URC R12 Team Sheets

URC R12 Team Sheets

All the team news ahead of the weekend's United Rugby Championship action.

#MUNEDI

  • Munster’s starting XV includes nine Ireland internationals, one of which, Dave Kilcoyne, will make his 200th appearance for the province
  • Edinburgh able to call upon Scotland players Mark Bennett, Blair Kinghorn, Ben Vellacott and Nick Haining

#LEIOSP

  • Ireland international Cian Healy starts for Leinster while Sean Cronin can make his 200th appearance for the province off the bench
  • British & Irish Lion Rhys Webb captains a settled Ospreys team

#SCACON

  • Scott Williams captains Scarlets who recall Johnny Williams after injury while Welsh flanker Aaron Shingler starts in the back row
  • Kieran Marmion makes his 200th appearance for Connacht and starts at scrum-half

#GLABEN


  • Centres Kyle Steyn and Sam Johnson released from Scotland squad to start in Glasgow’s midfield
  • Alessandro Garbisi starts at scrum-half for Benetton

#DRAULS

  • Prop Greg Bateman and wing Rio Dyer are called up for Dragons starting XV
  • Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Brad Roberts and Nick Timoney return from international duties, with Timoney captaining the side for the first time.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Munster Rugby v Edinburgh

Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport & URC TV.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Chris Farrell, Dan Goggin, Simon Zebo; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (capt), Chris Cloete, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Alex Kendellen, John Hodnett, Neil Cronin, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly.

Edinburgh: Henry Immelman; Ramiro Moyano, Mark Bennett (capt), James Lang, Emiliano Boffelli; Blair Kinghorn (vice capt), Ben Vellacott; Boan Venter, Adam McBurney, Lee-Roy Atalifo; Marshall Sykes, Glen Young; Nick Haining, Connor Boyle, Ben Muncaster.

Replacements: Dave Cherry, Sam Grahamslaw, Jake Armstrong, Pierce Phillips, Mesulame Kunavula, Henry Pyrgos, Charlie Savala, Chris Dean.

Edinburgh Head Coach, Mike Blair, said: “It’s great we’re able to welcome back some of our Scotland guys back into the squad. They bring added strength to a group that did some good things against Leinster last time out.

“While it’s great to have experienced internationalists back involved, this period is also brilliant for our younger players. They can show what they can do and see what it takes to win at this level. This is excellent for their development, while at the same time, we are able to put out a team that is capable of winning these games.

“We are expecting a real battle out there. Part of the disappointment of the Leinster game was around our physicality. There is no better place to go than Thomond Park to see if we have learned the lessons from the week before. We can’t wait for the challenge."

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Leinster Rugby v Ospreys

RDS, Dublin – KO 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA

Live on: RTÉ 2, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport & URC TV

Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Jordan Larmour, Jamie Osborne, Harry Byrne, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Cian Healy, James Tracy, Michael Ala'alatoa; Ross Molony, Ryan Baird; Martin Moloney, Scott Penny, Max Deegan.

Replacements: Seán Cronin, Peter Dooley (97), Thomas Clarkson, Jack Dunne, Rhys Ruddock, Nick McCarthy, Rory O'Loughlin, James Lowe.

Ospreys: Dan Evans, Keelan Giles, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan, Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (capt), Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Will Griffiths, Ethan Roots, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Elvis Taione, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Henry, Lloyd Ashley, Dan Lydiate, Reuben Morgan Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Tiaan Thomas Wheeler

Ospreys Head Coach, Toby Booth, said: “Everyone knows that the market leaders or teams at the top of the tree, like Leinster, have a very clear identity about what they do and don’t change anything they do for anyone. You play Leinster and you know what you are going to get. They are going to play fast, with high skill, try and dominate you at the breakdown and get on top of you at the set-piece. They are an all-court team.

“We have to back ourselves and do what we need to do, and if we can do that we will be competitive. If we don’t, then we won’t. We know what the challenge is and it’s no different to every other week, but against Leinster it gets magnified even more.”

