The teams for this weekends Round 5 fixtures of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship have been
named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.
TEAM NEWS HEADLINES
#OSPvSTO
- Rhys Webb returns as Ospreys captain and Stephen Myler will make his first start of the season
- Last season’s top try-scorer, DHL Stormers Leolin Zas makes his return from injury as he is named in the starting XV
#CONvLEI
- Connacht make five changes to their match-day squad
- Jack Conan back in Leinster’s starting XV after pulling up in the warm up ahead of last weekend’s game in the RDS
#LIOvULS
- Prop Sti
Sithole will make his 50th appearance for the Emirates Lions if
called upon from the bench. While Edwill van der Merwe returns to the starting
XV
- Springbok, Duane Vermeulen, will be
pulling on the number 8 jersey for Ulster
#SHAvGLA
- Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will make his debut
for the Cell C Sharks
- Ollie
Smith returns from off-season injury to start at full-back for Glasgow Warriors
#EDIvBEN
- British & Irish Lion Duhan van der Merwe starts for Edinburgh on his return to the capital club
- Marco Lazzaroni will captain the Benetton side
#CARvDRA
- Josh Adams returns to Cardiff Rugby starting XV
- Will Rowlands returns to captain Dragons RFC as one of eight changes
#SCAvZEB
- Scott Williams returns from injury as he is named in
Scarlets starting XV
- Geronimo Prisciantelli will make his Zebre Parma debut
alongside Alessio Sanavia if called upon from the replacements
#MUNvBUL
- Shane Daly will make his 50th appearance for Munster
- Simphiwe Matanzima, Johan Goosen and Harold Vorster all
return to Vodacom Bulls matchday squad
FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 14
Ospreys v
DHL Stormers
Swansea.com
Stadium, Swansea – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Gianluca
Gnecchi (FIR, 18th league game)
AR 1: Aled
Evans (WRU) AR 2: Carwyn Williams (WRU)
TMO: Matteo
Liperini (FIR)
Live on:
BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery + & URC.tv
Ospreys: Max
Nagy, George North, Owen Watkin, Michael Collins, Keelan Giles, Stephen Myler,
Rhys Webb (CAPT), Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn
Jones, Ethan Roots, Jac Morgan, Morgan Morris
Replacements: Scott
Baldwin, Rhys Henry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Dan Lydiate, Reuben Morgan
Williams, Jack Walsh, Luke Morgan
DHL
Stormers: Clayton Blommetjies, Angelo Davids, Alapati Leuia, Dan du
Plessis, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Paul de Wet, Ali Vermaak, Andre-Hugo Venter,
Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat (CAPT), Marvin Orie, Nama Xaba, Hacjivah
Dayimani, Evan Roos
Replacements: Joseph
Dweba, Steven Kitshoff, Brok Harris, Ernst van Rhyn, Marcel Theunissen, Willie
Engelbrecht, Godlen Masimla, Sacha Mngomezulu
Ospreys
Head Coach Toby Booth said: “I’m on record of wanting to test our
group whether that be the young players or the Internationals, we want to test
what we’re trying to do against the best. Having the influence of the top South
African teams in the competition means everyone must get better. Every week is
an opportunity to mark where you are. We’re excited by the challenge of the
Stormers. We have to defend well against them, and we did that well against
Glasgow. We took our opportunities when they presented themselves and we know this
Friday night will be a different challenge. We’re going against a team who like
to be positive, they try to express themselves, good athletes and big
collisions. It’ll be a big test for us but like all good teams your
performances start and finish with your fundamentals so it’s up to us to decide
how good we can be.”
DHL
Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said: "Leolin was one of the
stand-out players for us last season until he was injured in the semifinal, so
to have him back in the team along with the likes of Clayton, Dan, Paul,
Hacjivah, Nama and Marvin is exciting for us. Then of course to have players of
Joseph and Steven's quality coming off the bench is also something we are
looking forward to. It is a short turnaround this week playing on Friday night
and we also lost a day travelling from Italy, so we are going to have to really
lift ourselves against an Ospreys team which will be full of internationals
having rested some of them last weekend."
