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The teams for this weekend's Round 8 fixtures of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.
TEAM NEWS HEADLINES
#STOvSCA - Lock Gary Porter will make his DHL Stormers debut
- Scott Williams returns at centre while Dan Davis makes his first start of the season for Scarlets
#ULSvZEB - World Cup-winning Springbok, Duane Vermeulen, to captain Ulster
- Riccardo Genovese and Matt Kvesic set to make their debut for Zebre Parma if called upon from the bench
#BULvOSP - Ruan Nortje
will captain the Vodacom Bulls
- James Fender and Luke Scully are set to make their Osprey’s debut if
called upon from the bench
#BENvEDI - Rhyno Smith returns at full-back for Benetton
- Stuart McInally, Henry Immelman, James Lang and
Ben Vellacott al return from injury & named in Edinburgh Rugby matchday squad
#LEIvGLA - Ronan Kelleher and Harry Byrne return from injury and are named in Leinsters matchday squad
- Nine players return from Scotland camp and into Glasgow
Warriors matchday squad
#MUNvCON - Tadhg Beirne, who was named in World Rugby Men's 15s
Team of the Year, starts on his 50th Munster appearance
- Six Connacht players who were with the Ireland squad
in November have been named in the starting XV
#LIOvDRA - Andre Warner and Asenathi Ntlabakanye in line to make
their season debut for Emirates Lions if called upon from the bench
- Sio Timkinson returns to Dragons RFC starting XV
#SHAvCAR - James Venter will captain Cell C Sharks
- Lopeti Timani returns to the Cardiff Rugby starting
XV
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
DHL Stormers v Scarlets DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA /
19.00 SA Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 5th
league game) AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Paul Mente (SARU) TMO: Frank Murphy (IRFU) Live on: SuperSport, BBC Wales, Viaplay, TG4, Discovery +,
Premier Sports & URC.tv
DHL Stormers: Clayton Blommetjies,
Angelo Davids, Cornel Smit, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Kade Wolhuter, Paul de
Wet, Ali Vermaak, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, Ernst van Rhyn (CAPT), Gary
Porter, Junior Pokomela, Marcel Theunissen, Hacjivah Dayimani Replacements: JJ Kotze, Leon Lyons, Sazi
Sandi, Connor Evans, Ben-Jason Dixon, Nama Xaba, Herschel Jantjies, Jean-Luc du
Plessis
Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl, Tom Rogers, Jonathan Davies (CAPT), Scott Williams, Ryan Conbeer, Dan
Jones, Gareth Davies, Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes, Harri O’Connor, Sam Lousi, Tom
Price, Aaron Shingler, Dan Davis, Sione Kalamafoni Replacements: Taylor Davies, Kemsley
Mathias, WillGriff John, Blade Thomson, Tomás Lezana, Archie Hughes, Rhys
Patchell, Steff Evans
DHL
Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said: “The players getting an
opportunity this week have all been training incredibly hard all season and are
determined to make the most of this game. We are pleased with the depth we have
built already this season and this is also a side that features plenty of
experience in key positions, so we are excited to see how they go. This
selection forms part of a clear strategy to prepare ourselves to be competitive
across the various competitions we are involved in this season. We have an
exciting young generation of young players coming through and it will be a big
challenge for them against a team which boasts almost 300 Test caps, but we are
looking forward to it."
Scarlets
Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “We have had a good week here in Cape
Town and are looking forward to getting back out there. We are not where we
want to be in the table, there is no hiding from that, but we have an exciting
block ahead of us. We need to climb the ladder in the URC and then have a good
start in Europe and it starts on Friday. When you play out here you have to
match the South African physicality. Stormers are a team who like to play
expansive rugby, but first and foremost we have to match that physicality. We
also need to be more ruthless when it comes to taking opportunities, which we
haven’t really done in the first block of matches. We had a great game against
the Stormers at Parc y Scarlets at the end of last season. We have to make sure
we show that mettle again.”
