URC Round 16 - Saturday's teams and predictions
PREVIEW: The pressure is on for South Africa’s trio in the United Rugby Championship, with the Stormers, Bulls and Lions all facing must-win clashes in Round 16 this weekend.
With play-off places hanging in the balance, Saturday’s fixtures could prove decisive in the race for the top eight.
The Stormers host the Glasgow Warriors in a table-topping clash in Cape Town, followed by an exciting battle between the Lions and Connacht in Johannesburg, while the Bulls take on the Scarlets in Wales.
While a bonus-point victory for the second-placed Stormers against the log-leading Warriors could see them leap back to the top spot in the standings, the fourth-placed Lions will go in search of their sixth win in a row against the ninth-placed Connacht, who trail them by only four log points, in the Johannesburg side’s last home game of the league stages.
The eighth-placed Bulls will go up against the 14th-placed Scarlets, with a victory set to see them remain in the top half of the table.
In the other matches, Munster take on Ulster in an Irish derby, while Benetton host Leinster to conclude the round.
With the passing of manager Christopher Solomon on April 11, the Stormers have endured an emotional period, and it was evident in their performance against Connacht, which they lost at DHL Stadium.
The side will want to bounce back against Franco Smith’s Glasgow side at home, having suffered two defeats at DHL Stadium in the competition this season.
With tough away fixtures against Ulster and Cardiff looming, this is a match they simply cannot afford to drop.
Stormers captain Ruhan Nel admitted it has taken its toll, but believes the squad is ready to refocus.
“It was a really, really unique week. We won’t have weeks like that, hopefully, ever again,” Nel said.
“Going into the game, there was a lot of emotion. But I felt that up until the 65th minute, we were in control of that game. At 17-7, straight after Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored that try, we lost the kick-off. They scored to make it 17-14. Now, all of a sudden, you’re under pressure again.
“It’s three tries that, based on analysis, you will take nothing out of. You lose the kick-off, they score. We throw into a set piece, they score, and then the chip kick from distance.
“Those are the things that happen in everyday rugby.
“But the energy has been really good. I think, after Uncle Chippy’s funeral, we addressed it. At some point, we have to pick it up again.
“And I think that was the mentality of the boys as well.
“I’ve got no doubt whatsoever that the boys will be up for it tomorrow.”
In Johannesburg, the Lions are building serious momentum. Unbeaten at home in their last five outings, they will be eyeing a sixth consecutive victory when they face Connacht at Ellis Park.
Despite sitting above their opponents on the log, the Lions are taking nothing for granted. Connacht arrive full of confidence after upsetting the Stormers and remain firmly in the play-off hunt.
The Lions’ attacking prowess has been a standout feature this season, and they will once again look to impose themselves with the ball in hand. But they are wary of an Irish side that has quietly strung together three successive away wins.
Forwards coach Julian Redelinghuys expects a familiar challenge.
“We know what they’ll bring,” he said.
“Their game model is not easy to play against, but if we execute properly, there will be opportunities.”
Meanwhile, the Bulls travel to Wales with a clear objective: maintain their place in the top half of the table.
They face a tricky assignment against the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets — a venue where they are yet to secure a win. But with three consecutive victories behind them and two home games still to come, confidence is high in the Pretoria camp.
The Scarlets may sit well below them on the log, but they remain a dangerous outfit, particularly at home. Their recent performances suggest they are capable of pushing top sides, and the Bulls will need to be sharp to avoid an upset.
Head coach Johan Ackermann has warned against complacency.
“Scarlets are a very good team,” Ackermann said, adding: “Just because they’re not in the top half of the table doesn’t mean they are not a good team — if you think that, you’ve got it totally wrong.
“Just look at the quality they’ve got on the field. They haven’t been outplayed by any team this season and could have won a lot of games by small margins.
“So, if you analyse them, there’s a lot of quality. They’re one of the higher-ranked sides in terms of scoring tries when they get into your 22. Good set-piece, a lot of experienced players.
“We need to be at our best.”
See below for Saturday’s teams and predictions!
Saturday, April 25:
Stormers v Glasgow Warriors
(DHL Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 13.45 SAST; 12.45 BST; 11.45 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Stormers by three points.
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Marcel Theunissen, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Markus Muller.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ben Afshar, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Angus Fraser, 6 Euan Ferrie, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Ryan Burke, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Dylan Cockburn, 20 Jare Oguntibeju, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Jack Oliver.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Lions v Connacht
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 16.00 SAST; 15.00 BST; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Lions by 10 points.
Teams:
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze
Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Edward Davids, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Kelly Mpeku
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Harry West, 13 John Devine, 12 Hugh Gavin, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Colm Reilly, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Peter Dooley
Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Shayne Bolton
Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa), Jonathan Lottering (South Africa)
TMO: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Munster v Ulster
(Thomond Park, Limerick – Kick-off: 17.30 IST; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Munster by 12 points.
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jager, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 Dan Kelly, 23 Alex Kendellen
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry (captain), 14 Aitzol Arenzana-King, 13 Ethan McIlroy, 12 Ben Carson, 11 Ben Moxham, 10 Jake Flannery, 9 Conor McKee, 8 Lorcan McLoughlin, 7 Tom Brigg, 6 James McKillop, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Bryan O’Connor, 2 James McCormick, 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Joe Hopes, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 David Shanahan, 22 James Humphreys, 23 Jonny Scott
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Andrew Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (Scotland)
Scarlets v Bulls
(Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 19.45 BST; 20.45 SAST; 18.45 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Bulls by 15 points.
Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Callum Woolley, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Macs Page, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Fletcher Anderson (captain), 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Ioan Jones
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Kloppers, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Jeandre Rudolph
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Lloyd Edwards (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
Benetton v Leinster
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 20.45 CEST; 19:45 IST; 18.45 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Leinster by 10 points.
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Manuel Zuliani, 5 Riccardo Favretto, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Destiny Aminu
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 21 Eli Snyman, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Leonardo Marin
Leinster: 15 Ciarán Frawley, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Ed Byrne
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Alex Soroka, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Charlie Tector
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Alberto Favaro (Italy), Alex Frasson (Italy)
TMO: Christopher Allison (South Africa)
