PRO14 Preview: Friday

Two PRO14 matches take place this Friday as Ulster welcome Munster while the Dragons travel to face Cardiff Blues in the Welsh capital.

Cardiff Blues v Dragons

Blaine Scully will hit a half century of appearances for Cardiff Blues in Friday’s crucial PRO14 festive derby against Dragons at Cardiff Arms Park.

Friday’s encounter at the Welsh capital kicks off a trio of festive derbies, with trips to Scarlets and Ospreys also coming up over the next fortnight.

Scully has become a firm favourite within the Arms Park faithful since his move from Leicester Tigers in 2015, and retains his place on the wing.

The captain of the USA national side is likely to be joined by George Earle in hitting the half century milestone for the region, with the South African lock named on the bench.

Number eight Nick Williams also celebrates a special achievement, making his 150th appearance in the Guinness PRO14, having also enjoyed spells at Munster, Aironi and Ulster.

John Mulvihill makes three changes from last week’s European defeat to Saracens, as the head coach welcomes international scrum half, Tomos Williams, back to the line-up following a minor injury he suffered against Ulster three weeks ago.

Olly Robinson, who featured from the bench against Saracens, is re-introduced into the starting back-row, while Dillon Lewis is handed the number three jersey.

Kristian Dacey has been appointed captain for the remainder of the campaign, in the absence of the injured Ellis Jenkins, and will lead the side out on Friday.

The back three remains unchanged, meaning Dan Fish retains his place at full back following an impressive try-scoring display against the English champions last week.

Scrum-half Lloyd Williams has recovered from a facial injury to take his place on the bench, and will over-take Rhys Thomas, taking him to third-placed in Cardiff Blues’ all-time appearance makers list.

Meanwhile, Dragons make five changes for the big Welsh derby. Harrison Keddie returns to the starting line-up, after missing the European trip to ASM Clermont Auvergne, and will pack down at number eight. Ross Moriarty misses the game with concussion.

Prop Lloyd Fairbrother is back in the front-row while captain Cory Hill will again lead the team wearing the number six jersey.

Three changes to the back line includes a return for flying wing Jared Rosser.

Centre Jarryd Sage makes his comeback and joins forces in midfield with Adam Warren who moves over from wing.

The final change is at scrum-half where Rhodri Williams will partner fly-half Josh Lewis.

Richard Hibbard, Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd and Jason Tovey are recalled among the replacements as coach Ceri Jones prepares to send his team into the first Welsh derby of the festive season.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Garyn Smith, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Olly Robinson, 6 Josh Navidi, 5 Josh Turnbull, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Kristian Dacey (c), 1 Rhys Gill
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 George Earle, 20 James Down, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Matthew Morgan

Dragons: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Jarryd Sage, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Josh Lewis, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Harrison Keddie, 7 Aaron Wainwright, 6 Cory Hill (c), 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Brandon Nansen, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Ryan Bevington
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Gerard Ellis, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Lewis Evans, 20 Nic Cudd, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Jordan Williams

Date: Friday, December 21
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mark Patton (Ireland), Tim Spurrier (Wales)
TMO: Ian Davies (Wales)

Ulster v Munster

Ulster have made three changes to the starting XV for Friday’s huge inter-pro clash against Munster.

Two of the new faces come in the pack, with Rob Herring starting at hooker and taking over the captaincy, and Ian Nagle returning from injury to make his first start for the province.

Eric O’Sullivan and Marty Moore will join Herring in the front-row, while Kieran Treadwell will pack down beside Nagle in the second-row. The loose forward combination of Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy and Marcell Coetzee is unchanged.

Academy winger Robert Baloucoune comes into the backline and will line out in the back three alongside the experienced Louis Ludik and Henry Speight.

The half-back axis of John Cooney and Billy Burns is retained along with the midfield pairing of Stuart McCloskey and Will Addison.

Rory Best, Kyle McCall and Ross Kane will are named as the front-row replacements, while Clive Ross and Nick Timoney provide additional forward cover. Academy back James Hume is recalled to the match day squad, with Dave Shanahan and Johnny McPhillips also included.

Meanwhile, Jaco Taute captains Munster for the first time as head coach Johann van Graan makes 13 changes to his side.

Mike Haley is named at full-back once again with Darren Sweetnam returning from an injury sustained on international duty to start on the right wing with Alex Wootton on the opposite flank.

Sammy Arnold keeps his place at outside centre and partners Taute in midfield with Alby Mathewson and JJ Hanrahan in the half-backs.

Jeremy Loughman, Kevin O’Byrne and Stephen Archer pack down in the front-row as Jean Kleyn returns from injury to partner Darren O’Shea in the engine room.

Conor Oliver makes his first start of the campaign having missed the opening months of the season through injury and is joined in the back row by Fineen Wycherley and Arno Botha.

Fit-again Tommy O’Donnell is among the replacements along with academy duo Gavin Coombes and Shane Daly.

Ulster: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Will Addison, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Robert Baloucoune, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Sean Reidy, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Ian Nagle, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Rob Herring (c), 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Rory Best, 17 Kyle McCall, 18 Ross Kane, 19 Clive Ross, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 David Shanahan, 22 Johnny McPhillips, 23 James Hume

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Darren Sweetnam, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Jaco Taute (c), 11 Alex Wootton, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Fineen Wycherley, 5 Darren O’Shea, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Kevin O’Byrne, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Gavin Coombes, 20 Tommy O’Donnell, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Bill Johnston, 23 Shane Daly

Date: Friday, December 21
Venue: Kingspan Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Correll (Ireland), Leo Colgan (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)