Connacht
v Leinster
The
Sportsground, Galway – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Frank
Murphy (IRFU, 66th league game)
AR 1: Peter
Martin (IRFU) AR 2: Oisin Quinn (IRFU)
TMO: Colin
Stanley (IRFU)
Live on:
RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery + & URC.tv
Connacht: Conor
Fitzgerald, John Porch, Byron Ralston, David Hawkshaw, Mack Hansen, Jack Carty
(CAPT), Colm Reilly, Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Niall
Murray, Gavin Thornbury, Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle
Replacements: Grant
Stewart, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Conor Oliver, Caolin
Blade, Tom Daly, Ciaran Booth
Leinster: Jimmy
O'Brien, Liam Turner, Garry Ringrose (CAPT), Charlie Ngatai, Rob Russell, Ross
Byrne, Cormac Foley, Ed Byrne, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, James
Ryan, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan
Replacements: John
McKee, Andrew Porter, Michael Ala'alatoa, Joe McCarthy, Martin
Moloney, Nick McCarthy, Ciarán Frawley, Robbie Henshaw
Connacht Director of
Rugby Andy Friend said: “Last Friday's victory over Munster saw a much improved overall
performance by us that is far more aligned to what we know we’re capable of as
a team. We now have to use that as a springboard for the rest of the season,
and tomorrow is another brilliant opportunity to test ourselves against some of
the best in Europe. The atmosphere at The Sportsground last week was incredible
and I know that our supporters will give us the same again and more tomorrow
night.”
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15
Emirates Lions v Ulster
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 13.00 IRE
& UK / 14.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 28th league game)
AR 1: Jaco Peyper (SARU) AR 2: Griffin Colby (SARU)
TMO: Ben Blain (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Discovery + &
URC.tv
Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee, Edwill van der
Merwe, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw, Quan Horn, Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba, JP
Smith, Jaco Visagie, Ruan Dreyer, Willem Alberts, Reinhard Nothnagel (CAPT), Emmanuel
Tshituka, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn
Replacements: PJ Botha, Sti Sithole, Ruan
Smith, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Sibusiso Sangweni, Morne van den Berg, Jordan
Hendrikse, Zander du Plessis
Ulster: Michael Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, Luke Marshall,
Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle, Billy Burns, John Cooney, Eric O’Sullivan, Rob
Herring, Gareth Milasinovich, Alan O’Connor (CAPT), Sam Carter, Dave McCann,
Marcus Rea, Duane Vermeulen
Replacements: John Andrew, Callum Reid, Tom
O’Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Ethan
McIlroy
Ulster Forwards Coach Roddy Grant said: “It’s so
competitive now in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, home and away. With the South African teams, they
have some really good packs, and the travel is also exciting. This week, just
like every week, we are preparing to play and win.”
Cell C Sharks v Glasgow Warriors
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 26th league game)
AR 1: AJ Jacobs (SARU) AR 2: Cwengile Jadezweni
(SARU)
TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Discovery +
& URC.tv
Cell C Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Marnus
Potgieter, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Volmink, Boeta Chamberlain, Jaden Hendrikse, Ntuthuko
Mchunu, Kerron van Vuuren, Thomas du Toit (CAPT), Eben Etzebeth, Hyron Andrews,
Dylan Richardson, Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Carlu
Sadie, Reniel Hugo, Siya Kolisi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Cameron Wright, Makazole
Mapimpi
Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith, Sebastian
Cancelliere, Sione Tuipulotu (CAPT), Sam Johnson, Josh McKay, Tom Jordan, Ali
Price; Jamie Bhatti, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Sintu Manjezi, Richie
Gray, Scott Cummings, Thomas Gordon, Matt Fagerson
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Oli Kebble,
Murphy Walker, JP du Preez, Ryan Wilson, Gregor Brown, George Horne, Ross
Thompson
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “As last
week’s game proved the South African sides are really physical and we will have
to take our level of physicality to another level away from home tomorrow. Tomorrow
is another challenge and we will need to be ruthless in the contact area and in
attack on away soil. We’re pleased to be able to welcome Ollie Smith and Ross
Thompson back into the side. Both have worked hard to recover from injury and
we’re looking forward seeing both men pull on the jersey for the first time
this season. Everyone is excited for the challenge that tomorrow’s game
brings.”
