URC, Round Eight - teams and predictions

PREVIEW: The four South African franchises are looking for some morsels of hagiographical news after a fortnight of horror shows in Europe.

Just one victory – a 39-21 home win by the Sharks over Exeter Chiefs – in the Champions Cup does not make for good reading.

The Lions, in the Challenge Cup, also had a home win – beating Section Paloise 43-35.

Now the four South African franchises – amidst vigorous back-and-forth over their presence in Europe – must restore their dignity in two high-profile domestic derbies.

The Stormers host the Lions in Cape Town in the first of the two all-SA encounters, with the Sharks at home to the Bulls in Durban – Round Eight of the United Rugby Championship.

It is in Durban where the bulk of the spotlight will be – the hyped Springbok-laden Sharks hosting the Bulls, South Africa’s best hope in the URC.

The Bulls are yet to win in Europe, having gone down to both Saracens and Northampton Saints.

Sharks coach John Plumtree said he ‘expects’ a reaction from his team after last week’s 17-56 implosion against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

“We don’t like losing and we don’t like losing by that margin,” Plumtree said.

He added that being ‘back home’ and facing the Bulls will “bring the best” out of them.

Then there is dealing with the ‘brutal nature’ of South African derbies, given the already substantial injury list – which includes Springboks Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Grant Williams and Lukhanyo Am.

Plumtree said players like Phepsi Buthelezi, Emmanuel Tshituka Dylan Richardson, Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins and Emile van Heerden must now step up in the absence of their ‘big name’ Springboks.

“Games are won and lost up front,” he said about the visiting Bulls pack that will feature four Springboks in the starting XV and another two on the bench.

“I am sure they will target our pack,” the coach said, adding: “We know we have to play well against the Bulls’ pack.”

The breakdown also needs to be efficient against a team featuring several ‘fetchers’.

“[Cameron] Hanekom is one of the best in the business, while Marcell Coetzee can fetch.

“We have a tough challenge up front and they will go hard at slowing our ball down.

“The scrums and line-outs will be huge.

“It will all be around what happens up front and how well we defend.”

(Article continues below the John Plumtree preview …)

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White suggested the humidity of Durban will place a significant emphasis on the kicking game and the accuracy in terms of execution.

He added that there is an ‘expectation’ from the supporters and staff that the team must do well and beat the Springbok-laden Sharks.

“The play-offs, when it is do-or-die, is when there is pressure.

He added that the selection of his pack of forwards – which includes Springboks Elrich Louw (captain), Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw, Akker van der Merwe and Gerhard Steenekamp – was to ensure the backs get a steady supply of quality possession.

“I am hoping we get a lot of return from the scrums and line-outs,” the Bulls’ boss said, adding that the players need to cut down on the costly unforced errors that have bedevilled the team in recent matches.

“We have to be accurate and be clear about what we want to achieve in the game.

“One lesson we have learnt in the last two weeks is that when we play against good teams, when you make a mistake you will suffer the consequences.

“I just hope the lessons we got from the last two weeks against good teams will stand us in good stead.”

* The other derby has a slightly different feel to it – more of a festive nature in Cape Town, where the Stormers hope to end a four-match losing streak against an ambitious Lions team, currently fifth.

The Stormers, the only SA side outside the top eight, are banking on a rash of returning Springboks – lead by Deon Fourie (returning after eight months on the sideline following knee surgery), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (at inside centre), Ben-Jason Dixon, Salmaan Moerat and Frans Malherbe.

Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson described the next two weeks as ‘ season-defining’.

“We got ourselves into a hole with a tough URC start and an injury list like I’ve never seen in my career,” Dobson said.

The selection of Feinberg-Mngomezulu at No.12, alongside Libbok at flyhalf, is an indication that the Stormers will rely heavily on the creative backs to cause ‘chaos’ with the Lions’ defence.

“Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] is a prolific kicker and gets real distance,” the Stormers boss said, adding: “We want to get territory, which is important for the game against the Lions.

“Teams have been scoring off our errors, because we are making mistakes in the wrong parts of the field.

“Having a No.12, who is also a general, with the ability to kick with either foot, is a big part of our plan for tomorrow [Saturday].”

As for the Lions, they have had a fine season to date, winning five of their eight matches in all competitions and they head into the derby on the back of a six-try 43-35 victory over French club Section Paloise in the Challenge Cup.

Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie said they will get a feel of the conditions during Friday’s captain’s run – with a warm and windy day expected.

“We are not going to change our approach,” he said, adding: “We want to run the ball and play in the right areas of the field.

“Nothing is going to change for us. Our last game last season there were glimpses of the way we can play in those conditions.”

Lions prop Juan Schoeman said they are ready to get into an ‘arm-wrestle’ with a Stormers loaded heavily on Boks.

“They will want to prove a point on their home ground,” he said of the Stormers’ losing streak, adding: “We want to [put up a] fight in a local derby.

“It will be a proper test for both teams.”

* All the Saturday and Sunday teams and predictions follow below …

Benetton v Zebre
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Benetton by 14 points

Teams

Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza (captain), 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, Nahuel Tetaz, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Leonardo Marin.

Zebre: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Ion Neculai, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (captain).
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Leonard Krumov, 20 Iacopo Bianchi, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Filippo Drago, 23 Rusiate Nasove.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Alex Frasson (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

Stormers v Lions
(Cape Town stadium – Kick-off: 15,45; 13.45 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Stormers by five points

Teams

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.

Lions: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 WJ Steenkamp, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Morgan Naudé, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Darriën Landsberg, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Manny Rass.

Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Sharks v Bulls
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bulls by three points

Teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw (captain), 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Cameron Hanekom, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Sergeal Petersen, 23 Devon Williams.

Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

Ospreys v Scarlets
(Swansea Stadium – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Ospreys by five points

Teams

Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Jac Morgan (captain), 5 James Fender, 4 Will Spencer, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Will Griffiths, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Iestyn Hopkins.

Scarlets: 15 Ioan Lloyd, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Max Douglas, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Joe Roberts, 23 Ioan Nicholas.

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Connor (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

Leinster v Connacht
(Lansdowne Road, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Leinster by 18 points

Teams

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Aitzol Arenzana-King, 13 Charlie Tector, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan (captain), 7 Scott Penny, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Diarmuid Mangan, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Jack Boyle.
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Cian Healy, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Max Deegan.

Connacht: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Santiago Cordero, 23 Conor Oliver.

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)

Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
(Hampden Park, Glasgow – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Glasgow by 10 points

Teams

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (captain), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Mann, 7 Matt Fagerson, 6 Ally Miller, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Patrick Schickerling, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Grant Stewart, 21 Angus Fraser, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir.

Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Ben Healy, 23 James Lang.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Ru Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

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