PRO12 Preview: Saturday

Editor

The four teams in this season's PRO12 play-offs are all but set in stone but there's still plenty on the line elsewhere in Saturday's games.

Scarlets vs Ospreys

Ken Owens will lead the side in the colossal clash and was this morning named as only one of two Welsh representatives in the PRO12's Dream Team, alongside fellow Scarlet James Davies.

Gareth Davies and Scott Williams make a return to the starting XV with Jonathan Evans and Hadleigh Parkes moving to the replacements bench.

Jake Ball and John Barclay miss out with a shoulder and hamstring injuries respectively. Lewis Rawlins comes in to the second row with Josh Macleod and Will Boyde retaining their places at seven and eight.

Meanwhile, Dan Evans will become the first player in Ospreys history to make 30 appearances in a single season, completing his third consecutive campaign where he has played in every regular season PRO12 game since joining the Ospreys in 2014.

Form: Realistically Scarlets and Ospreys are vying for who will finish third and fourth in the PRO12 table, however there is an outside chance that mathematically Ulster could finish fourth. For Ospreys to finish in third place they need to beat Scarlets and gain four more league points than their rivals from this match. Scarlets have reached only their second ever Semi-Final, the other being in season 2012/13, and have won their last four Guinness PRO12 matches since losing in Leinster on 4 March. Scarlets only home defeat in the PRO12 this season was way back in round 1 when Munster were the visitors. Ospreys are almost certain to have made the Semi-Finals for only the second time in the last five years Ospreys ended a three game losing run in the Guinness PRO12 with their victory over Ulster in round 21, they have not won away from home in the Championship since they visited Edinburgh on 3 March. The last four fixtures between the two regions have been equally shared with two wins apiece, with each side winning and losing at home and away.

The teams:

Scarlets: 15 Johnny Mcnicholl, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Will Boyde, 7 Josh Macleod, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Lewis Rawlins, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (c), 1 Rob Evans
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 David Bulbring, 20 Tom Price, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Hadleigh Parkes, 23 DTH van der Merwe

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Keelan Giles, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Tom Habberfield, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb (c), 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Underhill, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Rhodri Jones, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Paul James, 18 Dan Suter, 19 Lloyd Ashley, 20 Dan Baker, 21 Brendon Leonard, 22 Jonathan Spratt, 23 Dafydd Howells

Kick-off: 17:15 local (16:15 GMT)
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Dan Jones (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)
TMO: Jon Mason (Wales)


Glasgow vs Edinburgh

Stuart Hogg will make his 100th appearance for Glasgow Warriors in Gregor Townsend's final game as head coach.

Hogg will become the youngest Warriors player to reach the milestone, returning to the side at full-back for the 1872 Cup clash.

He joins Lee Jones and Tommy Seymour in the back three, the latter was today named in the PRO12 Dream Team and reached his own century at the RDS last Friday.

Peter Horne and Alex Dunbar are the centre partnership with Ali Price and Finn Russell combine as half-backs. Zander Fagerson makes his 50th appearance at tighthead and like Hogg will become the youngest player to achieve that feat.

Fraser Brown and Gordon Reid join him in the front row, with Reid playing his last game for the club.

Captain Jonny Gray is joined by Scott Cummings in the second row and Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro and Matt Fagerson pack down at the back of the scrum, the 18-year-old starting a game with his brother for the first time.

On the bench, Sila Puafisi and Sean Lamont are also both playing their last games for Glasgow on what promises to be an emotional day at Scotstoun.

Acting head coach Duncan Hodge has made four personnel changes to the backline with Blair Kinghorn making his first start on the wing and Phil Burleigh returning to inside centre. 

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Duncan Weir are both promoted from the bench to start as the half-back duo.

Ross Ford starts at hooker, while Jamie Ritchie and John Hardie – who this week penned a new deal with the capital club – are named on the flanks.

Form: Glasgow Warriors may have failed to reach the Guinness PRO12 Semi-Finals for the first time in six years but they will be out to wrestle the 1872 out of Edinburgh’s hands for the first time since 2014, the capital side having taken the trophy for the last two seasons. Warriors have won their last three matches at Scotstoun, all with maximum points, as Gregor Townsend takes charge of his 116th and final PRO12 match, with only Joe Schmidt having a better winning percentage as head coach in the history of the competition. Edinburgh Rugby ended an eight game losing streak in the Guinness PRO12 with their 24-20 home win over Newport Gwent Dragons in round 21. Edinburgh’s only away win in the Championship this season came when they beat Zebre in Parma on New Year’s Eve. Warriors won 25-12 at Murrayfield on 26 December in the first leg of the 1872 Cup whilst Edinburgh have not won on Glasgow soil since a trip to Hughenden in December 2003. Edinburgh’s 14-11 victory last year was switched from Scotstoun to Murrayfield because of weather concerns.

