PRO14 Preview: Friday
Two games take place in the PRO14 on Friday as Ospreys host Connacht while Edinburgh take on Ulster as we move into Round 19.
Ospreys vs Connacht
Struggling at the wrong end of their PRO14 Conference table, the Ospreys and Connacht will face off at the Liberty Stadium on Friday.
Ospreys have named a strong XV as Alun Wyn Jones captains alongside Bradley Davies at lock while Dan Biggar is in the 10 jersey.
But they're missing several players due to injury while Justin Tipuric and Tom Williams are with Wales 7s at the Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, flanker Jarrad Butler is set to captain Connacht for the first time in his side’s PRO14 clash in Swansea. He's joined in the back-row by blindside flanker Sean O’Brien and Eoin McKeon at number eight, with veteran John Muldoon named among the replacements.
There are a number of changes in the Connacht pack with Conor Carey coming in at tighthead and Shane Delahunt set to start at hooker. In the second-row Ultan Dillane returns to the starting team alongside James Cannon.
In the midfield Peter Robb who has recently returned from injury forms a partnership with Eoin Griffin.
The back three remains unchanged with Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy on the wings and Tiernan O’Halloran at full-back.
The teams:
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 James King, 7 Sam Cross, 6 Guy Mercer, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Ifan Phillips, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Morgan Morris, 21 Matthew Aubrey, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Owen Watkin
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Peter Robb, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Jarrad Butler (c), 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 James Cannon, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Conor Carey, 2 Shane Delahunt, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Peter McCabe, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Gavin Thornbury, 20 John Muldoon, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Darragh Leader
Date: Friday, April 6
Venue: Liberty Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35 BST (18:35 GMT)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Craig Evans (Wales)
Television match official: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
Edinburgh vs Ulster
Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill has named a revamped half-back pairing of Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Duncan Weir for this fixture.
Their inclusion is part of six changes made to the side that faced Cardiff Blues in last weekend’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final.
An unchanged back-three sees Blair Kinghorn named at full-back alongside wingers Duhan van der Merwe and Dougie Fife. In the midfield, Mark Bennett is joined by experienced centre Phil Burleigh, who makes his first start since January.
The inclusion of tighthead prop Simon Berghan is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged front-row, as Stuart McInally – named captain on the day – and Jordan Lay keep their places up front.
Ben Toolis returns to the starting XV to partner Grant Gilchrist in the second-row, whilst Jamie Ritchie is named in the back-row alongside Magnus Bradbury – who makes his 50th appearance for the club – and Bill Mata.
Meanwhile, Ulster have been boosted by the return of Ireland hooker Rory Best, who will captain the side in this encounter.
Ulster Academy prop Tom O'Toole will make his senior debut alongside Best in the front-row, with Andy Warwick selected at loosehead.
In the second-row, O'Toole's Academy team-mate Matthew Dalton will make his seventh appearance of the season, as he is paired with Iain Henderson in the engine room.
In the back-row, Matthew Rea and Nick Timoney start at blindside and openside respectively, with Jean Deysel packing down at number eight.
Behind the pack, John Cooney and Johnny McPhillips continue their half-back partnership.
Darren Cave is named at outside centre, where he will be joined in the Ulster midfield by Stuart McCloskey.
Jacob Stockdale and Louis Ludik will start on the wings, with full-back Charles Piutau rounding off the back three.
There are two more potential debutants from the bench in the form of Rainey Old Boys RFC prop Tommy O'Hagan, and Angus Curtis, another one of Ulster's Irish U20 contingent, who can slot in at fly-half or centre.
Rob Herring, Rodney Ah You, Alan O'Connor and Sean Reidy provide the additional forward options, while David Shanahan and Tommy Bowe complete the backline cover.
The teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Bill Mata, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Ben Toolis, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Stuart McInally (c), 1 Jordan Lay
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 WP Nel, 19 Lewis Carmichael, 20 Cornell du Preez, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Chris Dean
Ulster: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Johnny McPhillips, 9 John Cooney, 8 Jean Deysel, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Matthew Rea, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Matthew Dalton, 3 Tom O'Toole, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Andrew Warwick
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Tommy O'Hagan, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Alan O'Connor, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 David Shanahan, 22 Angus Curtis, 23 Tommy Bowe
Date: Friday, April 6
Venue: Myreside
Kick-off: 19:35 BST (18:35 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Davies (Wales), David Sutherland (Scotland)
Television match official: Sean Brickell (Wales)