The groups for this weekend’s Spherical 4 fixtures of the Vodacom URC have been named with all particulars of match officers and broadcast info under.
TEAM NEWS HEADLINES
#EDIvBEN
Three modifications within the Edinburgh Rugby aspect as double-centurion Grant Gilchrist returns
Manuel Zuliani and Leonardo Marin return for Benetton
#CONvBUL
British & Irish Lions Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen all begin for Connacht
Vodacom Bulls crew sees 11 modifications within the beginning lineup, together with Reinhardt Ludwig being named as captain
#DRAvCAR
Wales Underneath-20 captain Harry Beddall makes his Dragons RFC debut
Taulupe Faletau returns to the beginning XV for Cardiff Rugby
#LIOvSCA
Reinhard Nothnagel returns from harm as he’s named the Lions matchday squad
On-loan second rows Harvey Cuckson and Alex Groves handed debuts for Scarlets
#SHAvULS
Hollywoodbets Sharks Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi be part of fellow Springboks Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch after the pair performed off the bench final week
Michael Lowry returns from harm for Ulster
#LEIvMUN
Tommy O’Brien set to make fiftieth Leinster look
Munster captain Tadhg Beirne returns and can grow to be the thirty sixth participant to line out for the province up to now this season
#ZEBvSTO
Captain Giovanni Licata returns to beginning XV for Zebre Parma
Hencus van Wyk set to make his DHL Stormers debut
#OSPvGLA
Gwilym Evans is in line to make his Ospreys debut off the bench
Seb Stephen and Nathan McBeth set for first appearances of the season for Glasgow Warriors if referred to as upon from bench
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
Edinburgh Rugby v Benetton
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, twelfth league sport)
AR 1: Jonny MacKenzie (SRU) AR 2: Finlay Brown (SRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Dwell on: Premier Sports activities, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.television
Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Piers O’Conor, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, Cammy Scott, Charlie Shiel, Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D’arcy Rae, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson, Magnus Bradbury (CAPT)
Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Jame Whitcombe, Paul Hill, Glen Younger, Freddy Douglas, Ben Vellacott, Ross Thompson, Ross McCann
Benetton: Matt Gallagher, Rhyno Smith, Filippo Drago, Malakai Fekitoa, Ignacio Mendy, Jacob Umaga, Louis Werchon; Mirco Spagnolo, Siua Maile, Giosuè Zilocchi, Giulio Marini, Eli Snyman (CAPT), Alessandro Izekor, John Bryant, So’otala Fa’aso’o
Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Thomas Gallo, Tiziano Pasquali, Riccardo Favretto, Federico Ruzza, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Leonardo Marin
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt: “We’re excited to be again at house after a false begin with the postponed Ulster sport.
“It had already felt like a very long time since we’d been again with our followers, and now much more so – so we are able to’t wait be taking part in in entrance of them once more.
“Benetton can’t be underestimated with the squad they’ve. They’ve bought loads of Italian internationals taking part in for them, they usually’ve bought abroad internationals as properly, so that they’re a extremely good crew.”
Benetton Head Coach Calum MacRae stated: “We all know that Edinburgh can be hungry and decided to ship a robust efficiency in entrance of their house crowd. In these opening matches, they’ve proven to be an especially bodily aspect, so we’ll must be prepared for the battle from the very first minute. Lastly, self-discipline can be a key issue: Edinburgh are very constant once they get into the opposition’s 22, so we’ll want to attenuate errors and keep targeted all through the sport.”
Connacht Rugby v Vodacom Bulls
Dexcom Stadium, Galway – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 93rd league sport)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Jack MacNeice (IRFU)
TMO: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Dwell on: TG4, Premier Sports activities, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.television
Connacht Rugby: Mack Hansen, Chay Mullins, Byron Ralston, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade, Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (CAPT), Sean Jansen
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Sean O’Brien, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Cathal Forde
Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Sebastian de Klerk, Keagan Johannes, Paul de Moist, Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Reinhardt Ludwig (CAPT), Nama Xaba, JJ Theron, Jeandre Rudolph
Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Mpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs
Connacht Rugby Head Coach Stuart Lancaster stated: “The Vodacom Bulls are a formidable aspect, with a robust mix of energy up entrance and tempo within the again discipline. They had been Vodacom URC finalists for a motive final yr, and we’re anticipating a response after their defeat in Ulster final week. With the followers behind us, the three returning Lions and a much-improved efficiency, it ought to make for an awesome sport.”