Ulster v Zebre Parma Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA /
21.35 SA Referee: AJ Jacobs (SARU, 13th
league game) AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2:
Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) Live on: BBC NI, TG4, Viaplay, Eurosport, Discovery +,
SuperSport, Premier Sports & URC.tv
Ulster: Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy,
James Hume, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale, Jake Flannery, Nathan Doak, Callum
Reid, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Cormac Izuchukwu, Sam Carter, Matty Rea, Marcus
Rea, Duane Vermeulen (CAPT) Replacements: John Andrew, Andy Warwick,
Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Iain Henderson, David McCann, Michael McDonald, Angus
Curtis, Ben Moxham
Zebre Parma: Lorenzo Pani, Jacopo
Trulla, Richard Kriel, Enrico Lucchin (CAPT), Simone Gesi, Geronimo
Prisciantelli, Chris Cook, Juan Pitinari, Jacques Du Toit, Matteo Nocera, Jan
Uys, Andrea Zambonin, Guido Volpi, Giacomo Ferrari, Matt Kvesic Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Daniele
Rimpelli, Riccardo Genovese, Leonard Krumov, Iacopo Bianchi, Ratko Jelic, Joey
Caputo, Erich Cronjé
Ulster
Assistant Coach Dan Soper said: “The guys have been lapping-up
that we are back to a match week. We’re looking at ourselves, the opposition,
and what we’re going to do on Friday, and we are really looking forward to
getting going now.”
Zebre Parma Head
Coach Fabio Roselli said: "The autumn test match break has allowed us to recharge our
energy and identify what is progressing and what we need to improve. We have
introduced innovations in all areas, in the game and in methodology; this makes
us eager to express ourselves in Belfast, at home of a top European club.
Ulster have great physicality, a very solid pack and the ability to create a
lot of problems when they play with rhythm. We have prepared ourselves to face
them head-to-head with determination. We want to express enthusiasm, fun and
competitiveness, trying to find the characteristics of our playing identity. As
in the past, the biggest challenge will be to start the game the way we have
prepared. We are excited to see Riccardo Genovese and Matt Kvesic at work, in
this first opportunity”.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Vodacom Bulls v Ospreys Loftus
Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 26th league game) AR 1: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU) AR 2: Griffin
Colby (SARU) TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU) Live on: SuperSport, S4C, Viaplay, Premier Sports
& URC.tv
Vodacom Bulls: Wandisile Simelane, David
Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Chris Smith, Embrose
Papier, Gerhard Steenekamp, Bismarck Du Plessis, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, Ruan Nortje
(CAPT), Nizaam Carr, Wj Steenkamp, Elrigh Louw Replacements: Jan-Hendrik
Wessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Cyle Brink, Zak Bruger,
Morne Steyn, Marco Jansen van Vuren
Ospreys: Max Nagy, Luke Morgan, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Keiran
Williams, Keelan Giles, Jack Walsh, Rhys Webb (CAPT), Garyn Phillips, Scott
Baldwin, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Huw Sutton, Ethan Roots, Will Hickey, Morgan
Morris Replacements: Sam Parry, Rhys Henry, Ben
Warren, James Fender, Jack Regan, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Luke Scully, Cai
Evans
Ospreys Head Coach Toby Booth said: “The Vodacom
Bulls are one of the toughest teams we’ll face this year. The biggest challenge
for us in this game is to prepare for the physicality of the Bulls and focus on
how we deal with that.”
