Dan Evans back for struggling Ospreys

Add as a preferred source on Google

The seventh round of the PRO14 continues on Saturday with Benetton, Connacht, Dragons, Ospreys and Glasgow Warriors all hosting their respective games.

Benetton v Cardiff Blues

Benetton head coach Kieran Crowley has made four alterations to his starting line-up for their clash with Cardiff Blues at Stadio Monigo in Treviso.

In the only change in the backline, Alberto Sgarbi comes in for Tommaso Benvenuti and Sgarbi will also take over the captaincy from Tommaso Allan, who led the team during last weekend’s narrow Champions Cup defeat to Northampton Saints.

In the forwards, Marco Lazzaroni takes over from Giovanni Pettinelli on the blindside flank while Eli Snyman comes in at lock for Federico Ruzza, who drops down to the bench.

The final change sees Nicola Quaglio replacing Federico Zani, who is also named amongst the replacements.

Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill has made eight tweaks to his starting line-up as they return to PRO14 action.

Three changes are made along the backline, with Matthew Morgan returning to full-back and Hallam Amos making a switch to the wing, having been released from the Wales squad to face the Barbarians on Saturday.

Following the acute knee injury to Willis Halaholo, Garyn Smith partners Rey Lee-Lo in midfield, while Jason Tovey slots in at fly-half, replacing Jarrod Evans, who is also part of Wayne Pivac’s inaugural squad.

Lloyd Williams resumes captaincy duties, while this season’s top try-scorer, Aled Summerhill, retains his place on the wing.

Brad Thyer and Kirby Myhill are introduced in the front-row, joining Scott Andrews, but there is a new-look partnership at lock, with James Ratti and Macauley Cook combining.

James Botham, who made a try-scoring European debut against Calvisano in the Challenge Cup, will make his first PRO14 start in the number seven jersey.

Rhys Gill returns to the matchday squad and is in-line to make his 50th Championship appearance from the bench. Shane Lewis-Hughes is released to play following his Wales call-up and is also named amongst the replacements.

The teams:

Benetton: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Ratuva Tavuyara, 13 Ignacio Brex, 12 Alberto Sgarbi (c), 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Abraham Steyn, 6 Marco Lazzaroni, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Hame Faiva, 1 Nicola Quaglio
Replacements: 16 Federico Zani, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Luca Sperandio

Cardiff Blues: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Aled Summerhill, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Garyn Smith, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Lloyd Williams (c), 8 Will Boyde, 7 James Botham, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Macauley Cook, 4 James Ratti, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Brad Thyer
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Jason Harries

Venue: Stadio Monigo
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Paul Haycock (Ireland)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Connacht v Southern Kings

Connacht have been boosted by the return of a number of players for their PRO14 meeting with the Southern Kings at the Sportsground.

Bundee Aki is named at inside centre having missed last week’s Champions Cup defeat to Toulouse, and he plays alongside Kyle Godwin. There’s also a return from injury for Niyi Adeolokun who joins a back three with John Porch on the opposite wing and Matt Healy at full-back.

The backs are completed by Caolin Blade and Conor Fitzgerald who continue their half-back partnership.

In the pack there’s an all-new front-row from the side that started in Toulouse last week. Denis Buckley has recovered from an illness to start at loosehead with Finlay Bealham at tighthead and the in-form Tom McCartney as hooker.

Quinn Roux continues to captain the side from the second-row alongside Ultan Dillane, while a back-row of Eoghan Masterson, Colby Fainga’a and Paul Boyle completes the side.

Club captain Jarrad Butler is likely to see some game time after missing the opening two games in Europe due to injury. The back-row is named among the replacements.

Meanwhile, Yaw Penxe makes a return for the Southern Kings as one of three alterations from their run-on side which beat the Ospreys on November 9.

Penxe returns to the left wing where he replaces Josiah Twum-Boafo while Howard Mnisi continues to lead the Port Elizabeth-based side from inside centre. The final change in the backline sees Stefan Ungerer replacing Josh Allderman at scrum-half.

In the forwards, looshead prop Juan Schoeman plays his last match for the Kings while Aston Fortuin replaces Bobby de Wee in the second-row.