Vodacom Bulls Head Coach Johan Ackermann stated: “I’m stunned Connacht misplaced to Cardiff after a robust first sport. They’re a high quality crew, like Ulster, with large ball carriers and Stuart Lancaster teaching. With a number of British & Irish Lions returning, they’ll be robust and motivated after a house loss. It’s a tricky problem in tough circumstances, so we should put together totally for a hard-fought match.”
Dragons RFC v Cardiff Rugby
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, seventeenth league sport)
AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU) AR 2: Keith David (WRU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
Dwell on: S4C, Premier Sports activities, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.television
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (C.CAPT), Rio Dyer, Aneurin Owen, Harri Ackerman, Fantastic Inisi, Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams; Wyn Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Robert Hunt, Seb Davies, Ben Carter (C.CAPT), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harry Beddall, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Niall Armstrong, Cai Evans, Huw Anderson
Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Josh Adams, Jacob Beetham, Ben Thomas, Tom Bowen, Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Corey Domchowski, Liam Belcher (CAPT), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, George Nott, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Javan Sebastian, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Taine Basham, Johan Mulder, Ioan Lloyd
Cardiff Rugby Coach Corniel van Zyl stated: “We had been actually happy with the combat and resilience final week in opposition to Connacht, in what was an attritional, hard-fought win.
“There’s little question we are going to want a whole lot of the identical traits on Friday in opposition to the Dragons. It’s a Welsh derby, that are all the time tight affairs and Rodney Parade is a tricky place to go.
“The Dragons rotated their crew a bit final week so they are going to be recent and vastly motivated to take us on Rodney Parade.
“They’ll throw every little thing at us, however we’re excited by the problem. It has been a brief turnaround, however we have now ready properly. Once more, it’s a case of concentrating on ourselves and placing our sport on the pitch.”
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
Lions v Scarlets
Ellis Park, Johannesburg – KO 12.45 IRE & UK / 13.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, thirty first league sport)
AR 1: Griffin Colby (SARU) AR 2: AJ Jacobs (SARU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Dwell on: SuperSport, Premier Sports activities, TG4, Flo Rugby & URC.television
Lions: Quan Horn, Eduan Keyter, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Angelo Davids, Chris Smith, Nico Steyn, SJ Kotze, Franco Marais, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Etienne Oosthuizen, Darrien Landsberg, JC Pretorius, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn (CAPT)
Replacements: Morne Brandon, RF Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Reinhard Nothnagel, Jarod Cairns, Layton Horn, Lubabalo Dobela, Kelly Mpeku
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas, Ellis Mee, Macs Web page, Johnny Williams (CAPT), Blair Murray, Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes, Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Archer Holz, Harvey Cuckson, Alex Groves, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Taine Plumtree
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Sam O’Connor, Henry Thomas, Dan Gemine, Ben Williams, Dane Blacker, Joe Hawkins, Joe Roberts
Lions Assistant Coach Ricardo Loubscher stated: “The vitality throughout the camp is sweet, he commented. We will’t look ahead to Saturday, it’s nice to be again house.”
“We all know that it’s going to be a tricky problem on the weekend. Scarlets current a special strategy defensively, so from an assault standpoint we must be prepared for that, he cautioned.”
“Our coaching this week was targeted primarily on simulating the stress we are able to count on from the opposition by way of protection and assault footage, to ensure that the gamers to get a really feel of what it is going to be like come Saturday.”
Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel stated: “The Lions are all the time a tough proposition at house, you might be taking part in at altitude and it’s a place the place they appear to run groups off their toes, they’re additionally a bodily, athletic crew so we should handle that. Successful right here final season was large for us and a whole lot of the boys right here had been a part of that squad. Now we have to convey the identical physicality and depth once more. Ellis Park is among the nice rugby stadiums, all the time an awesome place to play. Now we have been disillusioned with the outcomes up to now, however we’re solely two video games in, it’s a lengthy season and issues can change shortly in rugby.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Ulster Rugby
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 111th league sport)
AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Ben Connor (WRU)
Dwell on: SuperSport, Premier Sports activities, Flo Rugby & URC.television
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Grant Williams, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Tshituka (CAPT), Phepsi Buthelezi
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Simphiwe Matanzima, Ruan Dreyer, Bathobele Hlekani, Emmanuel Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Lukhanyo Am
Ulster Rugby: Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Sam Crean, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus
Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Reid, Tom O’Toole, Joe Hopes, Sean Reffell, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite
Leinster Rugby v Munster Rugby
Croke Park, Dublin – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, forty fourth league sport)
AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU) AR 2: Jonny Erskine (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Dwell on: TG4, Premier Sports activities, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.television
Leinster Rugby: Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, James Ryan, Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (CAPT)
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley
Munster Rugby: Shane Daly, Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams, Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan, Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell
Zebre Parma v DHL Stormers
Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 109th league sport)
AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Lorenzo Pedezzi (FIR)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Dwell on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports activities, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.television
Zebre Parma: Giovanni Montemauri, Mirko Belloni, Giulio Bertaccini, Damiano Mazza, Simone Gesi, Giacomo Da Re, Thomas Dominguez; Muhamed Hasa, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Ion Neculai, Guido Volpi, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Samuele Locatelli, Giovanni Licata (CAPT)
Replacements: Giovanni Quattrini, Juan Pitinari, Matteo Nocera, Franco Carrera, David Odiase, Migael Prinsloo, Marco Zanon, Lorenzo Pani
DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (CAPT), Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stefan Ungerer, Ali Vermaak, JJ Kotze, Zachary Porthen, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos
Replacements: André-Hugo Venter, Vernon Matongo, Hencus van Wyk, JD Schickerling, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Imad Khan, Wandisile Simelane
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson stated: “It was improbable to get a win in our first sport on tour final week, however there is no such thing as a doubt that there are a number of areas that we are able to enhance on as we tackle a really aggressive Zebre aspect this weekend.
“Having a participant like Warrick again within the combine is a lift for us and the opposite gamers coming in are additionally eager to make an impression so hopefully that may work in our favour,”
Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors
Dunraven Brewery Area, Bridgend – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 56th league sport)
AR 1: Ben Breakspear (WRU) AR 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Dwell on: Premier Sports activities, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.television
Ospreys: Jack Walsh, Dan Kasende, Phil Cokanasiga, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (CAPT), Ben Warren, Rhys Davies, James Fender, James Ratti, Morgan Morse, Ross Moriarty
Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Garyn Phillips, Kian Rent, Huw Sutton, Gwilym Evans, Luke Davies, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins
Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, Jamie Dobie; Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Murphy Walker, Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Angus Fraser, Matt Fagerson
Replacements: Seb Stephen, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Craig, Macenzzie Duncan, Ben Afshar, Dan Lancaster
Ospreys Head Coach Mark Jones stated: “Glasgow had been the champs two years in the past and have made the semi-finals on just a few events. They’re an all-court crew that may threaten on all fronts.
“It’s a top-class outfit that’s properly coached by Franco and his crew, so we’re going to should be at our best possible to get the consequence.”
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith stated: “We had been happy with the consequence final weekend, however know that there’s nonetheless loads for us to construct and enhance upon as we transfer ahead.
“The Ospreys have proven up to now that they will pose issues for any crew, with a squad full of expertise throughout each place on the sphere.
“They confirmed how proudly they defend their house document by shutting out Zebre final weekend, and we all know we might want to increase our degree to satisfy their problem.”
Catch all of the motion reside on URC.television