The teams:

Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Lee Jones, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray (c), 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Gordon Reid
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Adam Ashe, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Nick Grigg, 23 Sean Lamont

Edinburgh: 15 Glenn Bryce, 14 Damien Hoyland, 13 Chris Dean, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 John Hardie, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Ben Toolis, 4 Grant Gilchrist (c), 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Dell
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Murray McCallum, 18 Kevin Bryce, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 George Turner, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Junior Rasolea, 23 Rory Scholes

Kick-off: 17:15 local (16:15 GMT)
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Keith Allen (Scotland)
TMO: Charles Samson (Scotland)


Ulster vs Leinster

Roger Wilson, Ulster's most capped player, will earn his 221st and final cap for the Province when he starts at number eight.

Wilson, one of an elite list of players who have made over 300 professional appearances, has enjoyed two stints at his home Province, either side of a four-year spell at Northampton where he represented the Saints on 117 occasions. 

Ruan Pienaar, who has become a favourite with the Kingspan Stadium faithful during the past seven seasons, will also make his final competitive appearance for the club on Saturday, as he adds to his tally of 140 caps and 877 points in the Ulster jersey.

Pienaar takes his place at scrum-half in what is an unchanged back line with Paddy Jackson operating outside him in the number 10 jersey. Charles Piutau, captain Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy provide the back three firepower while the Irish international partnership of Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall continue in midfield.

In the pack, Wilson will be flanked by fellow loose forwards Robbie Diack and Sean Reidy. Kieran Treadwell and Alan O'Connor continue in the engine room for the sixth successive game, while in the front row, hooker Rob Herring and tighthead prop Rodney Ah You come in to join Andy Warwick.

Prop Kyle McCall is in line to make his first appearance of 2017 having recovered from a significant hamstring injury away to Clermont in December, as he is named among the replacements. John Andrew, Wiehahn Herbst, Chris Henry and Nick Timoney are the other backup forwards, while Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson and Jacob Stockdale will provide the backline cover.

Meanwhile, only four Leinster players start from the team that accounted for the Glasgow Warriors last weekend, although Jack Conan who was named for that match but was unable to start, is again selected at number eight.

Captain Isa Nacewa comes in at full-back with Fergus McFadden and Adam Byrne both retained on the left and right wing respectively. Byrne was one of the big winners from the Leinster Rugby Awards Ball last week being awarded the Irish Independent Try of the Season Award for his effort against Montpellier in the RDS in the Champions Cup. 

Noel Reid and Garry Ringrose come back into the centre with Irish internationals Luke McGrath and Joey Carbery likewise coming back in at nine and ten.

Both McGrath and Carbery also had big weekends last week. On Friday evening Carbery came off the bench and landed what turned out to be the match winning penalty against Glasgow and on Saturday at the Leinster Rugby Awards Ball he picked up the LAYA Healthcare Young Player of the Year Award.

In the pack, British and Irish Lions Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong come in on either side of the retained James Tracy, with Devin Toner and Hayden Triggs recalled to the second row. 

In the back row Rhys Ruddock comes in for the injured Dominic Ryan who is ruled out with a bicep injury. Josh van der Flier is again selected at open side with the aforementioned Conan in line to win his 50th Leinster cap. 

Form: For Ulster to make a fifth successive Guinness PRO12 Semi-Final they would need a big bonus point win in this fixture and then hope that Ospreys are soundly beaten in Llanelli. The Ulstermen are winless in the last three rounds of the PRO12 since beating Dragons in Newport on 24 March. Ulster have lost just once in Belfast in the PRO12 since February 2016: by a single point to Munster in round 7 this season. Leinster have already secured a home Semi-Final for the seventh time in the past eight season, but need to take three league points from this game to ensure they will finish as number 1 seeds. The Leinstermen have won their last ten Guinness PRO12 matches since Munster beat them in Limerick on 26 December – their only defeat to an Irish Province this season. Ulster’s only victory over a fellow Irish Province this season came when Connacht visited Belfast in round 11. Leinster have lost just two of their last ten encounters with Ulster, both in Belfast, in April 2015 and April 2016.

The teams:

Ulster: 15 Craig Gilroy, 14 Andrew Trimble (c), 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Sean Reidy, 6 Robbie Diack, 5 Alan O'Connor, 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Andrew Warwick
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Kyle McCall, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Chris Henry, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Peter Nelson, 23 Jacob Stockdale

Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa (c), 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Fergus McFadden, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 James Tracy, 1 Jack McGrath
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Dan Leavy, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Rory O'Loughlin

Kick-off: 17:15 local (16:15 GMT)
Venue: Kingspan Stadium
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Eddie Hogan-O’Connell (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)


Dragons vs Cardiff Blues

Newport Gwent Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones has made two changes to the team that narrowly missed out last weekend against Edinburgh.

