URC, Round 13 - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY PREVIEW: It is Round 13 of the United Rugby Championship and incredibly 15 of the 16 teams are still in the race to qualify for the quarterfinals.
With the Six Nations playing out between the end of January and last weekend, the South African URC teams had time to catch up on their postponed matches – squeezing in derbies.
From this week, all 16 teams are back in action in what promises to be a blockbuster round.
Three SA teams will be in action on Saturday with SA Shield winners, the Sharks (who are currently in fourth place on the standings), hosting the 15th-placed Zebre Parma in Durban.
The Bulls (third) will welcome log-leaders Leinster to Pretoria, and the 10th-placed Scarlets will take on the 12th-placed Stormers in Llanelli.
The Sharks’ outing against Zebre at home in Durban is the easiest outing for all the South African sides this weekend.
The Italians are ranked 15th but are coming off a three-game winning streak – something Sharks coach John Plumtree has taken notice of, as indicated by his team selection.
He is not underestimating this team brimming with Italian internationals.
“Zebre is dangerous and we have not forgotten what happened in Parma. That hurt. We have prepared accordingly but have a lot of respect for them,” Plumtree said.
“Zebre has 25 points, having won five games against quality opposition. They have also lost a few games narrowly to good opposition.
“Italian rugby is on the up. We saw that in the Six Nations where they won a couple of games and gave Ireland a good run. The Italian teams are doing well in the URC (Benetton have also won five games and both teams are in the running for the top eight).”
Zebre have won their last three games – beating the Dragons, Edinburgh, and Ulster – while earlier this season they shocked Munster, which resulted in their coach Graham Rowntree being sacked.
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Plumtree has brought out the big guns for this one, bar one or two injured players. Siya Kolisi will lead them, Vincent Tshituka returns from injury and brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse will take on the role of halfback partnership.
There is also a welcome return for Makazole Mapimpi, which means Ethan Hooker and Jurenzo Julius will partner up in the midfield which is an exciting prospect to watch.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has picked eight Springboks in the starting line-up for their vital clash at Parc y Scarlets with the most notable being SA Rugby’s 2024 Young Player of the Year, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Assistant coach Dawie Snyman, together with captain Salmaan Moerat, spoke to reporters from Swansea on Friday afternoon with Snyman commenting on the return of Feinburgh-Mngomezulu.
“He’s been training well, taking a strong leadership role within the team and it’s great to have him back.
“He’s a special player but it’s not just about him. If a guy like Sacha plays there’s more attention on him from the opposition so that creates space for those around him.
“Sacha goes 100 miles an hour and I don’t think there must be any doubt in his mind about how he needs to play. He can’t go into a game looking to look after yourself – he has to play his natural game,” Snyman explained.
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The Bulls’ Director of Rugby, Jake White, made 11 changes to the team that beat the Stormers at Loftus three weeks ago.
It all comes down to rotation and giving everyone in the group a run in this very long season.
“As I’ve said before, we’re not going to keep the same group of players [for every match], it’s been a long season and I said in week one that we’re going to keep rotating the team.
“There’s been a balance between giving guys opportunities and keeping some continuity. You obviously can’t make 15 changes,” White explained.
The biggest change comes at flyhalf where Keagan Johannes gets a shot after veteran Springbok Willie le Roux had a go in their last few outings.
This might come as a surprise to many, but a month ago against the Lions at Loftus, Johannes came on and didn’t put a foot wrong.
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“We beat Benetton who have been a big team to beat if you look at their results and who they’ve beaten. Most of those players have played well at international level.
“And he was in the starting line-up against Benetton away from home and we ended up winning that game against a complete international team. So I am fully confident that he is ready. He has trained well, he’s got confidence.
“And that was the reason for moving Willie back to fullback. It was just to give him a little bit more calmness, guidance, and understanding from the back.
“Willie can go through scenarios with him on the field under pressure situations and hopefully help him to play as well as he can.”
Leinster’s assistant coach Jacques Nienaber likened this game to a Test match when he spoke to reporters earlier in the week.
“There’s threats across the board. How many internationals are in that group? Not even counting the guys who are injured, if you look at the squad that Jake White has built, it’s a full-on international squad.
“We expect proper Test match intensity. It’s exciting to come to Loftus and play a team that has got multiple threats and internationals across the board. As a professional sportsperson, you want to test yourself against the best and that’s what we will do on Saturday.
