PRO14 Preview: Friday
Four PRO14 games take place on Friday with the Kings, Ospreys, Zebre and Ulster hosting the Scarlets, Connacht, Edinburgh and Dragons respectively.
Southern Kings v Scarlets
Southern Kings Head Coach Deon Davids has opted for consistency in his backline after naming an unchanged back seven from the team that last did duty in Italy against Benetton Rugby a fortnight ago.
The team will see three changes in the forwards pack that will take on last season’s finalists, Scarlets, in a PRO14 Round Seven clash at the Nelson Mandela University’s Madibaz Stadium on Friday night.
Loosehead prop, Schalk Ferreira, who missed the match against Benetton due to a fractured nose, is back in the starting XV. Hooker Alandre van Rooyen will make his first start of the season in the place of the injured Michael Willemse.
Loose-forward Stephan de Wit comes in at number six in a rotational switch with CJ Velleman, who falls out of the match-day 23 squad.
There is some excitement surrounding the inclusion of newbies Tertius Kruger and Fijian Meli Rokotua on the bench.
Meanwhile, with twelve players on international duty with Wales, Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has named a much-changed side.
24-year-old centre Steff Hughes will lead the side with the Scarlets looking for a victory to keep pressure on Leinster who currently top Conference B.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Dan Jones link up at halfbacks, Paul Asquith partners captain Hughes in midfield with Ioan Nicholas, Johnny McNicholl and Clayton Blommetjies named as the back three.
Experienced tighthead prop Werner Kruger, who has represented South Africa on the international stage, starts alongside Marc Jones and Phil Price.
Australian Steve Cummins makes a return from injury to start in the second row alongside Port Elizabeth native David Bulbring whilst Will Boyde, Josh Macleod and Uzair Cassiem bolster the pack in the back-row.
The teams:
Southern Kings: 15 Masixole Banda , 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Berton Klaasen , 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Ruaan Lerm, 6 Stephan de Wit, 5 JC Astle (c), 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements: 16 Tango Balekile, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Luphumlo Mguca, 19 Stephan Greeff, 20 Martinus Burger, 21 Rudi van Rooyen, 22 Tertius Kruger, 23 Meli Rokoua
Scarlets: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Paul Asquith, 12 Steff Hughes (c), 11 Ioan Nicholas, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Josh Macleod, 6 Will Boyde, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Marc Jones, 1 Phil Price
Replacements: 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Tom Price, 20 Josh Helps, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Morgan Williams, 23 Ed Kennedy
Venue: Madibaz Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19:00 local (18:00 BST, 17:00 GMT)
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Paul Mente (South Africa)
TMO: Sean Veldsman (South Africa)
Zebre v Edinburgh
Zebre head coach Michael Bradley has kept faith with most of his matchday squad for this match at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi after beating Bristol Bears in the European Challenge Cup last week.
There are two change to Zebre’s run-on side with Jacopo Bianchi coming in for Jimmy Tuivaiti on the blindside flank while Guglielmo Palazzani takes over from Marcello Violi at scrum-half.
The only alteration on the replacments bench sees Riccardo Raffaele starting as cover for Palazzani.
Meanwhile, Pierre Schoeman returns from a four-week suspension to feature in the Edinburgh starting XV to face their Italian opponents.
The inclusion of the loosehead prop is one of ten changes made to the Edinburgh side as head coach Richard Cockerill hands a debut to Scottish Rugby Academy product and second-row, Jamie Hodgson.
Henry Pyrgos captains the side which features six internationals, including Scotland caps Dougie Fife, Ross Ford, Simon Berghan and Luke Hamilton, while Duhan van der Merwe returns to the starting line-up after missing both of Edinburgh’s Champions Cup fixtures through injury.
Elsewhere, Italian international prop Pietro Ceccarelli, Callum Atkinson, Mungo Mason and Jason Baggott are all selected on the bench and if involved will make their first competitive appearance for the capital side.
Fife is named at full-back alongside wingers Van der Merwe and Darcy Graham, with the latter retaining his position on the flank following a string of impressive performances both domestically and in Europe.
In the midfield, James Johnstone is partnered by Chris Dean, who gets the nod at inside centre following his try-scoring performance from the bench against Toulon last weekend. Simon Hickey is reinstated to the starting XV alongside Pyrgos at scrum-half.
A revamped front-row sees Ford make his second start of the season alongside props Schoeman and Berghan, while Stewart’s Melville products Hodgson and Callum Hunter-Hill form the second-row.
Fijian international Bill Mata starts at number eight, with Luke Crosbie and Hamilton completing the back-row.
The teams:
Zebre: 15 Francois Brummer, 14 Mattia Bellini, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Tommaso Castello (c), 11 Gabriele Di Giulio, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Renato Giammarioli, 7 Johan Meyer, 6 Jacopo Bianchi, 5 George Biagi, 4 David Sisi, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Andrea Lovotti
Replacements: 16 Luhandre Luus, 17 Daniele Rimpelli, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Leonard Krumov, 20 Apisai Tauyavuca, 21 Riccardo Raffaele, 22 Tommaso Boni, 23 Paula Balekana
Edinburgh: 15 Dougie Fife, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 James Johnstone, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Simon Hickey, 9 Henry Pyrgos (c), 8 Bill Mata, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Luke Hamilton, 5 Callum Hunter-Hill, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 David Cherry, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Callum Atkinson, 20 Mungo Mason, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Jason Baggott, 23 Juan Pablo Socino
Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Kick-off: 20:00 local (19:00 BST, 18:00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), George Clancy (Ireland)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
Ulster v Dragons
Academy player Robert Baloucoune will make his senior Ulster debut on Friday night after being named on the wing for the PRO14 Round Seven game against the Dragons at Kingspan Stadium.