The back three remain unchanged as full-back Carl Meyer gets the nod alongside wings Adam Hughes and last weekend’s try scorer Pat Howard. The centre partnership sees the return of Welsh International Tyler Morgan alongside Sam Beard; with the half-backs partnership remaining unchanged.

The front row sees the return of loosehead prop Sam Hobbs, who joins fellow prop Brok Harris and hooker Thomas Rhys Thomas. The second row remains unchanged with Matthew Screech and Welsh International Cory Hill getting the nod. The back row also remains unchanged with skipper Lewis Evans named alongside fellow flanker Nic Cudd and number eight Ollie Griffiths.

The replacements bench sees three changes made as Ellis Shipp, who is set to make his Dragons and PRO12 debut, Sarel Pretorius and Jack Dixon join Phil Price, Craig Mitchell, Rynard Landman, Harrison Keddie and Geraint Rhys Jones.

Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues have made five changes to their starting line-up.

Following consecutive wins over the Ospreys and Zebre, the Blues are aiming to maintain momentum ahead of a European play-off.

In the backs, Matthew Morgan and Lloyd Williams return to the starting line-up at the Constructaquote Stadium in Caerphilly.

Injuries have led to three more changes in the pack with Corey Domachowski and Matthew Rees coming in to form a new look front-row with Taufa'ao Filise. Sion Bennett also steps in for Josh Navidi.

Form: Caerphilly hosts its first PRO12 game since Ulster were the visitors in October 2002. Newport Gwent Dragons have not tasted victory in the Guinness PRO12 since beating Treviso at Rodney Parade on 6 January. Dragons have not beaten a fellow Welsh Region in the PRO12 since their 23-17 victory at Cardiff Blues in December 2014. Cardiff Blues have made the European Champions Cup play-offs and are unbeaten in their last three Guinness PRO12 matches since tripping up by a single point to Leinster at the RDS Arena on 25 March. The Blues have won just once away from home in the Championship since November: 18-17 in Edinburgh in round 16. Blues have won their last four fixtures against Dragons in the PRO12 whilst this is the Region’s first ever visit to Caerphilly.

The teams:

Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Sam Beard, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Angus O’Brien, 9 Charlie Davies, 8 Ollie Griffiths, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 Lewis Evans (c), 5 Cory Hill, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas, 1 Sam Hobbs
Replacements: 16 Ellis Shipp, 17 Phil Price, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Rynard Landman, 20 Harrison Keddie, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Geraint Rhys Jones, 23 Jack Dixon

Cardiff Blues: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Rhun Williams, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Ellis Jenkins (c), 6 Sion Bennett, 5 Macauley Cook, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Corey Domachowski
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Anton Peikrishvili, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Kirby Myhill, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Tom James

Kick-off: 17:15 local (16:15 GMT)
Venue: Virginia Park, Caerphilly
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Rhys Thomas (Wales), Simon Rees (Wales)
TMO: Paul Adams (Wales)


Munster vs Connacht

Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus makes eight changes from the side that defeatedTreviso for the Round 22 encounter with Connacht at Thomond Park.

With James Cronin, Rhys Marshall and Stephen Archer remaining in the front row, Billy Holland returns to captain the side and partners Darren O’Shea in the second row while the only other change in the pack sees Jean Deysel overcome a rib injury to start at blindside flanker. Yesterday named as Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Player of the Year, Conor Oliver joins Jack O’Donoghue in completing the pack.

Across the backline Angus Lloyd and Ian Keatley come in at half-back with Keatley to make his 150th appearance for Munster, doing so against his former side for whom he won 57 caps.

In midfield, academy centre Dan Goggin returns to the starting lineup alongside Jaco Taute who just today was announced as one of six Munster players in the 2016/17 PRO12 Dream Team.

The final changes see speedsters Keith Earls, Alex Wootton and Andrew Conway form a new back-three.

Naming a very strong bench with no less than six Irish internationals, Erasmus includes Conor Murray in a matchday 23 for the first time since the scrum half sustained a shoulder injury in Ireland’s Six Nations encounter with Wales at the Millennium Stadium back in March.

Meanwhile, Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made eleven changes to his side.

Tiernan O’Halloran, who was today named on the PRO12 Dream Team of the Season, Tom Farrell, Cian Kelleher and Andrew Browne are the only players retained in the starting XV following the defeat to Scarlets six days ago.

Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion make up the half-back pairing for the trip to Limerick while last week’s try scorer Craig Ronaldson is named in midfield with Farrell. Prop Conor Carey makes his return from long term injury in a new front row with Denis Buckley and Shane Delahunt.

In the back row, John Muldoon returns to captain the side and is joined by flankers Eoin McKeon and James Connolly.

Replacement prop JP Cooney will make his 50th appearance for the province if called upon from the bench tomorrow afternoon.

Form: Munster have secured a home Semi-Final for only the second time in the last seven seasons but if they are to overhaul Leinster to become top seeds they will need a win in this game and hope that their rivals trip up. The Munstermen have won their last five Guinness PRO12 encounters, whilst their only defeat since round 6 was at home to Scarlets on 24 February. Connacht have made the European Champions Cup Play-offs but their only win in the last five rounds of the Guinness PRO12 was at Edinburgh on 7 April. Connacht have become just the third reigning PRO12 Champions to have failed to make the Semi-Finals in the year of their defence, the others being Ospreys in 2012 and Leinster in 2014. Connacht have won three of their last five fixtures with Munster, but did slip up 9-16 in Galway in round 12. Last season Connacht won at Thomond Park for the first time since 1986.

The teams:

Munster: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Alex Wootton, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Dan Goggin, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Angus Lloyd, 8 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Jean Deysel, 5 Billy Holland (c), 4 Darren O’Shea, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 John Ryan, 19 Peter O’Mahony, 20 Tommy O’Donnell, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Francis Saili

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Cian Kelleher, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 John Muldoon (c), 7 James Connolly, 6 Eoin McKeon, 5 Andrew Browne, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Conor Carey, 2 Shane Delahunt, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Sean O’Brien, 20 Naulia Dawai, 21 John Cooney, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Darragh Leader

Kick-off: 17:15 local (16:15 GMT)
Venue: Thomond Park
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland), Mark Patton (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)


Zebre vs Treviso

For the occasion, the Zebre technical staff directed by Victor Jimenez can count on the return of captain Biagi, absent in the last two away games, like the other Blue Boni that start from the bench. 

In total there are three changes in the starting XV.

Padovani will win his 50th cap. On the wings confirmed are the South African Van Zyl while the number 14 jersey will be worn by the New Zealand Baker.

The scrum of Zebras will see the same blue line before all came to the all'Arms Park, one composed of props Lovotti and Ceccarelli along with hooker D'Apice. In the second line with Biagi the department will be completed by Koegelenberg, with young South African in his tenth consecutive game as a starter.

In the third line confirmed the two flankers Mbanda and Jacopo Sarto while closing the pack at number eight Van Schalkwyk.

Meanwhile, Treviso have two changes made by coach Kieran Crowley compared to the XV who faced Munster Rugby last Saturday.

Full-back will be David Odiete, on the wings Angelo Esposito and Tommaso Benvenuti. Tommaso Iannone and Alberto Sgarbi will be right and left centre respectively.

Tito Tebaldi is at scrum-half and Ian McKinley fly-half.

The front row will be Federico Zani, Luca Bigi and Simone Ferrari. The locks are Marco Fuser and captain Dean Budd. Finally the back row consists of Francesco Minto, Abraham Steyn and Robert Barbieri at number eight.

Form: This is a winner takes all match for the Italian qualifier for next season’s Champions Cup. Zebre have lost their last two Guinness PRO12 matches versus Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff Blues. Zebre have won their last two home games, against Connacht and Newport Gwent Dragons but have never won three in succession at home in the Championship. Treviso have won twice in the last four rounds, both at home, against Ospreys and Edinburgh, but have not been victorious away from home in the Championship since they visited Zebre in December 2014. Zebre achieved the season’s double over Benetton Rugby in 2015/16, but Benetton won 23-12 in Treviso in round 11.

The teams:

Zebre: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Kurt Baker, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Tommaso Castello, 11 Kayle van Zyl, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Jacopo Sarto, 6 Maxime Mbanda, 5 George Biagi (c), 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Tommaso D'Apice, 1 Andrea Lovotti
Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Guillermo Roan, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Johan Meyer, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Boni, 23 Mattia Bellini

Treviso: 15 David Odiete, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Tommaso Iannone, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Tommaso Benvenuti, 10 Ian McKinley, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Abraham Steyn, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Dean Budd (C), 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Federico Zani
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto Porolli, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Teofilo Paulo, 20 Marco Lazzaroni, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Tito Tebaldi, 23 Andrea Pratichetti

Kick-off: 18:15 local (16:15 GMT)
Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Emanuele Tomo (Italy), Simone Boaretto (Italy)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)