“We know that we will have to be mentally and physically at our best on Saturday to get an opportunity and then we have to take those opportunities.
*There are six places between Edinburgh and Benetton, but just two points, showing how congested the table is, with 15 teams still vying for play-off spots.
They have both won five of their 12 league matches this season, with Edinburgh having responded to a shock home defeat to Zebre by beating Munster on the road in the last round.
* After four months out of action, Welsh international Adam Beard makes a very welcome return for the Ospreys as they continue their push for the play-offs.
The 58-cap second row has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury against Australia in November, but now he’s back on board, much to the delight of management and teammates alike.
Coach Duncan Jones said: “Adam was lucky enough to learn from someone like Alun Wyn and he carries on that tradition of what we value here.
“It’s not only his playing performance but the way he helps drive the group. His presence is good and it has been great just to bring back that energy and that other voice.
“He certainly brings that level of experience and knowledge to the great playing group.”
See below for Saturday’s teams and predictions!
United Rugby Championship
Saturday, March 22:
Sharks v Zebre
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 14.45; 13.45 CET; 12.45 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction:
@rugby365: Sharks by 15 points
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corné Rahl, 20 James Venter, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Francois Venter, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.
Zebre:15 Geronimo Prisciantelli (captain), 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Filippo Drago, 11 Gesi Alessandro, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Davide Ruggeri, 7 Luca Andreani, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Matteo Canali, 4 Francesco Ruffolo, 3 Juan Pitinari, 2 Tommaso di Barolomeo, 1 Luca Rizzoli.
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Muhamed Hasa, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Leonard Krumov, 20 Bautista Stavile, 21 Jacopo Bianchi, 22 Thomas Dominguez, 23 Enrico Lucchin.
Referee: Sam Grove-White
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison, Hanru van Rooyen
TMO: Mike Adamson
Benetton v Edinburgh
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction:
@rugby365: Benetton by six points
Teams:
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman (captain), 4 Scott Scrafton, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Michele Lamaro, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Tomas Albornoz.
Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Matt Currie, 13 James Lang, 12 Mosese Tuipoluto, 11 Ross McCann, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ben Vellacott (captain), 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Ben Muncaster, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Glen Young, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Ali Price, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Jack Brown
Referee: Craig Evans
Assistant Referees: Gianluca Gnecchi, Alex Frasson
TMO: Keith David
Scarlets v Stormers
(Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 15.00; 17.00 SAST; 15.00 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 4 Meetings
Prediction:
@rugby365: Stormers by seven points
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Macs Page, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alec Hepburn.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Jarrod Taylor, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Tomi Lewis.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Damian Willemse.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Tom Spurrier (Wales)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Bulls v Leinster
(Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 UK & Ireland time; 15.00 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction:
@rugby365: Bulls by five points
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Zak Burger, 23. Devon Williams.
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (captain), 8 James Culhane, 7 Will Connors, 6 Max Deegan, 5 Diarmuid Mangan, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 John McKee, 1 Jack Boyle.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Ivan Soroka, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Alex Soroka, 21 Scott Penny, 22 Fintan Gunne, 23 Ciarán Frawley.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Sean Muller (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Dragons v Ulster
(Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction:
@rugby365: Ulster by seven points
Teams:
Dragons: 15 Huw Anderson, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Will Reed, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Harrison Keddie, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 George Nott, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coglan, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Josh Thomas, 23 Jared Rosser
Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Michael Lowry, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 James McNabney, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 David McCann, 5 Matthew Dalton, 4 Alan O’Connor (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Callum Reid.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Reuben Crothers, 21 John Cooney, 22 Aidan Morgan, 23 Zac Ward.
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant Referees: Rhys Jones, Gwyn Morris
TMO: Morne Ferreira
Ospreys v Connacht
(Swansea Stadium, Swansea – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction:
@rugby365: Ospreys by five points
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric (captain), 6 Morgan Morse, 5 Adam Beard, 4 James Ratti, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry (captain), 1 Garyn Phillips
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Ben Warren, 19 James Fender, 20 Tristan Davies, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Iestyn Hopkins
Connacht: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Finn Treacy, 13 Hugh Gavin, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Joe Joyce (captain), 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dave Hefferman, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Temi Lasisi, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Oisin Dowling, 20 David O’Connor, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Sean Jansen
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones, Ellis Poulden
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
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