Jonathan Davies starts for Scarlets against Munster

David Skippers

The action from the PRO14’s opening round continues on Saturday with Scarlets, Connacht and Edinburgh hosting Munster, Glasgow Warriors and Ospreys respectively.

Scarlets v Munster

It promises to be a big day for the Davies brothers on Saturday with Jonathan poised for his first PRO14 run out in 17 months and James set to make his 100th appearance for the Scarlets.

Wales and British & Irish Lions centre Jonathan last featured in the competition in the play-off defeat to the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium in May 2019.

He returned from a long-term knee injury in last weekend’s warm-up match against the Ospreys and comes into the side to face Munster as one of three personnel changes from the European Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to Toulon.

In the back three, promising youngster Tom Rogers will make his first PRO14 start at Parc y Scarlets after impressing in recent weeks. The 21-year-old Cefneithin product will feature on the wing in place of the injured Johnny McNicholl.

Leigh Halfpenny, fully recovered from the head knock he picked up in the south of France, and Steff Evans make up the rest of the back three.

With Johnny Williams ruled out because of illness, Davies partners Steff Hughes in midfield, while Dan Jones and Gareth Davies are at half-back.

The pack shows one change from the eight that took the field at the Stade Mayol with experienced South African international Werner Kruger replacing Samson Lee at tighthead prop. Lee is ruled out after picking up a head knock in training this week.

Kruger packs down alongside skipper Ken Owens and Wyn Jones; Jake Ball and Sam Lousi combine again at lock, while Blade Thomson, Sione Kalamafoni and Josh Macleod continue in the back-row.

Once again, Phil Price, Ryan Elias, Javan Sebastian, Lewis Rawlins and James Davies provide forward cover.

Having made his debut seven years ago, Davies is poised to become the latest player to reach the century milestone for the Scarlets if he comes off the bench.

Behind the scrum there is a welcome return for Wales international fly-half Rhys Patchell who has recovered from a calf issue. Kieran Hardy and Tyler Morgan make up the rest of the replacements.

Meanwhile, Munster full-back Mike Haley and wing Darren Sweetnam make their first PRO14 appearances since February with Andrew Conway starting on the right wing.

Damian de Allende and Chris Farrell form the centre partnership with Craig Casey and JJ Hanrahan in the half-backs.

James Cronin, Rhys Marshall and John Ryan pack down in the front-row with Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne, who faces his former side for the first time, in the second-row.

Captain Peter O’Mahony, Jack O’Donoghue and CJ Stander complete the starting XV, with Academy fly-half Ben Healy among the replacements.

The teams:

Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Steff Hughes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Josh Macleod, 6 Blade Thomson, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Ken Owens (c), 1 Wyn Jones
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Phil Price, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 James Davies, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Tyler Morgan

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Darren Sweetnam, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Craig Casey, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Kevin O’Byrne, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Rory Scannell

Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (WRU), Dan Jones (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Connacht v Glasgow Warriors

Connacht head coach Andy Friend has named his squad for Saturday’s PRO14 season opener against Glasgow Warriors, with Jarrad Butler leading out the side from blindside flanker.

Butler begins his third season as Connacht captain having joined in 2017, and he starts in the number six shirt with Conor Oliver earning a start at openside after an impressive pre-season campaign. Paul Boyle completes the back-row at number eight.

There’s an experienced look to the front-row with Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham all named, while Gavin Thornbury and Quinn make up the rest of the pack in the second-row.

Friend has named the same backline that put in a brilliant attacking display against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium, with Irish international trio Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty and Bundee Aki forming the 9-10-12 axis.

Tom Farrell partners Aki in the centre, while John Porch continues at full-back with Alex Wootton and Peter Sullivan on the wings.

Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors head coach Danny Wilson has named a matchday 23 containing no fewer than 17 internationals for this weekend’s clash.

Club co-captains Ryan Wilson and Fraser Brown are both selected in the starting XV, as the Warriors look to defend a strong recent record in visits to The Sportsground.

Brown is flanked in the front-row by Oli Kebble and D’arcy Rae, with the former making his 50th appearance in Glasgow Warriors colours.

Scott Cummings and Rob Harley are paired together in the second-row, having impressed both in the loose and at the set-piece against Edinburgh last time out.

