URC round 13: Predictions, teams, kick-off times, how to watch and referee appointments
Ospreys back-row Jac Morgan and Bulls counterpart Cameron Hanekom.
The United Rugby Championship (URC) returns this weekend and it’s another full schedule as three matches take place on Friday before four fixtures are played on Saturday and one more on Sunday.
Check on all the URC team news, our predictions, the match officials and more below.
Friday
Bulls v Cardiff
Prediction: Bulls by 6
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Stedman Gans, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Jeandre Rudolph, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Willie le Roux
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Harri Millard, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Jacob Beetham, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Aled Lawrence, 5 George Nott, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Liam Belcher, 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 James Botham, 21 Taulupe Faletau, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Ioan Lloyd
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 36th league game)
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Jonathan Lottering (SARU)
TMO: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby
Scarlets v Zebre Parma
Prediction: Scarlets by 3
Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Macs Page, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Jarrod Taylor, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Archer Holz, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Henry Thomas, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Ioan Jones
Zebre: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Albert Eisten Batista, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Giacomo Ferrari, 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Bautista Stavile, 5 Alessandro Ortombina, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 1 Paolo Buonfiglio (c)
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Juan Manuel Pitinari, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Davide Ruggeri, 20 Davide Odiase, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Martin Roger Farias, 23 Giulio Bertaccini
Venue: Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU, 13th league game)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (WRU), Max Clements (WRU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
Ulster v Connacht
Prediction: Ulster by 9
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Ben Carson, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Marcus Rea, 6 David McCann, 5 Joe Hopes, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Matthew Dalton, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jonny Scott, 23 Ethan McIlroy
Connacht: 15 Seán Naughton, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Colm Reilly, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Cian Prendergast (c), 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Billy Bohan
Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 John Devine
Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 96th league game)
Assistant Referees: Max Weston (IRFU), Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Finlay Brown (SRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
Saturday
Lions v Edinburgh
Prediction: Lions by 10
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Richard Kriel
Edinburgh: 15 Harry Paterson, 14 Malelili Satala, 13 Matt Currie, 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Jack Brown, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Magnus Bradbury (c), 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Ben Muncaster, 5 Glen Young, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 James Whitcombe, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Liam McConnell, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Piers O’Conor
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 12.45 IRE & UK / 13.45 ITA / 14.45 SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 47th league game)
Assistant Referees: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU), Stephen Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby
Sharks v Munster
Prediction: Sharks by 2
Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corné Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Hakeen Kunene
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 JJ Hanrahan (c), 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Seán Edogbo, 5 Tom Ahern, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Fineen Wycherley, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Dan Kelly, 23 Brian Gleeson
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 60th league game)
Assistant Referees: Morne Ferreira (SARU), Christopher Allison (SARU)
TMO: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby
Benetton v Ospreys
Prediction: Ospreys by 4
Benetton: 15 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Michele Lamaro (c), 7 Alessandro Izekor, 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Giosué Zilocchi, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Destiny Aminu, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Mattia Midena, 21 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Matt Gallagher
Ospreys: 15 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Jack Walsh (cc), 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 James Ratti, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 James Fender, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry (cc), 1 Steffan Thomas
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Harri Houston, 23 Evardi Boshoff
Venue: Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Ian Kenny (SRU, 8th league game)
Assistant Referees: Federico Vedovelli (FIR), Riccardo Bonatto (FIR)
TMO: Paul Haycock (IRFU)
Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
Prediction: Glasgow by 5
Glasgow: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Johnny Ventisei, 12 Stafford McDowall (c), 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Macenzzie Duncan, 7 Sione Vailanu, 6 Euan Ferrie, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Fin Richardson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Jare Oguntibeju, 20 Ally Miller, 21 Angus Fraser, 22 Jack Oliver, 23 Adam Hastings
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Joshua Kenny, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath (c), 8 James Culhane, 7 Will Connors, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Alex Usanov
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Scott Penny, 22 Fintan Gunne, 23 Ciarán Frawley
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA / 19.30 SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 49th league game)
Assistant Referees: David Sutherland (SRU), Ciaran Stark (SRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby
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Sunday
Stormers v Dragons
Prediction: Stormers by 18 points
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Vernon Matongo
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Wandisile Simelane
Dragons: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Angus O’Brien (c), 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Harrison Keddie, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Jordan Morris
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Owain James, 19 Barny Langton-Cryer, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Niall Armstrong, 22 Jac Lloyd, 23 Fine Inisi
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 114th league game)
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU), Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby
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