Edinburgh Rugby v Benetton
The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 17.15 IRE
& UK / 18.15 ITA & SA
Referee: Marius van der Westhuisen (SARU, 10th league game)
AR 1: Jonny Perriam (SRU) AR 2: Ru Campbell (SRU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Live on: Premier Sports, Eurosport, , Discovery +, SuperSport
& URC.tv
Edinburgh Rugby: Emiliano Boffelli, Darcy Graham,
Mark Bennett, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Henry Pyrgos, Pierre
Schoeman, Dave Cherry, WP Nel, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist (CAPT), Nick
Haining, Luke Crosbie, Viliame Mata
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Boan Venter, Luan
de Bruin, Jamie Hodgson, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel, Charlie Savala, Chris
Dean
Benetton: Edoardo Padovani, Mattia Bellini, Tommaso Menoncello,
Marco Zanon, Ratuva Tavuyara, Tomas Albornoz, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Thomas Gallo, Gianmarco
Lucchesi, Nahuel Tetaz, Marco Lazzaroni (CAPT), Carl Wegner, Abraham Steyn, Toa
Halafihi, Henry Time-Stowers
Replacements: Manuel Arroyo, Federico Zani, Tiziano Pasquali, Nicola
Piantella, Alessandro Izekor, Manfredi Albanese, Filippo Drago, Dewi Passarella
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Mike Blair said: “We were obviously disappointed with last weekend’s
result but, after further review, there were a lot many positives to take into
this week’s training and the squad have reacted brilliantly. We’ve had a really
strong week of training and the guys have been switched on and fully focussed,
ready take the field again this Saturday night where’ll face a Benetton side
full of confidence. We’re delighted to name Duhan [van der Merwe] in the starting
line-up and he’ll no doubt get an excellent reception from our supporters
who’ll be excited to see him back in Edinburgh colours. The squad are eager to
get back to winning ways and the crowd at DAM Health Stadium will have a huge
part to play in driving us forward for the full 80 minutes.”
Benetton Head Coach Marco Bortolami said: “Against
Edinburgh will be a very difficult game. They are a team that bases own game on
set pieces, scrum, touch and in these phases it will be a very important clash
to have dominion over the control of the field and game situations. Playing on
the synthetic pitch so we’ll have a very fast game ahead of us and we will have
to be ready. We go there enthusiastic, with the desire to challenge them
because we come from two victories. We need to be confident and enter the field
confidently to get the most.”
Cardiff Rugby v Dragons RFC
Cardiff
Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 36th league game)
AR 1: Adam Jones (WRU) AR 2: Rhys Jones (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery +
& URC.tv
Cardiff Rugby: Rhys Priestland; Jason Harries,
Max Llewellyn, Uilisi Halaholo, Josh Adams; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys
Carré, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, Josh Turnbull (CAPT), Seb Davies, Shane
Lewis-Hughes, Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey
Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, James Botham, Lloyd Williams, Mason
Grady, Aled Summerhill
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Rio Dyer, Sio
Tomkinson, Jack Dixon, Jared Rosser, JJ Hanrahan, Rhodri Williams, Aki Seiuli,
Bradley Roberts, Lloyd Fairbrother, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands (CAPT), Sean
Lonsdale, Taine Basham, Ross Moriarty
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Chris
Coleman, Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie, Gonzalo Bertranou, Steff Hughes,
Jordan Williams
Cardiff Rugby Director of Rugby Dai Young said:
“The
Dragons were one of the most improved teams in the competition last season and
they have taken another stride forward this season. There isn’t much between
the Welsh teams and we can all beat each other on our day. The last few games
against the Dragons have been very close affairs, with pretty much one score in
it, so we will have to be at our best come Saturday. We were pleased with the
result against the Scarlets and the challenge now is to back that up at Cardiff
Arms Park. There was no lack of spirit, no lack of pride and everybody chucked
everything into it. What we need is consistency in that and that’s what we need
week-after-week. It promises to be a great occasion, with a bumper crowd in
attendance and these are the days we all get excited for.”
