Two mouth-watering PRO14 derby games on Sunday

David Skippers
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There’s two matches in the PRO14 on Sunday as the derby theme continues on its return, with Ospreys facing Dragons before Connacht meet Ulster.

Ospreys v Dragons

Ospreys’ try-scoring machine Dan Evans makes a welcome return at full-back, linking up with two Welsh international wingers in George North and Luke Morgan, both of whom offer terrific pace out wide.

The young midfield pairing is nothing if not exciting, with Kieran Williams, who raised more than a few eyebrows with his deceptive pace and power, lining up alongside international Owen Watkin.

Summer signing and experienced Northampton fly-half, Stephen Myler, will link up for the first time with returning Osprey legend, Rhys Webb.

There’s no lack of power in the pack, especially in the front-row, with Nicky Smith and Tom Botha packing down at loosehead and tighthead respectively, either side of the imposing figure of Sam Parry at hooker. It’s a familiar looking, all-international second-row, as Adam Beard packs down shoulder to shoulder with Alun Wyn Jones.

In the back-row, young Morgan Morris is entrusted with the number eight jersey once more. Guarding the blindside is Olly Cracknell (who is the top ranked tackler in the PRO14 with 171 tackles), while inspirational captain Justin Tipuric is on the openside.

Meanwhile, new signings Nick Tompkins and Joe Maksymiw will make their debuts as Dragons run out at the Liberty Stadium.

Wales international centre Tompkins, a summer recruit from Saracens, and lock Maksymiw, who joined from Connacht, are part of a new-look Dragons side who face competitive action for the first time in 170 days.

Fly-half Sam Davies makes his first return to his former region and will captain the Dragons. He is joined at half-back by Tavis Knoyle who makes his 50th appearance for the Men of Gwent.

Tompkins is paired with Jack Dixon in the centre while Owen Jenkins and Ashton Hewitt provide the firepower out wide.

Dafydd Howells is named at full-back and makes his first appearance since November last year.

Hooker Richard Hibbard will pack down with props Brok Harris and Leon Brown up front while Maksymiw joins Matthew Screech in the second-row.

Flanker Ben Fry, who signed a senior deal with the region last month, makes his full PRO14 debut alongside Tane Basham and Ross Moriarty in the back-row.

Wales international Aaron Wainwright is named among the replacements.

The teams:

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 George North, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Kieran Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric (c), 6 Olly Cracknell, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Nicky Thomas, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Will Griffiths, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Josh Thomas, 23 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler

Dragons: 15 Dafydd Howells, 14 Owen Jenkins, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Sam Davies (c), 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Ben Fry, 5 Joe Maksymiw, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Leon Brown, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Brok Harris
Replacements: 16 Ellis Shipp, 17 Conor Maguire, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Joe Davies, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Luke Baldwin, 22 Arwel Robson, 23 Adam Warren

Venue: Liberty Stadium
Kick-off: 14:15 BST (13:15 GMT)
Referee: Adam Jones
Assistant referees: Craig Evans, Gwyn Morris
TMO: Sean Brickell

Connacht v Ulster

Irish international Bundee Aki will make his 100th appearance for Connacht on Sunday after he was named to start in the PRO14 clash with Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

Aki joined Connacht in 2014 and has gone on to play a central role in the province’s fortunes since then. He was named PRO12 Player of the Season in 2015/16, the same year he helped the team to their first ever title.

His form was rewarded with a first call-up to the Ireland squad in the 2017 Autumn internationals. He has been an ever-present member of the squad since then, making 26 appearances and starting every game in the Grand Slam victory of 2018.

Elsewhere at least two players will make their Connacht debuts on Sunday with Alex Wootton and Academy graduate Peter Sullivan both named on the wings. They form a back three with John Porch who slots in at full-back.

Tom Farrell will partner Aki in the centre with Irish international Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty forming a formidable half-back partnership.

In the forwards there’s a return to action for prop Finlay Bealham after sustaining a serious injury against Edinburgh in February, and he makes up an experienced front-row with Denis Buckley and hooker Dave Heffernan.

Ultan Dillane and Gavin Thornbury have been named in the second-row, and the starting XV is completed by flankers Eoghan Masterson and captain Jarrad Butler, with Paul Boyle named at number eight.

Three more players could make their Connacht debuts off the bench, with props Jordan Duggan and Jack Aungier, and back-row Conor Oliver all included.

The remainder of the replacements is made up of Jonny Murphy, Niall Murray, Stephen Kerins, Conor Dean and Tom Daly.

Meanwhile, fly-half Billy Burns will lead out the Ulster men, in what will be the team’s return to competitive action following a six-month interruption due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Burns will be joined at half-back by John Cooney, and the pair will be hoping to help guide Ulster to a place in the PRO14 Play-off Series, with two points required from the remaining two regular season games.

In the back three, Jacob Stockdale is selected at full-back, and will be joined on the wings by Louis Ludik and Craig Gilroy. 21-year-old James Hume will form the midfield partnership with Stuart McCloskey.

Rob Herring will start at hooker with props Jack McGrath and Marty Moore making up an Irish international front-row. Alan O’Connor will partner with Kieran Treadwell in the second-row, while Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy and Marcell Coetzee have been named as the starting loose forwards.

New signings Alby Mathewson and Ian Madigan could make their Ulster debuts this weekend as they are named among the replacements, as is Australian international lock, Sam Carter, who is set to make his first appearance since November following his return from shoulder rehab.

Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole and Matthew Rea are named as the other forward replacements, with Michael Lowry completing the 23.

The teams:

Connacht: 15 John Porch, 14 Peter Sullivan, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Alex Wootton, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Jarrad Butler (c), 6 Eoghan Masterson, 5 Gavin Thornbury, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Jonny Murphy, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Conor Oliver, 21 Stephen Kerins, 22 Conor Dean, 23 Tom Daly

Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Louis Ludik, 10 Billy Burns (c), 9 John Cooney, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Nick Timoney, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Jack McGrath
Replacements: 16 Adam McBurney, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Matthew Rea, 21 Alby Mathewson, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Michael Lowry

Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 16:30 BST (15:30 GMT)
Referee: Frank Murphy
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher, Chris Busby
TMO: Olly Hodges

Connacht