Benetton v Edinburgh Rugby Stadio
Monigo, Treviso – KO 13.00 IRE & UK
/ 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 39th league game) AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Alex Frasson (FIR) TMO: Jon Mason (WRU) Live on: Discovery + , Viaplay, SuperSport, Premier
Sports & URC.tv
Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Marcus Watson, Ignacio Brex, Marco
Zanon, Matteo Minozzi, Tomas Albornoz, Dewaldt Duvenage (CAPT), Nahuel Tetaz, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Simone
Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo
Cannone Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Ivan Nemer, Tiziano Pasquali, Scott
Scrafton, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro
Garbisi, Jacob Umaga, Tommaso Menoncello
Edinburgh
Rugby: Henry Immelman, Damien Hoyland, Matt Currie, James
Lang, Wes Goosen, Charlie Savala, Henry Pyrgos, Boan Venter, Stuart McInally, Angus
Williams, Marshall Sykes, Jamie Hodgson, Nick Haining, Luke Crosbie (CAPT), Ben
Muncaster Replacements: Patrick Harrison, Jamie Jack, Lee-Roy
Atalifo, Glen Young, Connor Boyle, Ben Vellacott, Jaco van der Walt, Chris Dean
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Mike Blair said: “While it’s
been great to get a period of rest where we’ve been able to get guys fit, work
on certain aspects of our game and take stock on the season so far, we’re
hugely excited to return to action this weekend as we take on a quality
Benetton side. As a team, we were really happy with how we played
in large parts in both wins at Zebre and Cardiff, and we know we’ll need to
match those levels of intensity and work rate for the full 80 minutes in
Treviso. It’s great that we’re able to integrate some of
our international contingent back into the squad, with those players bringing
added quality to a group who’ve performed really well in recent weeks.”
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors RDS Arena, Dublin – KO 15.15 IRE & UK / 16.15
ITA / 17.15 SA Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 13th league game) AR 1: Keane
Davison (IRFU) AR 2: Andy Fogarty (IRFU) TMO: AJ Jacobs
(SARU) Live on: RTÉ, Viaplay, SuperSport, Discovery +,
Premier Sports & URC.tv
Leinster: Jamie Osborne, Rob Russell, Liam Turner, Charlie
Ngatai, Dave Kearney, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath, Ed Byrne, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas
Clarkson, Ross Molony, Joe McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock (CAPT), Scott Penny, Max
Deegan Replacements: John McKee, Michael Milne, Vakh
Abdaladze, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Cormac Foley, Harry Byrne, Chris Cosgrave
Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Sebastian
Cancelliere, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Stafford McDowall, Rufus McLean, Tom Jordan,
George Horne, Oli Kebble, Fraser Brown, Murphy Walker, Sintu Manjezi, Alex
Samuel, Gregor Brown, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Jamie Bhatti,
Simon Berghan, JP du Preez, Lewis Bean, Euan Ferrie, Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “Tomorrow is
an opportunity to measure ourselves against a strong Leinster side. We were
pleased with how we ended our last block of games with our win over Benetton
and we plan to carry that momentum into this important block. Tomorrow is the
start of the next part of our journey as we continue to build our squad and our
performances.”
Munster v Connacht Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 19.35 IRE & UK /
20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 20th league game) AR 1: Paul
Haycock (IRFU) AR 2: Jonny Erskine (IRFU) TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU) Live on: TG4, Viaplay, SuperSport, Discovery +,
Premier Sports & URC.tv
Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Rory
Scannell, Shane Daly, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey, Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid
Barron, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony (CAPT), John
Hodnett, Alex Kendellen Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy
Loughman, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Jack O'Donoghue, Paddy Patterson, Jack
Crowley, Gavin Coombes
Connacht: John Porch, Byron Ralston, Tom Farrell, Bundee
Aki, Alex Wootton, Jack Carty (CAPT) Caolin Blad, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan,
Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Gavin Thornbury, Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad
Butler Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Peter Dooley, Jack
Aungier, Niall Murray, Oisín Dowling, Kieran Marmion, Conor Fitzgerald, Paul
Boyle
Connacht Director of Rugby Andy Friend said: "Everyone
had ten days off after the Ospreys game which I think was needed for coaches
and players. Now that we have everyone back it's all eyes on Munster for the
start of an important ten week block for us, and we’re well positioned for
these games going forward. Munster away at Thomond Park is never an easy task
but I thought we were close last year and the previous year we won there. You
can’t just rock up to Thomond and think you’re going to win, you’ve got to work
your backside off and bring an element of physicality along with accuracy in
what you are doing.”