There are potential debuts for Chad Solomon and Theo Maree, who are named amongst the replacements while De-Jay Terblanche dons the Kings jersey again.

The teams:

Connacht: 15 Matt Healy, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 John Porch, 10 Conor Fitzgerald, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Eoghan Masterson, 5 Quinn Roux (c), 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Matthew Burke, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Joe Maksymiw, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Angus Lloyd, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Peter Robb

Southern Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Christopher Hollis, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Howard Mnisi (c), 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 JT Jackson, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Aston Fortuin, 4 Jerry Sexton, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Xandre Vos, 18 De-Jay Terblanche, 19 Bobby de Wee, 20 Ruaan Lerm, 21 Theo Marais, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Sibusiso Sithole

Venue: The Sportsground
Kick-off: 17:15 GMT
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Simon McConnell, John Meredith
Television match official: Geoffrey Warren

Dragons v Zebre

Hooker Richard Hibbard will captain Dragons as they face Zebre in the PRO14 at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Hibbard returns to the starting line-up for the Men of Gwent and leads a team that shows eight changes from the side that defeated Enisei-STM in Europe last week.

Former Wales international Hibbard is joined by recalled prop Brok Harris up front, as they pack down with Lloyd Fairbrother.

Lock Joe Davies is back to partner Matthew Screech in the second-row while Harrison Keddie makes his comeback at number eight and Huw Taylor is recalled in the six jersey.

Centres Adam Warren and Jack Dixon combine in midfield while the final change is a return for wing Owen Jenkins.

Will Talbot-Davies moves to full-back with Jordan Williams missing the game through injury.

Back-row Taine Basham – who has scored six tries in eight games this season – takes the seven spot after spending the week in the Wales international set-up.

Meanwhile, Zebre will be looking to bounce back from last week’s narrow home loss to Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup when they return to PRO14 duty.

There is just one change made to their backline from that 13-12 defeat as Marcello Violi replaces Joshua Renton at scrum-half for this game.

Up front Danilo Fischetti and Luca Bigi come in at loosehead prop and hooker respectively while Mick Kearney and Ian Nagle continue at lock.

Completing the starting XV is Maxime Mbandà and Giovanni Licata on the flanks while Renato Giammarioli replaces David Sisi at number eight.

The teams:

Dragons: 15 Will Talbot-Davies, 14 Dafydd Howells, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Owen Jenkins, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Harrison Keddie, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Huw Taylor, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Richard Hibbard (c), 1 Brok Harris
Replacements: 16 Ellis Shipp, 17 Josh Reynolds, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Max Williams, 20 Ben Fry, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Jacob Botica, 23 Tyler Morgan

Zebre: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Charlie Walker, 13 Giulio Bisegni (c), 12 Tommaso Boni, 11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Renato Giammarioli, 7 Giovanni Licata, 6 Maxime Mbandà, 5 Ian Nagle, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Giosuè Zilocchi, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 David Sisi, 20 Johan Meyer, 21 Joshua Renton, 22 Michelangelo Biondelli, 23 Pierre Bruno

Venue: Rodney Parade
Kick-off: 17:15 GMT
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Simon Rees (Wales), Mark Patton (Ireland)
Television match official: Colin Stanley (Ireland)

Ospreys v Cheetahs

The struggling Ospreys return to Neath RFC on Saturday when they face off with the Cheetahs in their Round Seven PRO14 clash at The Gnoll.

There is a welcome return in the back three with Luke Morgan and Dan Evans back from injury alongside Hanno Dirksen. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler lines up alongside Scott Williams in the centre with Luke Price and Shaun Venter forming the half-back partnership to complete the backs.

Up front, Rhodri Jones packs down alongside Scott Otten and Ma’afu Fia, with Bradley Davies and Lloyd Ashley partnering in the second-row. In the back-row, Dan Lydiate returns to captain the side with Olly Cracknell and young Morgan Morris completing the pack.

Ifan Phillips, Nicky Smith and Gheorghe Gajion provide the front-row cover off the bench, with Guido Volpi and Sam Cross making up the forward replacements. James Hook, Matthew Aubrey and Kieran Williams complete the Ospreys line-up.