Scarlets v Connacht Rugby

Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – KO 19.35  IRE & UK / 20.35  ITA / 21.35 SA

Live on: S4C, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport & URC TV.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Scott Williams (capt), Ryan Conbeer; Dan Jones, Dane Blacker; Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes, Samson Lee, Sam Lousi, Morgan Jones, Aaron Shingler, Shaun Evans, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Marc Jones, Phil Price, Javan Sebastian, Jac Price, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Joe Roberts.

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Peter Sullivan, Sammy Arnold, Tom Daly, John Porch; Jack Carty (capt), Kieran Marmion; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Tietie Tuimauga; Niall Murray, Leva Fifita; Cian Prendergast, Jarrad Butler, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Greg McGrath, Jack Aungier, Eoghan Masterson, Abraham Papali’i, Caolin Blade, Conor Fitzgerald, Tom Farrell.

Connacht Head Coach, Andy Friend, said: “We resumed training at the end of last week after a short break to reset and recharge the batteries. We can already tell the break was beneficial, and everyone is really eager to put the last few results behind us and try get a vital win.

“It’s another historic occasion for one of our players with Kieran Marmion earning his 200th cap. Even on the eve of a milestone like this he’s arguably playing some of the best rugby of his career, which is a testament to him and how he looks after himself. Congratulations to him and everyone who helped him on his journey.”

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton

Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35  ITA / 21.35 SA

Live on: Premier Sports, Mediaset, SuperSport & URC TV

Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith, Walter Fifita, Kyle Steyn, Sam Johnson, Rufus McLean, Domingo Miotti, George Horne; Oli Kebble, Fraser Brown (co-capt), Simon Berghan, Kiran McDonald, Richie Gray, Ryan Wilson (co-capt), Thomas Gordon, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Nathan McBeth, Enrique Pieretto, Lewis Bean, Ally Miller, Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson, Stafford McDowall.

Benetton Rugby: Tommy Bell, Lorenzo Pani, Joaquin Riera, Filippo Drago, Rhyno Smith, Tomas Albornoz, Alessandro Garbisi; Thomas Gallo, Giacomo Nicotera, Nahuel Tetaz; Irnè Herbst (capt), Carl Wegner; Manuel Zuliani, Yaree Fantini, Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Corniel Els, Matteo Drudi, Filippo Alongi, Marco Lazzaroni, Matteo Meggiato, Alessandro Izekor, Luca Petrozzi, Ratuva Tavuyara

Glasgow Wariors Head Coach, Danny Wilson, said: “After a gritty win against Munster last weekend, we’re looking forward to going again tomorrow night. Benetton are a tough side. Their form this season has been good and we know the challenge we will face tomorrow evening. We’re looking forward to playing in front of the Scotstoun crowd for a second week in a row.”

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Dragons v Ulster Rugby

Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 14.00 IRE & UK / 15.00  ITA / 16.00 SA

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport & URC TV

Dragons: Josh Lewis, Jonah Holmes, Adam Warren, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer, Sam Davies, Gonzalo Bertranou; Greg Bateman, Taylor Davies, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw, Harri Keddie (capt), Ollie Griffiths, Dan Baker

Replacements: TBC, Aki Seiuli, Mesake Doge, Huw Taylor, George Young, Rhodri Williams, Ioan Davies, Will Talbot-Davies

Ulster: Rob Lyttle, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ben Moxham, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Sam Carter, David McCann, Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney (capt).

Replacements: Brad Roberts, Eric O’Sullivan, Marty Moore, Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, David Shanahan, Ian Madigan, Stewart Moore.  

Dragons Director of Rugby, Dean Ryan, said: “It’s a huge challenge ahead of us and one we are looking forward to. Playing any of the Irish provinces is hard, and Ulster are probably the one that goes under the radar with the headlines of the others. But I think they are a coming force.

“They are well coached, well structured, and incredibly physical. If you can't compete with that physicality, they'll blow you off the field. What we've got to do is get back is being true to the game that we're trying to play and not get sucked into the type of game that opponents want to play,” he added.

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