Champions Cup, Round of 16 - Teams and Predictions

FRIDAY SECOND LEGS: Connacht have the onerous task of overturning a five-point deficit at Leinster in the Champions Cup Round of 16 second leg on Friday.

A try brace from James Lowe helped Leinster to 26-21 victory in the first leg at The Sportsground, leaving Connacht with a huge task on their hands at the Aviva Stadium.

Four-time champions Leinster have lost just once in their last 20 home games in the Champions Cup, winning each of their three home fixtures since the beginning of last season by an average margin of 41 points.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made three changes to the side with Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher all restored to the starting XV.

The front row duo will take their place alongside Tadhg Furlong, replacing Cian Healy and Dan Sheehan.

The rest of the pack remains the same with Ross Molony and Josh Murphy in the second row while Caelan Doris, reaching a half-century of appearances for the province, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan complete the forwards.

Gibson-Park, a second-half replacement in the first leg, will partner captain Johnny Sexton in the halfbacks.

The remainder of the backline is also unchanged.

“For our guys it’s getting excited by playing in front of our home support on Friday and trying to put on a big performance in a knock-out game in Europe where we’re starting five points ahead,” said Cullen.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of Caolin Blade is the only change to Connacht’s starting XV.

Kieran Marmion is named among the replacements while there’s two further changes on the bench, with the inclusion of Denis Buckley having returned from injury, and hooker Jonny Murphy. Conor Fitzgerald will make his 50th appearance for the province if called upon.

Commenting on the team announcement, Connacht head coach Andy Friend says: “While our performance last week was good overall, there was a very real sense of disappointment that we didn’t get the win. Having said that, I know this group can bring their performance on another level, which is essential if we’re to reach the last eight.

“We’ve a good record in the Aviva over the last two years or so and it’s a pitch that suits our style of rugby. Coupled with a strong travelling support behind us it’s set to be another great occasion.”

In Friday’s other match, Bristol Bears hold a slender advantage as they host Sale Sharks.

There was little to separate the sides in the first leg at AJ Bell Stadium, with Bristol’s Semi Radradra coming off the bench to score the game’s only try on 69 minutes as the visitors picked up a 10-9 win.

Bristol will be aiming to win a fourth game in a row for the first time in the European Cup when they welcome Sale to Ashton Gate, for what is also the first knockout game they have hosted in the competition.

Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson makes just one change to the XV that started Saturday’s first leg as Tom Roebuck replaces fellow academy graduate Jack Metcalf, who drops down to the bench.

Meanwhile, Alapati Leiua will make his 100th competitive appearance for the Bears on Friday.

The Samoan international, into his fifth season with the club and one of the Foundation Bears, lines up in the back three alongside Luke Morahan and Rich Lane, who makes his European debut.

Lane is one of two changes from the narrow first-leg victory at the AJ Bell, with Jake Kerr replacing Bryan Byrne at hooker.

Joe Joyce continues as captain, as the Bears go in search of a first-ever Champions Cup quarterfinal.

See Friday’s teams and predictions below:

Friday, April 15:

Leinster v Connacht
(Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.30; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Leinster by 10 points.

Teams:

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Caelan Doris, 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Ciarán Frawley.

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 John Porch, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Jack Carty (captain), 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Leva Fifita, 4 Gavin Thornbury, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Matthew Burke.
Replacements: 16 Jonny Murphy, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Abraham Papali’i, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Sammy Arnold, 23 Conor Fitzgerald.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Dan Jones (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)

Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
(Ashton Gate, Bristol – Kick-off: 20.00; 19.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bristol by five points.

Teams:

Bristol: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Sam Jeffries, 6 Chris Vui, 5 Joe Joyce (captain), 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jake Kerr, 1 Jake Woolmore.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 John Afoa, 19 Steven Luatua, 20 Fitz Harding, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Semi Radradra, 23 Charles Piutau.

Sale: 15 Luke James, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Aaron Reed, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Jono Ross (captain), 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Tommy Taylor, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Jack Metcalf.

Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Additional Source: @ChampionsCup