Challenge Cup, semifinals - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: Scarlets will be looking to avenge their recent defeat at Glasgow Warriors and so halt their six-match winning sequence.
The two teams meet for the first time in the Challenge Cup at Parc y Scarlets in Saturday’s semifinal.
The Welsh region holds a 4-2 advantage in their head-to-head with Glasgow in the Champions Cup, although the Scottish side won their last two encounters in 2015/16.
However, the Warriors enter the weekend clash in great form, having won four United Rugby Championship games on the spin – including a 12-9 success over Scarlets on April 14 at Scotstoun Stadium – as well as their Round of 16 and quarterfinal Challenge Cup ties.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets have lost their two URC matches since their Challenge Cup knockout successes to slip to 14th – 10 places behind the Warriors.
Key quotes
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel: “We have to try and go and play, and that’s what I will try and encourage the players to do. I am sure it will be a great occasion.”
Glasgow Warriors prop Zander Fagerson: “Playing a Welsh team in Wales is also very different to playing them up north on your own patch. I think it’s going to be a great challenge for us and one we are definitely up for.”
Boom 👊
Sebastian Cancelliere, Sione Tuipulotu and George Turner are all fit to return to the @GlasgowWarriors starting XV, but Huw Jones misses out on a place in the squad
ADVERTISEMENTFull #ChallengeCupRugby squad 👉 https://t.co/xoJjWma0Bu pic.twitter.com/CBXyTyyr7a
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 28, 2023
* In Sunday’s semifinal Benetton will go in search of further history when they visit Toulon.
The Treviso-based outfit is the first Italian team to reach the last four of an EPCR competition and will be looking to pull off a shock by overturning Top 14 heavyweights Toulon at the Stade Félix Mayol.
The hosts have significant EPCR pedigree, having lifted the Champions Cup on three occasions, and they are also regulars in the EPCR Challenge Cup final, reaching the showpiece game for a fourth time last season.
Toulon has yet to lift the trophy, with each of their four finals ending in defeat, but after thrashing Lyon – the team who denied them the title in 2022 – in the quarter-finals, they will be confident of going one better this season.
Prior to this campaign, Benetton had only ever progressed as far as the quarterfinals in the Challenge Cup, but they recorded a stunning victory over Cardiff Rugby earlier this month to make this season one to remember.
Key quotes
Toulon back Jérémy Sinzelle: “We will have to take this Italian team very seriously. They play very good rugby and are very well structured with a nice back line. It’s a team who are growing.”
Benetton scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage: “I feel some nervous energy, which is always a positive thing. We are ready to face the challenge and we are happy and excited for the occasion. We want to make our fans proud of us.”
* All the semifinal teams and predictions follow below …
Packing a punch 🔥
Cheslin Kolbe and Gabin Villiere are BACK in the @RCTOfficiel starting XV 🤩
Full #ChallengeCupRugby Teams 👉 https://t.co/xoJjWma0Bu pic.twitter.com/8KYD9euZ6O
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 28, 2023
Saturday, April 29
Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors
(Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 17.30; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Glasgow by seven points
Teams
Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Josh Macleod (captain), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Morgan Jones, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 20 Iestyn Rees, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Steyn (captain), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Sione Vailanu, 6 Rory Darge, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Jean-Pierre du Preez, 20 Lewis Bean, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 Ali Price, 23 Duncan Weir.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Tual Trainini (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Sunday, April 30
Toulon v Benetton
(Stade Félix Mayol, Toulon – Kick-off: 13.30; 13.30 Italian time; 11.20 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Toulon by 18 points
Teams
Toulon: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Jiuta Naqoli Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Vuidravuwalu, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Gabin Villière, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Charles Ollivon (captain), 6 Cornell du Preez, 5 Brian Alainu’uese, 4 Mathieu Tanguy, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Dany Priso.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Bruce Devaux, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Adrien Warion, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Jérémy Sinzelle.
Benetton: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage (captain), 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Seb Negri Da Oleggio, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Thomas Augustin Gallo, 18 Filippo Alongi, 19 Marco Lazzaroni, 20 Henry Stowers, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Jacob Umaga.
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
Source: @ChallengeCup_