Meanwhile, Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie has made several changes from their last match against Cardiff Blues on November 9.

The front-row is Luan de Bruin, Wilmar Arnoldi and Boan Venter, with Marnus van der Merwe and Reinach Venter providing cover on the bench.

Chris Massyn will be making his PRO14 debut on the flank while Aidon Davis returns at number eight after an injury.

In the backs, Clayton Blommetjies moves to left wing with Craig Barry on right while on the bench Chris Smith will make his PRO14 debut if he comes on.

The teams:

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Luke Price, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Olly Cracknell, 6 Dan Lydiate (c), 5 Lloyd Ashley, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Rhodri Jones
Replacements: 16 Ifan Phillips, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Gheorghe Gajion, 19 Guido Volpi, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Matthew Aubrey, 22 James Hook, 23 Kieran Williams

Cheetahs: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Craig Barry, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Clayton Blommetjies, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar (c), 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe 17 Reinach Venter 18 Erich de Jager 19 JP du Preez 20 Gerhard Olivier 21 Tian Meyer 22 George Whitehead 23 Chris Smith

Venue: The Gnoll
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Glasgow Warriors v Leinster

Scotland international Jonny Gray is in line to make his first appearance of the 2019/20 season, after the second-row was named in the Glasgow Warriors starting XV for Saturday’s meeting with Leinster at Scotstoun.

Head coach Dave Rennie has made 11 changes to the squad for the visit of the defending champions, with new signing Aki Seiuli in line for a potential debut from the replacements bench.

Oli Kebble is the sole surviving member of the front-row from last weekend’s Champions Cup trip to Exeter, as George Turner – try-scorer at Sandy Park – and D’arcy Rae come in to start.

Gray is partnered by fellow Scotland international Tim Swinson in the second-row, with the latter also returning to the starting line-up.

Rob Harley shifts from the second-row to the flank, lining up alongside Chris Fusaro and Ryan Wilson in a back-row containing 548 caps between the trio.

Ali Price makes his first start of the season at scrum-half, with Pete Horne starting outside him at fly-half.

Huw Jones comes into the side to start at outside centre, partnering Sam Johnson in the midfield for the first time this season.

Tommy Seymour moves to the wing to accommodate the returning Ruaridh Jackson at full-back, in a side completed by flying Fijian Niko Matawalu.

Former Highlanders prop Seiuli is included in a matchday 23 for the first time since arriving at Scotstoun, with the man from Christchurch joined by Grant Stewart and Adam Nicol as the front-row replacements.

Kiran McDonald retains the 19 jersey from last weekend’s trip to Exeter, as Adam Ashe comes into the squad as back-row cover.

Nick Frisby and Stafford McDowall also return to the squad, with Kyle Steyn completing the 23.

Meanwhile, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named his team, who go in search of their seventh successive victory in this season’s competition.

Hugo Keenan, Adam Byrne and Cian Kelleher are the back three selected by Cullen for the trip to Glasgow to take on their Conference A rivals and of course, last season’s beaten PRO14 finalists.

In the centre, Westmeath man Conor O’Brien is joined by Kildare native Jimmy O’Brien.

The half-backs are Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne.

In the pack, Peter Dooley, James Tracy and Michael Bent pack down in the front-row, with Ross Molony as captain from the second-row where he is joined by Devin Toner.

The starting XV is completed by Josh Murphy, Will Connors and Caelan Doris.

Among the replacements there is a first senior involvement of the season for Oisín Dowling, while Fergus McFadden makes a welcome return from an elbow injury.

The teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ruaridh Jackson, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Niko Matawalu, 10 Pete Horne, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ryan Wilson (c), 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 George Turner, 1 Oli Kebble
Replacements: 16 Grant Stewart, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Adam Nicol, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Adam Ashe, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Kyle Steyn

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Jimmy O’Brien, 12 Conor O’Brien, 11 Cian Kelleher, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Will Connors, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Ross Molony (c), 3 Michael Bent, 2 James Tracy, 1 Peter Dooley
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Fergus McFadden

Venue: Scotstoun
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Adam Jones (Wales)
Television match official: John Mason (Wales)

Benetton Treviso