Team News: Friday URC Clashes

TEAM NEWS HEADLINES

#GLAvCAR

• Duncan Munn in line to make his Glasgow Warriors debut if called upon from the replacements
• Cardiff Rugby have been boosted by the return of four Wales internationals to the match day squad

#OSPvMUN

• Owen Watkin is named in Ospreys match day squad following his Guinness Six Nations campaign with Wales
• Mike Haley makes his 100th appearance and 100th start for Munster

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Rugby

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

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 82nd league game)

AR 1: Mike Adamson (SRU) AR 2: Sam O’Neil (SRU)

TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)

Live on: Viaplay, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Sebastian Cancelliere, Stafford McDowall, Tom Jordan, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Duncan Weir, Jamie Dobie, Nathan McBeth, Johnny Matthews, Lucio Sordoni, Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Allan Dell, Oli Kebble, Sintu Manjezi, Ally Miller, Henco Venter, George Horne, Duncan Munn

Cardiff Rugby: Jacob Beetham, Mason Grady, Max Clark, Ben Thomas, Aled Summerhill, Timus de Beer, Ellis Bevan: Rhys Carré, Liam Belcher (CAPT), Will Davies-King, Shame Lewis-Hughes, Teddy Williams, Ben Donnell, Thomas Young, Mackenzie Martin

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Rhys Barratt, Ciaran Parker, Seb Davies, Ellis Jenkins, Matthew Aubrey, Willis Halaholo, Owen Lane

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “Everyone is looking forward to being back at home tomorrow night. We know that we will need to be at our best tomorrow night - Cardiff will pose a strong challenge, with a powerful pack of forwards and some high-quality backs that will test us around the park. It is also an exciting opportunity for Duncan Munn to represent this club for the first time in a competitive match - he is a local boy proud to pull on the Glasgow shirt, and he has earned his place in the matchday squad.”

Cardiff Rugby Head Coach Matt Sherratt said: “It’s great to get a few of the Wales boys back and they have had a really positive impact in training this week. The intensity and quality of the sessions have been great and we are looking forward to a big challenge this weekend against Glasgow. They are one of the form teams in the competition. Franco Smith has done a good job there and you can see his traits in the team. They attack the short sides, they are good on the counter-attack, have some innovative strike plays and all of that is combined with one of the best defences in the BKT URC. So like I’ve said, it is a big challenge and it is crucial that we show the same kind of character and fight that we have shown at home. We have a period of games on the road now and it is a good opportunity to test ourselves with a number of players continuing to return to availability.”

Ospreys v Munster

Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 12th league game)

AR 1: Rhys Jones (WRU) AR 2: Carwyn Williams (WRU)

TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Live on: BBC Wales, TG4, Viaplay, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins, Alex Cuthbert, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Rhys Davies, Jeandre Rudolph, Justin Tipuric (CAPT), Morgan Morris

Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Garyn Phillips, Rhys Henry, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Cameron Jones, Jack Walsh, Owen Watkin

Munster: Mike Haley, Seán O'Brien, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey, Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, RG Snyman, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen (CAPT), Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Jack O'Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy

Ospreys Head Coach Toby Booth said: “Our home form has been good this season, continuing that is important in order for us to establish ourselves as competitors (for the top eight). Munster, as always, will provide a tough opposition so it’s important we start well and impose ourselves on the game as soon as we can.”