through the phases before debutant Marius Louw bursts through a tackle to score his first try for the Lions.

The Lions have an attacking lineout on the 22 after a kicking error from the Bulls.

KICK-OFF! 8-15. The Bulls get the second half underway in Johannesburg. Jake White's team were solid in the first half, but gave away a few needless penalties to let the Lions back into the contest. The Lions are certainly not out of the contest. Who will come out on top in the second half?

HALF-TIME! 8-15. The Bulls are in control at half-time in this opening South African clash of the United Rugby Championship. The visitors started strongly, scoring in the opening minutes. The Lions clawed their way back into the contest towards the end of the half, but might rue a couple of wasted opportunities to cut the deficit.

The Lions launch a multi-phase attack from the lineout and take the ball inside the Bulls' 22 before winning a penalty. Hendrikse kicks for touch and the Lions have a lineout near the tryline.

Hendrikse sends his penalty attempt well wide of the poles. The Bulls clear to the halfway line.

The Bulls concede a penalty on their own 10m line with a couple of minutes to play in the half. Lions flyhalf Hendrikse will have a shot at goal.

TRY, LIONS, HORN! 8-15. A powerful driving maul allows No 8 Horn to score the Lions' first try of the match.

The Lions win a penalty from a maul. Coetzee's kick puts the Lions five metres from the tryline.

The Bulls force a knock-on and counter attack from the scrum. A kick from Smith forces the Lions back deep into their own territory. Another water break is called. The game will restart with a lineout on the halfway line.

The Lions win a penalty outside the Bulls' 22. Hendrikse kicks to give the home side a lineout five metres out.

TRY, BULLS, HENDRICKS! 3-15. An attack that starts behind the Bulls goaline ends with Cornal Hendricks scoring in the corner.

PENALTY, BULLS, SMITH! 3-10. Chris Smith slots a simple penalty to bring the Bulls back to a seven-point lead.

The game is brought to a halt and a water break is called as Mosi is down in the backfield. The Bulls were on the attack just outside the Lions' 22 area. The game will restart with a Bulls scrum.

The Bulls win a penalty from a scrum inside their own half and Smith kicks the visitors to just outside the Lions' 22.

Both teams are trying to show ambition with ball in hand, but are making plenty of handling errors in the process. It has been a bit stop-start since the two opening scores.

The Bulls try to launch an attack from a solid midfield scrum, but the Lions shut it down and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg wins a turnover penalty at the breakdown.

PENALTY, LIONS, HENDRIKSE! 3-7. Hendrikse converts his first attempt at goal to put the Lions on the scoreboard.

The Lions win a penalty from a Bulls put-in at the scrum. Jordan Hendrikse will have an attempt at the poles.

CONVERSION, BULLS, SMITH! 0-7. Chris Smith adds the extras to give the Bulls an early 7-0 lead in Johannesburg.

TRY, BULLS, COETZEE! 0-5. Marcell Coetzee takes a quick-tap penalty from five-metres out and the Bulls captain bashes his way over the try-line.

The Bulls kick an early 50/22. From the ensuing lineout, the Bulls launch an attack and win a penalty in front of the poles.

KICK-OFF! 0-0. Following a moment of silence for Queen Elizabeth II, the Lions get the game underway at Emirates Airline Park.

The Lions have won five of their last six home games at Emirates Airline Park in the United Rugby Championship.

Our referee for today is AJ Jacobs. He will be assisted by Cwengile Jadezweni and Griffin Colby. TMO Marius van der Westhuizen completes an all-South African officiating team

Fullback Wandisile Simelane is among the three players making their debuts for the Bulls. Springbok winger S’bu Nkosi and No 8 Mihlali Mosi will also be running out for the first time for the Bulls. Loose forward Marco van Staden could make his return from the bench, having re-joined the Bulls after a short stint in England with Leicester Tigers.

Bulls: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 David Kriel, 11 S’bu Nkosi, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Ruan Vermaak, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Stedman Gans.

Second rower Reinhard Nothnagel captains a youthful looking Lions team in their opening clash of the season. New signing Marius Louw makes his official debut at inside centre, while fullback Andries Coetzee starts on his return from Italy.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Franke Horn, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Zander du Plessis.

The Bulls’ only defeat to the Lions in any competition since 2018 was 33-34 at Emirates Airline Park in the Rainbow Cup in May 2021.

The Lions and Bulls met twice last season, with the Bulls winning both matches.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship opening-round clash between the Lions and Bulls from Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.