URC, Round 15 - Teams and Predictions

FRIDAY PREVIEW: Rudolph Snyman has been included on Munster’s bench for their United Rugby Championship clash against Scarlets in Cork on Friday.

The return of the giant Springbok after a lengthy period on the sidelines has perked local interest and there is a lot of hope for an extended run for the World Cup winner so that he can finally stake a claim for the national side again.

Snyman has played just 54 minutes for the Irish team in the last three seasons and everyone, including possibly the opposition, wants to see him come through the game injury free.

But past that, the Scarlets have had a good run of late, beating the Bulls and a decent run in Europe as well. They will start as underdogs against Munster but if they can cause an upset, there will be a lot of cheering in South Africa for them as well.

Munster have won their last four matches against the Scarlets. They have scored 28 points or more in each of these fixtures.

Munster are on a four-match winning streak in the league, their first such run since the start of last season. The Scarlets have also won their last four matches, each of which have been played in Wales.

Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel believes the game comes at the right time for his side.

“I think it is a good thing for us, to be honest,” said Peel, speaking to the media ahead of Friday’s clash.

“It’s a big test and it is something we need at this present time. We have been on a bit of a run, but there are not many bigger tests than going to Munster. I am looking forward to it as a coach, the players are looking forward to it, we need to see where we are at. Like us, Munster have really hit form and are playing well.

“Over the last couple of weeks, we have been growing and getting better and the boys are in a good space. There are areas we need to work on and we know it is going to be a massive step for us. We need to be able to compete and need to be able to push ourselves against the likes of Munster when you have to travel over there.”

Meanwhile, Munster assistant coach Dennis Leamy believes Snyman’s return is a massive boost for his side.

“He is a remarkable person in that he’s 6ft 10in and he’s lean as lettuce,” Leamy said. “He can run like the wind and he’s got the ball-handling ability of a basketballer. So, he is a remarkable rugby player.

“We don’t see these guys very often but I think he has inspired everyone in the building, just the way he has applied himself. Getting cruciate ligament injuries is so difficult. To get another one straight away after coming back is incredibly difficult.

“You can’t understand how difficult that is and to go about his business day-to-day, get a couple of setbacks within that and still go trucking on, I think that’s really a testament to the person he is.”

Franco gets a boost

Meanwhile, a Glasgow Warriors starting XV showing five changes will take to the field looking to get back to winning ways, as Scottish-Italian Shield rivals Zebre Parma visit Scotstoun on Friday.

In total, head coach Franco Smith can call upon the services of 14 internationals in the matchday 23, as the Warriors look to further their ambitions of retaining their place in the top four and securing a home quarterfinal.

Allan Dell will make his first start in Glasgow colours after making his club debut off the bench in Johannesburg last weekend, joining fellow Scotland prop Simon Berghan in packing down either side of Johnny Matthews in the front row.

JP du Preez comes into the starting line-up to partner Lewis Bean in the second row, the pair having last started together in the away win over the Dragons at the end of January.

Du Preez’s inclusion sees Scott Cummings move to the blindside in an otherwise unchanged back row, meaning Rory Darge – set for his first appearance at Scotstoun since last September – and Sione Vailanu continue as two-thirds of the triumvirate.

Behind the scrum, George Horne returns from international camp to start at scrumhalf, resuming his partnership with Tom Jordan in the week that the latter pledged his future to the Scotstoun side.

Sam Johnson and Stafford McDowall continue their midfield partnership for the fourth successive match, McDowall once again captaining the squad from outside centre.

The only change to the back three sees Ollie Smith return in place of Eli Caven, with Josh McKay moving to the wing in a trio completed by Cole Forbes.

Oli Kebble is in line for his first appearance since December’s reverse fixture with Zebre Parma should he come off the bench, the prop having successfully completed his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury to take his place amongst the replacements. Fraser Brown and Jamie Bhatti join Kebble as the front-row cover, having both been involved in Scotland’s narrow defeat at the hands of France last weekend.

“It was unfortunate that our unbeaten run came to an end in the way that it did, as we know we have performed better this season, but we’re looking forward to getting the wheels in motion again at Scotstoun tomorrow [Friday] night against a difficult opponent,” said Smith.

“The players have responded well in training all week, and have worked hard across all areas. We’re looking forward to running out at home.”

Zebre Parma captain Enrico Lucchin has been released from the Italian camp as well as Andrea Zambonin, Marco Manfredi and Luca Rizzoli for the away trip to Glasgow.

See below for Friday’s teams and predictions!

#ICYMI: The Boks wanted to make things clear 👇#URC #SouthAfrica #Springboks #Munster #RWC2023 https://t.co/tSfq0A431r

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) March 2, 2023

Friday, March 3:

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT; 20.35 Italy time)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Glasgow by 22 points.

Teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Josh McKay, 13 Stafford McDowall (captain), 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Cole Forbes, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Scott Cummings, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Lewis Bean, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Allan Dell.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Thomas Gordon, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir.

Zebre Parma: 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Tommaso Boni, 12 Enrico Lucchin (captain), 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Tiff Eden, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Davide Ruggeri, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Luca Andreani, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Leonard Krumov, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 1 Paolo Buonfiglio.
Replacements: 16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Jan Uys, 20 Giovanni Licata, 21 Ratko Jelic, 22 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 23 Damiano Mazza.

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jonny Perriam (Scotland), Sam O’Neil (Scotland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

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

Prediction

@rugby365com: Munster by nine points.

Teams:

Munster: 15 Patrick Campbell, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Roman Salanoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Josh Wycherley.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Keynan Knox, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Jack O’Sullivan.

Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Ioan Nicholas, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Josh Macleod (captain), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Shaun Evans, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Taylor Davies, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Morgan Jones, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Johnny Williams.

Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)