The Ireland Sevens speedster, who developed his game at Portora Royal School and Enniskillen RFC, is one of three Academy players in the starting team, with fullback Michael Lowry and loosehead prop Eric O’Sullivan (both Banbridge RFC) also included.
Australia international Henry Speight has recovered from a knee injury he picked up against the Cheetahs in September and will join Baloucoune and Lowry in the back three. Will Addison, who earned his first international call up this week, will partner Stuart McCloskey in midfield, while Dave Shanahan and Johnny McPhillips will combine in the half back positions.
O’Sullivan will pack down alongside his captain and Banbridge clubmate Rory Best, as well as Marty Moore. Iain Henderson and Kieran Treadwell are paired together in the second-row, with Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy and Marcell Coetzee selected as the loose forward trio.
Rob Herring, who also sustained an injury (toe) against the Cheetahs, has returned to the squad and will provide backup for Rory Best at hooker. Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor and Greg Jones, who could feature for the first time since January, are the other forward replacements.
Jonny Stewart, Craig Gilroy and Academy winger Angus Kernohan are the backline options for head coach Dan McFarland.
Meanwhile, fly-half Jason Tovey is handed the number 10 jersey as Dragons head to Belfast to face Ulster in the PRO14 on Friday.
Tovey – the leading scorer in the region’s history and sixth highest marksman in PRO14 history – is given a starting jersey after being signed on permit from Cross Keys.
Tovey’s inclusion is one of ten changes for Dragons, with six senior players away on international duty with Wales.
Wing Dafydd Howells returns, after being rested for the European game with Northampton Saints, while centre Adam Warren is also recalled.
Will Talbot-Davies will start his first Guinness PRO14 game on the wing, with Zane Kirchner moving to the bench.
Six changes in the pack include a first Dragons start in the Guinness PRO14 for Huw Taylor, who is named at blindside flanker.
Number Eight Harri Keddie will also make his first appearance of the season while Nic Cudd comes into a new-look back row.
Richard Hibbard will captain the side from hooker and pack down alongside the recalled Lloyd Fairbrother. The final change is a starting spot for lock Matthew Screech.
The bench includes call-ups for lock Joe Davies, back row Taine Basham and a return for fit-again centre Jack Dixon.
The teams:
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Will Addison, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Johnny McPhillips, 9 Dave Shanahan, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Sean Reidy, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Eric O’Sullivan,
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Alan O’Connor, 20 Greg Jones, 21 Jonny Stewart, 22 Angus Kernohan, 23 Craig Gilroy
Dragons: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Dafydd Howells, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Jarryd Sage, 11 Will Talbot-Davies, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Harrison Keddie, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 Huw Taylor, 5 Lewis Evans, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Richard Hibbard (c), 1 Brok Harris
Replacements: 16 Rhys Lawrence, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Ryan Bevington, 19 Joe Davies, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Jack Dixon, 23 Zane Kirchner
Venue: Kingspan Stadium
Kick-off: 19:55 BST (18:55 GMT)
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: John Carvill (Ireland), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Ospreys v Connacht
Harri Morgan will make his PRO14 debut having been named in the Ospreys XV to take on Connacht at Brewery Field in Bridgend.
Morgan is also set for his first start for the region as he will line-up alongside Sam Davies at half-back on Friday.
The scrum-half is joined in the backline by fellow academy product Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, who is making his first PRO14 start.
There is plenty of experience elsewhere with Hanno Dirksen, Dan Evans and Cory Allen named behind the scrum.
In the pack, Dan Lydiate, Olly Cracknell and Rob McCusker form a strong back-row, while Lloyd Ashley and James King are at lock.
Meanwhile, Ireland international scrum-half Kieran Marmion has returned to the Connacht side to face the Ospreys.
His return sees him renew his half back partnership with Jack Carty who is back in the starting team after being rested for the trip to Sale last weekend.
Bundee Aki also returns to the midfield alongside Tom Farrell. They are part of a backline that includes Tiernan O’Halloran at full back and Niyi Adeolokun and Cian Kelleher on the wings.
In the forwards, Finlay Bealham who was named in the Ireland squad yesterday, starts at tight head. He is joined in the front row by loosehead Denis Buckley and hooker Tom McCartney. Behind them in the scrum will be Quinn Roux and Ultan Dillane.
Sean O’Brien returns from injury and is named in the back row with Captain Jarrad Butler at openside and 21 year old Paul Boyle at number eight.
The teams:
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Harri Morgan, 8 Rob McCusker, 7 Olly Cracknell (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 James King, 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Rhodri Jones
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Alex Jeffries, 19 James Ratti, 20 Guido Volpi, 21 Matthew Aubrey, 22 James Hook, 23 Tom Williams
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Cian Kelleher, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Jarrad Butler (c), 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Conan O’Donnell, 18 Conor Carey, 19 James Cannon, 20 Colby Fainga’a, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Conor Fitzgerald, 23 Kyle Godwin
Venue: The Brewery Field, Bridgend
Kick-off: 20:05 BST (19:05 GMT)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Mike English (Wales)
TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)