URC Round Four - teams and predictions

SATURDAY PREVIEW: Victory over Leinster in Dublin never comes easy, even more so if you attempt such a feat at the RDS.

Leinster losses at the show jumping arena usually elicit banner headlines.

A proud run of 21 consecutive victories at the RDS, starting in March 2013, was brought to an abrupt end by Newport (now the Dragons) in February 2015.

In January 2021 Leinster also saw their 26-match winning streak ended by Irish rivals Connacht at the RDS.

Leinster has beaten a string of the game’s best at the RDS – Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Wasps, Clermont Auvergne, Saracens, and Exeter.

Then there was the Bulls’ famous win in the United Rugby Championship semifinal in June this year.

Now the Sharks look to add their name to the very short list of visiting victors at this multi-purpose sports stadium, located in the Dublin suburb of Ballsbridge.

Sharks coach Sean Everitt said a win over Leinster on Saturday will be “massive” for his team- a side looking to got much further than last season’s quarterfinal exit.

“This group is going to take part in this competition without our Springboks for a number of games,” he told @rugby365com.

“This is a big challenge for them to see where we are at as a group.:

Having beaten Zebre and the Dragons, albeit both narrowly, they need to take a massive step up against a team that is the benchmark in Europe.

Everitt said are under no illusion as to the enormity of the challenge, but Leinster can be beaten in Dublin.

“We had a win against Leinster, at home in Durban [last season],” the Sharks coach said.

In the first two rounds, their attack was impressive against Zebre and against the Dragons it was their defence that save their bacon.

Against Leinster, all aspects of their game will need to function properly to get the desired result.

He said Leinster’s all-round game is a big threat.

“They have a good kicking game and force you to play in the wrong areas of the field,” Everitt said, adding: “With the internationals in the team their attack is really dangerous.

“They enjoy keeping the ball in hand.

“For us it is about wearing them down, getting in behind them and then staying on top of them.

“Any team under pressure can falter. [However,] it is a difficult team to play against.

“They have not been a Top team in Europe for the last five years for nothing.”

Leinster has made a perfect start to the new season winning all three matches so far, and their only home defeat in any competition since last November was by a solitary point against the Bulls in last season’s semifinal in June.

Leinster have lost their last three fixtures against South African opponents, since beating the Emirates Lions 21-13 at the RDS Arena in February.

The Sharks have faced the Irish provinces on four occasions last season, winning their two home games (against Leinster and Connacht), but losing the two away games at Munster and Ulster.

(Article continues below video …)

* A substantial share of the spotlight this weekend will also focus on Parma, where the winless Zebre – on a six-match losing streak – host the Stormers.

Having been unable to push Munster last week in the same way that they threatened Leinster and the Sharks in the opening two rounds, the defending champion Stormers are expected to ease to a win.

Stormers coach John Dobson described his side as a team “full of potential”.

Springbok lock Salmaan Moerat will lead the side, while Samoan powerhouse Alapati Leiua adds to the excitement in the midfield.

However, Dobson is cautious to embrace the ‘favourites’ tag.

“We know it will be tough against a competitive Zebre side away from home,” he said of an Italian outfit that already has four bonus points (as good as a win), despite having nothing in the ‘W’ column.

“South African teams haven’t done particularly well here,” he said of visiting Parma – the university city in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, famed for Parmesan cheese and Parma ham.

He said, despite the lack of time zone changes, travelling remains a challenge.

“The Italians are known to be a fiery bunch at home,” Dobson said, adding that it is a “significant factor.

“For them to get four points from games against Leinster and the Sharks showed there is something there in terms of the way they fight here [in Parma].”

Moerat said the Italian team’s pack of forwards is also a threat to the Stormers.

Zebre coach Fabio Roselli described the Stormers as a physical and fast team with a style of play that could actually favour Zebre’s philosophy.

“We come from a game with Munster in which we were in emergency for most of the time due to three injuries in the centres,” Roselli said.

“Nevertheless, this Saturday we line up a solid and balanced team that wants to express our style in an exciting way.

“Once again, the first half of the game will be decisive.

“We need to do better in terms of play, discipline and realised chances.”

* Glasgow is another venue where the focus will be on one of last season’s finalists – the Warriors hosting the unbeaten Bulls.

The most significant aspect of the Bulls team for this outing is Chris Smith starting ahead of Springbok Johan Goosen at flyhalf, with Bok veteran Morné Steyn on the bench.

White made it clear he is not willing the risk Goosen on Scotstoun’s 4G synthetic pitch, a surface on which he aggravated a knee injury before.

“From a player welfare point of view and the fact that he has come back from a horrific injury, after being sidelined for 11 months, I just don’t feel we should risk him on a 4G pitch,” White said.

Looking at the game against a team coached by former Springbok Franco Smith, White said he was happy with how the guys trained this week, in tricky weather conditions.