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Emirates
Lions v Dragons RFC Emirates
Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 14.00 IRE & UK / 15.00 ITA / 16.00 SA Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 29th league game) AR 1: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU) AR 2: Griffin
Colby (SARU) TMO: Ben Blain (SRU) Live on: SuperSport, S4C, Viaplay, Discovery +,
Premier Sports & URC.tv
Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Rabz Maxwane, Henco
van Wyk, Marius Louw, Edwill van der Merwe, Jordan Hendrikse, Sanele Nohamba, Sti
Sithole, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Ruben Schoeman, Reinhard Nothnagel (CAPT) Emmanuel
Tshituka, Ruhan Straeuli, Francke Horn Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Asenathi
Ntlabakanye, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Sibusiso Sangweni, Andre Warner, Gianni
Lombard, Zander du Plessis
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, David Richards, Steff Hughes, Jack
Dixon, Sio Tomkinson, Sam Davies, Lewis Jones; Aki Seiuli, James Benjamin,
Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Sean Lonsdale, Aaron Wainwright, Ben Fry, Ross
Moriarty (CAPT) Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Josh Reynolds,
Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, Huw Taylor, Che Hope, JJ Hanrahan, Jordan
Williams
Dragons RFC Head Coach Dai Flanagan said: “We’re
excited to be in South Africa. The pitches should suit what we are trying to do
in attack and we’re just looking to express ourselves. There's an opportunity
for certain players with the internationals away early on and I can't stress
how excited we are as a group to see how we perform. They've really expanded
their game. We all know about the power the South Africans have, but they have
some subtleties with two really good outside halves and a scrum half who gives
them energy. It is up to us to match it. We can't get too loose out there.
We've got to contain and control. The altitude will be tough, but it's
something most of us have experienced so it shouldn't be a surprise. We're
excited to get back playing and it’s about staying in the fight. I experienced
it last year with the Scarlets, when we had two different types of games. Against
the Sharks we were in the fight until the end, but against the Bulls they blew
us off the park early on. It's important we stay in that fight and that gives
us the best chance to get a positive result.”
Cell C Sharks v Cardiff Rugby Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 16.10 IRE
& UK / 17.10 ITA / 18.10 SA Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 69th league game) AR 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR 2: Stephan
Geldenhuys (SARU) TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) Live on: SuperSport, S4C, Viaplay, Discovery +,
Premier Sports & URC.tv
Cell C Sharks: Anthony Volmink, Marnus
Potgieter, Francois Venter, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Werner Kok, Boeta
Chamberlain, Cameron Wright, Dian Bleuler, Kerron van Vuuren, Carlu Sadie, Justin
Basson, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter (CAPT), Vincent Tshituka, Sikhumbuzo
Notshe Replacements: Dan Jooste, Khwezi Mona, Khutha
Mchunu, Hyron Andrews, Phepsi Buthelez, Bradley Davids, Lionel Cronje, Ben
Tapuai
Cardiff Rugby: Ben Thomas, Jason Harries, Rey
Lee-Lo, Max Llewellyn, Theo Cabango, Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Carré,
Liam Belcher, Dmitri Arhip, Lopeti Timani, Rory Thornton, Josh Turnbull (CAPT),
Thomas Young, James Botham Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Corey
Domachowski, Will Davies-King, Seb Davies, Gwilym Bradley, James Ratti, Ellis
Bevan, Mason Grady
Cardiff Rugby Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We were
disappointed with our last game out here last season so we have plenty of
motivation to put things right and we’ve shown we are heading in the right
direction and we want to build upon that. It is important now that we keep that momentum and confidence and show
we have learnt and developed from last season. We know what to expect from the
Sharks and they are formidable at home but we are in a good place. We will need
to perform at our best and if we do that then there is no reason why we cannot
make a statement.”
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