URC Round 14 - teams and predictions

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Ospreys are determined to end a winless run for European-based teams in South Africa, as the United Rugby Championship play-off race starts to heat up.

The last fortnight has seen the Sharks, Stormers and Bulls move into the top eight – the play-off zone – and improve their prospects of places in the European Cup next season.

The Scarlets, Munster, Cardiff and Zebre all returned empty-handed from the Republic after a two-week trip.

The next two weeks will see Ospreys, Ulster, Edinburgh and the Dragons attempt to break the tour drought in South Africa.

Ospreys coach Toby Booth did not mince his words, when asked about the enormity of the challenge.

He said while the high temperature has been a challenge for some, the change of environment and the privilege of travelling is not something to scoff at.

However, it is the opposition that is their biggest challenge.

“Not one Northern Hemisphere side has won in South Africa in the URC, so that gives you the magnitude of the competition on this side of the world,” Booth said.

“They will have a lot of returning South African players into their teams and they are no doubt getting ready to peak for their Test series against Wales in July.

“We know this is a really tough challenge for us, but it is one we are looking forward to.

“It’s not very often you can get a first and if we could become the first team to win here in the URC that would be great.”

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He said the Lions always get off to a fast start and pile the pressure on that way.

“We need to make sure we are ready for that [early] onslaught,” the Ospreys mentor said.

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen admitted that injury concerns mean they will only finalise their starting XV just before kick-off. – with burly prop Carlu Sadie struggling with back spasms.

He described Ospreys as a “big, physical team” that pride itself on being confrontational.

“Similar to Munster, it will be a physical challenge to us,” he said of last week’s 23-21 win over the Irish province.

“If you don’t stop their momentum and you are not effective and accurate enough in your attacking breakdown, they could get ascendancy.

“The moment they feel they have that, they have the ability to punish you.”

He added that the breakdown will certainly be the key for the Lions.

Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys said the two-game winning streak doesn’t really mean their season is back on track.

“What we are trying to do at the moment is to stay positive and maintain our processes,” Redelinghuys said.

“Key for us is continuing the hard work and pay special attention to our preparations, ensuring we put ourselves in positions to put up good performances come game day.

“We need to look at the things we are doing well in and keep getting better at them.

“Coming from behind to beat Munster instilled a sense of belief within the camp and the whole vibe within the camp has been fantastic.”

* Meanwhile Munster will be seeking a return to winning ways when they take on Benetton at Musgrave Park in Cork.

The Irish province has dropped to fourth place, following back-to-back defeats in South Africa.

Munster will seek home comforts as they bid to avoid falling to three successive defeats in the URC for the first time since 2015.

Losses to the Bulls and the Lions have left Munster eight points behind leaders Leinster, but they have won their last nine home games in all competitions.

Benetton is without a win in their last four URC matches since beating Zebre in Parma on Christmas Eve.

They last beat Munster in Treviso in September 2013 and their sole success over an Irish opponent since April 2018 came against Connacht during last season’s Rainbow Cup triumph.

“We were obviously disappointed with the two losses [in South Africa], but as a group, we probably gained a lot,” flank John Hodnett said.

“I haven’t played against them [Benetton] myself before, but looking at their team and previewing them, they are a strong side and we are under no illusions it will be a very tough game.

“We prepared well and trained well and are really looking forward to it. It will be a tough game.”

* Below are all the Friday teams and predictions!

Friday, March 25

Lions v Ospreys
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: (19.00; 17.00 Ireland & UK time; 17.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Lions by five points

Teams

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Francke Horn, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie/Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Jean-Pierre Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer/Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel/EW Viljoen.

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Keelan Giles, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Rhys Webb (captain), 8 Ethan Roots, 7 Morgan Morris, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Will Griffiths, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Tiaan Thomas Wheeler, 23 Cai Evans.

Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (South Africa), Stephen Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Munster v Benetton
(Musgrave Park, Cork – Kick-off: 19.35; 20.35 Italy; 19.35 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Munster by 20 points

Teams

Munster: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Shane Daly, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Josh Wycherley.
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Keynan Knox, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Jack O’Sullivan, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Chris Farrell.

Benetton: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ratuva Tavuyara, 13 Joaquin Riera, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Rhyno Smith, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage (captain), 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Nahuel Tetaz, 2 Tomas Baravalle, 1 Ivan Nemer.
Replacements: 16 Matteo Drudi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Matteo Meggiato, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti.

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland)
TMO: Eric Gauzin (France)

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* Additional reporting by @URCOfficial