URC, Round Four - teams and predictions

FRIDAY PREVIEW: There is a changing of the guard in the Welsh game, which adds an element of uncertainty to their United Rugby Championship teams.

It is something the Bulls are well aware of ahead of the opening match of Round Four – when they face Cardiff on Friday.

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White also spoke about the ‘coaching change’ – with Matt Sherratt having replaced Dai Young, who left his role as Cardiff’s Director of Rugby, in the wake of his suspension due to bullying allegations, which he categorically denied.

A barrister ruled that there was “insufficient evidence to support the allegations”.

However, Cardiff and Young decided to part ways in July, as the relationship was strained due to the whole process.

White added that Sherratt will know the players, with the 47-year-old having enjoyed two influential stints as backs and attack coach at Cardiff and has now stepped up to take charge of all first-team matters.

Sherratt was a key figure at the Welsh outfit between 2016 and 2018 and helped deliver success in the European Challenge Cup. Following stints at Ospreys and Worcester Warriors, he returned to the Welsh capital in 2021.

“One thing we do know is that we will face them on a 4G pitch,” the Bulls boss said, adding: “Last time we were here [in Cardiff] they caught us with the tempo of the game.

“I am sure they will want to play the same way.”

Cardiff stunned the Bulls in their Round Three encounter back in October 2020, racing into a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Bulls eventually rallied to secure a 29-19 win, but White wants his team to avoid playing ‘catch-up’ again.

However, it is the departure of a host of senior players that makes the trip to Arms Park such a tricky challenge.

Dan Biggar, who moved to France last year, has been joined at an ever-growing Welsh exit queue by the likes of Alun Wyn Jones (also at Toulon), Leigh Halfpenny (Crusaders), Gareth Anscombe (Sungoliath), Rhys Webb (Biarritz), Rhys Priestland (released), Liam Williams (Spears), Bradley Davies (retired), Scott Baldwin (retired) and Josh Navidi (retired).

“With that comes a lot of excitement with the young guys coming in,” White said, adding that there is an element of ‘surprise’ with the new recruits.

“I don’t think they will go too far away from what has been the DNA of the Welsh game.”

Despite Arms Park having a 4G pitch, the Bulls boss said ‘conditions’ will still have an impact – with the wind a major factor.

White felt being able to use the wind when you get fatigued in the second half is a major advantage.

“When we get to the game we will see which way the wind is blowing, if there is any rain and then make a decision,” he told @rugby365com.

The Cardiff coach, Sherratt, said the return of some of their World Cup stars bring a lot of ‘quality and experience’, which provides a significant boost for what will be a big test.

“The Bulls are a quality outfit with an obvious power game, but they also have threats all over the pitch, which we will need to negate,” Sherratt added.

“However, we are looking forward to the challenge and a return to Friday action at Arms Park.”

(Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White previews his team’s URC Round Four encounter with Cardiff…)

* Meanwhile, the Sharks will be looking for their first win of the season when they take on Zebre in Parma on Friday.

They languish at the bottom of the log and are yet to open their account this season.

Coach John Plumtree knows it won’t be easy in Italy.

Although Zebre is also still searching for that elusive first victory of the season, they have secured a try-scoring bonus point in their last four matches.

The Italian outfit’s 15 tries are also the second most so far this season, only behind the Bulls’ 20.

The Sharks will go into the clash with some confidence, having won all four their previous matches against Italian opponents – including a 42-37 victory in their only previous visit to Parma – in September 2022.

Sharks coach John Plumtree admitted the Irish leg of their Euro trip – which saw them lose 21-34 to Munster and 13-34 to Leinster – was a tough assignment.

However, it was the performance against Ospreys last week, a 5-19 loss in a historic first-ever URC match at Twickenham Stoop, that was most disappointing in a winless start to the season.

“It makes this a must-win game for us,” he said.

“It is only Round Four, but we would like to get some points and get on that table.”

Zebre coach Fabio Roselli said the encounter with the Sharks will be another important test for their physicality.

“Our captain returns, along with some important players, who will add experience to the team,” Roselli said.

“We also expect more consistency in the defensive phase.

“The return of Tiff Eden allows us to try a set-up already experimented with several times last season, with Geronimo Prisciantelli at fullback.

“We are happy to have Morisi available, with the possibility of seeing him make his debut with Zebre.”

* Meanwhile, Ulster hopes to bounce back to winnings ways, after the province’s first loss of the campaign in Round Three against Connacht, Munster at Ravenhill Stadium in Friday’s third match.

The much-changed team put in a physical performance in Galway, but were edged out by the home side who won by 22-20.

Ulster sits seventh on the URC table, with 10 points from the opening three matches, which has seen two bonus-point wins against Zebre and the Bulls, before the side’s first defeat against Connacht.

Munster sits in second place, on 12 points, after two bonus-point wins against the Sharks and Dragons, as well as an away 13-all draw against Benetton.

As with every interprovincial derby, there is a lot of history to add to the build-up around the fixture.

All the Friday (November 10) teams and predictions follow below ...

Zebre v Sharks
(Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 18.30; 19.30 SAST; 17.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Sharks by nine points

Teams

Zebre: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Tiff Eden, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Giovanni Licata (captain), 7 Lacopo Bianchi, 6 Luca Andreani, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 David Sisi, 3 Juan Pitinari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Davide Ruggeri, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Taina Fox-Matamua.

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 George Cronje, 7 Phendulani Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Marnus Potgieter.

Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Riccardo Angelucci (Italy) and Filippo Bertili (Italy)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)

Cardiff v Bulls
(Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off 19.35; 21.35 SAST; 19.35 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bulls by five points

Teams

Cardiff: 15 Jacob Beetham, 14 Harri Millard, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Mason Grady, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Lopeti Timani, 7 Ellis Jenkins (captain), 6 Alex Mann, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Teddy Williams, 3 Rhys Litterick, 2 Efan Daniel, 1 Corey Domachowski.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Rhys Carré, 18 Will Davies-King, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Arwell Robson, 23 Cameron Winnett.

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Nizaam Carr (captain), 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Reinhardt Ludwig, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Johan Goosen, 24 Cameron Hanekom.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Tom Spurrier (Wales) and Steff Edwards (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

Ulster v Munster
(Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off 19.35; 19.35 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Munster by four points

Teams

Ulster: 15 Ethan McIlroy, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Stewart Moore, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Marcus Rea, 6 David McCann, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Cormac Izuchukwu, 3 Greg McGrath, 2 Tom Stewart (captain), 1 Eric O’Sullivan.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 John Cooney, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Jude Postlethwaite.

Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Seán O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Alex Kendellen, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Edwin Edogbo, 3 John Ryan, 2 Diarmuid Barron (captain), 1 Jeremy Loughman.
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Ben O’Connor

Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) and Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Brian McNeice (Ireland)

@king365ed
@rugby365com