Matt Fagerson packs down at number eight, with the vastly experienced duo of Wilson and Chris Fusaro starting on the flanks.

Behind the scrum, Ali Price gets the nod to start in the number nine jersey, partnering Adam Hastings in the half-backs.

Stafford McDowall lines up at inside centre alongside Nick Grigg, with both men having caught the eye in the August win at BT Murrayfield.

The back-three sees Robbie Nairn handed a first start for Glasgow Warriors since the opening match of the 2019/20 season against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, as the former Scotland U20 joins Tommy Seymour and Huw Jones in the starting line-up.

On the bench, Aki Seiuli returns to the matchday squad for the first time since February after recovering from a thumb injury to join George Turner – also in line for his 50th appearance for the club – and Adam Nicol as the front-row cover.

New signing Fotu Lokotui is in line to make his club debut after being named in the number 20 jersey, whilst Richie Gray completes the pack replacements.

George and Pete Horne start on the bench this weekend, as Ratu Tagive rounds out the replacements.

The teams:

Connacht: 15 John Porch, 14 Peter Sullivan, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Alex Wootton, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Jarrad Butler (c), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Gavin Thornbury, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Jonny Murphy, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Seán Masterson, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Conor Fitzgerald, 23 Sammy Arnold

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Huw Jones, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Robbie Nairn, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Rob Harley, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Fraser Brown (c), 1 Oli Kebble
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Richie Gray, 20 Fotu Lokotui, 21 George Horne, 22 Pete Horne, 23 Ratu Tagive

Venue: The Sportsground
Kick-off: 16:00 BST (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher (IRFU), Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Edinburgh v Ospreys

With a number of key players injured and unavailable, Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill has been forced to reshuffle his squad, with six changes to the side that faced Bordeaux-Bègles in last month’s Challenge Cup quarter-final.

In the back three, Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe both miss out through injury and are replaced by Damien Hoyland and Jamie Farndale at full-back and wing respectively.

Meanwhile, a reshuffled back-row sees Nick Haining, Magnus Bradbury and Luke Crosbie all handed Round One starts with Viliame Mata and Jamie Ritchie unavailable.

Now back fully fit, Scotland internationals Mark Bennett and WP Nel both return to the matchday 23 after missing out on the quarter-final test in Bordeaux two weeks ago.

In the back-three, Hoyland and Farndale are joined by Scotland star Darcy Graham, who retains his place on the opposite wing.

A refreshed centre pairing sees Bennett return from injury to partner Chris Dean in midfield, while scrum-half Charlie Shiel and fly-half Jaco van der Walt continue at half-back.

Captain and hooker Stuart McInally packs down alongside props Pierre Schoeman and Simon Berghan in an unchanged front-row, while Scotland locks Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toolis continue in the second-row.

Number eight Haining anchors a new-look back-row that sees flankers Bradbury and Crosbie complete the pack.

Meanwhile, Justin Tipuric will lead the Ospreys for the 51st time. The Wales flanker joined in the back-row with Olly Cracknell and young Morgan Morris.

Up front, Nicky Smith, Sam Parry and Tom Botha form the front-row with Adam Beard and Alun Wyn Jones taking the second-row partnership. Dewi Lake, Rhodri Jones, Ma’afu Fia provide the front-row cover with Dan Lydiate and Bradley Davies completing the forward contingent off the bench.

In the backs, Stephen Myler and Rhys Webb form the half-back partnership with youngsters Reuben Morgan-Williams and Josh Thomas covering. Luke Morgan, Mat Protheroe and Dan Evans are named as the back three with Keiran Williams and Owen Watkin partnering in the centre. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler completes the 23-man squad.

The teams:

Edinburgh: 15 Damien Hoyland, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Jamie Farndale, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Charlie Shiel, 8 Nick Haining, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Ben Toolis, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Stuart McInally (c) 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements:
16 David Cherry, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 WP Nel, 19 Andrew Davidson, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Dan Nutton, 22 Nathan Chamberlain, 23 George Taylor

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Mat Protheroe, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric (c), 6 Olly Cracknell, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements:
16 Dewi Lake, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Josh Thomas, 23 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler

Venue: Murrayfield
Kick-off: 17:15 BST (16:15 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Ben Blain (SRU), Keith Allen (SRU)
TMO: Andy McMenemy (SRU)