URC round 12: Predictions, teams, kick-off times, how to watch and referee appointments
Rieko Ioane and Ruben Moloney start for Leinster on Friday.
The United Rugby Championship (URC) returns this weekend and it’s another full schedule as two matches take place on Friday before six fixtures on Saturday.
Check on all the URC team news, our predictions the match officials and more below.
Friday
Cardiff v Leinster
Prediction: Leinster by 3
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Jacob Beetham, 13 Harri Millard, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Mason Grady, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Alun Lawrence, 5 George Nott, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Liam Belcher, 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Evan Rees, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Tom Bowen
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Joshua Kenny, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Ruben Moloney, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 James Culhane, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Max Deegan (c), 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Alan Spicer, 3 Andrew Sparrow, 2 John McKee, 1 Jerry Cahir
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Josh Ericson, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Charlie Tector, 23 Andrew Osborne
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Kick-off: 19.00 IRE & UK / 20.00 ITA / 21.00 SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 59th league game)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse (WRU), Carwyn Sion (WRU)
TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)
Live on: S4C, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
Edinburgh v Scarlets
Prediction: Edinburgh by 12
Edinburgh: 15 Harry Paterson, 14 Malelili Satala, 13 James Lang, 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Magnus Bradbury (c), 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 Ben Muncaster, 5 Glen Young, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Harri Morris, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17 James Whitcombe, 18 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Connor Boyle, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Piers O’Conor
Scarlets: 15 Jac Davies, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Macs Page, 12 Joe Roberts, 11 Tomi Lewis, 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 6 Max Douglas, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Harry Thomas, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Ioan Jones, 23 Gabe McDonald
Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU, 12th league game)
Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (SRU), Rob McDowell (SRU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
Saturday
Lions v Stormers
Prediction: Stormers by 5
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Erich Cronje
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling (c), 4 Adré Smith, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurie Matthee
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 12.30 IRE & UK / 13.30 ITA / 14.30 SA
Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU, 8th league game)
Assistant Referees: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU), Stephen Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby
Bulls v Sharks
Prediction: Bulls by 12
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Elrich Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Morne Smith, 2 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Stravino Jacobs
Sharks: 15 Jaco Williams, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Thomas Dyer, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Yaw Penxe
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU, 21st league game)
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Jonathan Lottering (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
Prediction: Glasgow by 3
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Harry West, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Paul Boyle (c), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 David O’Connor, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Josh Murphy, 20 Cian Prendergast, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Bundee Aki
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Stafford McDowall (c), 12 Kerr Yule, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 Ben Afshar, 8 Ally Miller, 7 Angus Fraser, 6 Euan Ferrie, 5 Jare Oguntibeju, 4 Alex Samuel, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Seb Stephen, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Patrick Schickerling, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Macenzzie Duncan, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Jack Oliver, 23 Adam Hastings
Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 17th league game)
Assistant Referees: Keane Davison (IRFU), Chris Lough (IRFU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
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Munster v Zebre Parma
Prediction: Munster by 22
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Shane Daly, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 Jack O’Donoghue (c), 6 Gavin Coombes, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tom Wood, 23 Seán O’Brien
Zebre Parma: 15 Giovanni Montemauri, 14 Albert Einstein Batista, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Giacomo Ferrari (c), 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Bautista Stavile, 5 Alessandro Ortombina, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 1 Juan Pitinari
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Paolo Buonfiglio, 18 Luca Franceschetto, 19 Guido Volpi, 20 Iacopo Bianchi, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Martin Roger Farias, 23 Marco Zanon
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA / 19.30 SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 95th league game)
Assistant Referees: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU), Max Weston (IRFU)
TMO: Colin Brett (SRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
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Dragons v Benetton
Prediction: Benetton by 6
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien (c), 14 David Richards, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Che Hope, 8 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Oli Burrows, 17 Jordan Morris, 18 Owain James, 19 Barny Langton-Cryer, 20 Evan Minto, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Fetuli Paea, 23 Cai Evans
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Onisi Ratave, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Rhyno Smith, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren (c), 8 Riccardo Favretto, 7 Jadin Kingi, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Giosué Zilocchi, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Destiny Aminu, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Nelson Casartelli, 21 Cristiano Tizzano, 22 Filippo Drago, 23 Ignacio Mendy
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA / 19.30 SA
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 35th league game)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (WRU), Marcus Caudle (WRU)
TMO: Paul Haycock (IRFU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
Ospreys v Ulster
Prediction: Ulster by 10
Ospreys: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Jack Walsh (cc), 9 Cormac Foley, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Ross Moriarty, 6 James Ratti, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 James Fender, 3 Rhys Henry, 2 Sam Parry (cc), 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Luke Scully, 23 Evardi Boshoff
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 James Hume, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Bryn Ward, 7 David McCann, 6 Matthew Dalton, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Bryan O’Connor, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ben Carson
Venue: Electric Brewery Field, Bridgend
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Fillipo Russo (FIR, 7th league game)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (WRU), Keith David (WRU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
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