“We are in a good space as a team and have the wonderful opportunity to go out there against Glasgow and do what we need to do.

“We will look to build on the momentum we already have from this campaign.

“It is still early days in this new campaign but if we continue to do the basics right week in and week out, everything else will also fall into place.”

White pointed to the fact that Glasgow lost only once at home last year, also beating Cardiff 52-24 in their only home game this season.

“It is not only what Franco [Smith] brings – and he has a lot of experience – but they enjoy their home ground.

“They also have some of their injured players back this week.

“Their forward pack will be strengthened.

“Also, after playing poorly last week [a 17-32 loss to Ospreys in Swansea] they will look to rebound at home against us.”

The Warriors coach, Smith, admitted they face a “formidable” challenge in the unbeaten Bulls.

“We will need to take our chances and be more clinical against what will be a big South African side,” Smith said.

“The Bulls are another opportunity to take a step forward in our journey and everyone at the club is looking forward to welcoming them to Scotstoun.”

All the Saturday and Sunday teams and predictions are below …

Zebre v Stormers
(Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 SA Time; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Stormers by 16 points

Teams

Zebre: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Latu Latunipulu, 13 Tommaso Boni, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Tiff Eden, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Taina Fox-Matamua, 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 David Sisi (captain), 3 Ion Neculai, 2 Jacques Du Toit, 1 Juan Pitinar.
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Gabriele Venditti, 20 Luca Andreani, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Joey Caputo, 23 Lorenzo Pani.

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Alapati Leiua, 12 Sacha Mngomezulu, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Adre Smith, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Allister Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Dan du Plessis.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Dario Merli (Italy) & Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Leinster v Sharks
(RDS Arena, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.05: 18.05 SA time; 16.05 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Leinster by nine points

Teams

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Rob Russell, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Will Connors, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Cian Healey, 18 Vakhtang Abdaladze, 19 James Ryan, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Cormac Foley, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose.

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Thomas du Toit (captain), 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Phendulani Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Marnus Potgieter.

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) & Keane Davison (Ireland)
TMO: Jon Mason (wales)

Scarlets v Cardiff
(Parc Y Scarlets, Scarlets – Kick-off: 17.15; 16.15 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Scarlets by nine points

Teams

Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Corey Baldwin, 12 Jonathan Davies (captain), 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Blade Thomson, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Tom Price, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Steff Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Shaun Evans, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Steff Evans.

Cardiff: 15 Rhys Priestland, 14 Jason Harries, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Uilisi Halaholo, 11 Theo Cabango, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Josh Turnbull (captain), 5 Seb Davies, 4 Lopeti Timani, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Rhys Carré.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Will Davies-King, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Mason Grady, 23 Max Llewellyn.

Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Elgan Williams (Wales) & Mark Butcher (Wales)
TMO: Ian Davies (Wales)

Glasgow Warriors v Bulls
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 19.35; 20.35 SA Time; 18.35 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bulls by seven points

Teams

Glasgow: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu (C), 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Cole Forbes, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Thomas Gordon, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Jean-Pierre du Preez, 20 Sintu Manjezi, 21 Ryan Wilson, 22 Ali Price, 23 Domingo Miotti.

Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stedman Gans, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Izak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Marco Van Staden, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck Du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Reinhardt Ludwig, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Sutherland (Scotland) & Ru Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)

Ulster v Ospreys
(Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Ulster by 18 points

Teams

Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Rob Lyttle, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 John Cooney, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Nick Timoney, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Alan O’Connor (captain), 3 Marty Moore, 2 John Andrew, 1 Eric O’Sullivan.
Replacements: 16 Declan Moore, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Frank Bradshaw-Ryan, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Aaron Sexton.

Ospreys: 15 Max Nagy, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Michael Collins, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Reuben Morgan Williams, 8 Dan Lydiate (captain), 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Will Griffiths, 5 Huw Sutton, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Jack Regan, 20 Morgan Morris, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Jack Walsh, 23 Joe Hawkins.

Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Paul Haycock (Ireland) & Andrew Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Benetton v Dragons
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 15.45; 14.45 Ireland & UK time; 13.45 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Benetton by 12 points

Teams

Benetton: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Marcus Watson, 13 Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage (captain), 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Manuel Zuliani, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Scott Scrafton, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Ivan Nemer.
Replacements: 16 Manuel Arroyo, 17 Thomas Gallo , 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Toa Halafihi, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Marco Zanon, 23 Mattia Bellini.

Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Max Clark, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Lewis Jones, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Ben Fry, 6 Sean Lonsdale, 5 Ben Carter (captain), 4 Joe Davies, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Roberts, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Ross Moriarty, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Steff Hughes.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy) & Simone Boaretto (Italy)
TMO: Colin Stanley (Scotland)

@king365ed
@rugby365com

* Additional reporting by @URCOfficial