Dragons RFC Head Coach Dai Flanagan said: “It’s the
local derby and Cardiff so all the players are very excited to be involved and
get stuck in. We were disappointed with certain aspects of our game against
Benetton, and we have been working hard to make sure we are better this week. There
is no better time to do it than in a local derby against Cardiff. Cardiff have
talent throughout their squad, a lot of X-Factor players and a lot of
international players - we know what is coming. We must take away time and
space because if you give them that they have the quality to hurt you. It’s a
game we are all looking forward to being a part of.”
Scarlets v Zebre Parma
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – KO 19.35 IRE & UK /
20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU, league debut)
AR 1: Ian Davies (WRU) AR 2: Tom Spurrier (WRU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Live on: S4C, Discovery +, Premier Sports,
SuperSport & URC.tv
Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny, Johnny McNicholl, Jonathan
Davies (CAPT), Scott Williams, Ryan Conbeer, Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy, Wyn
Jones, Ken Owens, Harri O’Connor, Jac Price, Tom Price, Sam Lousi, Josh
Macleod, Sione Kalamafoni
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Steff Thomas, Javan
Sebastian, Morgan Jones, Shaun Evans, Dane Blacker, Rhys Patchell, Steff Evans.
Zebre Parma: Richard Kriel, Pierre Bruno, Franco
Smith Jr, Tommaso Boni, Lorenzo Pani, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Chris Cook, Luca
Rizzoli, Marco Manfredi, Matteo Nocera, David Sisi (CAPT), Leonard Krumov, Iacopo
Bianchi, MJ Pelser, Davide Ruggeri
Replacements: Jacques Du Toit, Alessio
Sanavia, Muhamed Hasa, Andrea Zambonin, Guido Volpi, Nicolò Casilio, Joey
Caputo, Latu Latunipulu
Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “We can’t hide from the fact we are
disappointed where we are sitting in the table and disappointed that we have
had opportunities in games and haven’t finished them off. We are working hard
on all parts of our game, on and off the field, and are determined to put
things right.”
Zebre Parma Head Coach Fabio Roselli said: "The
match with Scarlets is another important moment for us: we have the opportunity
to take a step forward and learn and win challenges like these, after coming
close to success against Leinster and Sharks. We are very confident in what we
have to do and we are proud to have two debutants in the team this week: they
are Geronimo Prisciantelli and Alessio Sanavia, along with Marco Manfredi who
returns after a long absence. Scarlets are going through a moment of pressure
in terms of results but, like all Welsh teams, they play with great passion in
the physical clashes and in the breakdown. We have to be ready in these
areas".
Munster v Vodacom Bulls
Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 19.35 IRE & UK /
20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Mike Adamson, (SRU, 64th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Dermot Blake (IRFU))
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery
+ & URC.tv
Munster: Patrick Campbell, Calvin Nash, Malakai Fekitoa,
Dan Goggin, Shane Daly, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall
Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne, Peter
O'Mahony (CAPT), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne,
Roman Salanoa, Tom Ahern, Jack O'Donoghue, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, John
Hodnett
Vodacom Bulls: Kurt-lee Arendse, Cornel
Hendricks, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Wandisile Simelane, Johan Goosen, Embrose
Papier, Simphiwe Matanzima, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Mornay Smith, Walt Steenkamp, Run
Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (CAPT), WJ Steenkamp, Elrigh Louw
Replacements: Bismarck Du Plessis, Dylan
Smith, Jacques van Rooyen, Ruan Vermaak, Marco Van Staden, Zak Burger, Chris
Smith, David Kriel
Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White said: “Nothing
untoward (referring to the changes), we would have changed anyway and we will robably
change for the game against the Cell C Sharks too before we go into the break.
These changes help keep good morale and motivation for the entire squad. I am
very proud that these guys are coming through the ranks. 5-10 years ago, we
wouldn’t have this sort of team makeup, where young guys form part of the core
of the team. It is fantastic to see these players graduate and come through the
youth system, and in a couple of years we will have a strong Vodacom Bulls team.
Munster are a good team, playing at home (in Limerick), with their back against
the wall, it is going to be a tough encounter. There is also massive amount of
test match rugby experience for their players that play for Ireland and we
anticipate they will go back to draw from that experience.”