URC, Round Four - Teams and Predictions

PREVIEW: South Africa’s four franchises are on the road as the United Rugby Championship enters its fourth week of the 2024/2025 season.

The Stormers and Sharks will be wrapping up their tours with matches against Edinburgh and Benetton, respectively, while the Bulls and Lions will start their three-match road trips in Wales.

The two teams from Gauteng will enter the round unbeaten after a couple of home wins and they should be favourites against the Ospreys and Dragons.

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The Bulls will try to take advantage of Ospreys’ dented spirits after the Welsh side’s one-sided 0-23 defeat against Munster last week.

The Pretoria outfit are only one point short of a full house of points in their first two games – albeit at their fortress Loftus – but they will be wary of the Welsh side, who went down by a narrow two points against the Dragons away in their first game this season before beating the Stormers by 37-24.

“I’m expecting a tough game,” said Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White. “They beat the Stormers and when we played them here last time, they were difficult to beat – we won 38-31.

“They have been the most consistent Welsh team over the last couple of seasons, so I am expecting another tough day at the office.

“They are a tough team to beat and they are a tough team to play against.

“They don’t really play much, so they don’t give too much away. We are going to have to play with lots of control and lots of understanding on how we can wear them down.”

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In Scotland, Edinburgh are back home after a two-week tour to South Africa, and this will fuel their motivation to earn their first win of the season against the Stormers, especially after going down by only two points against Leinster at home in their season-opener.

The Stormers, in turn, will be expecting a tougher encounter this week after having to show immense patience to beat Zebre Parma last week, and they will have the extra motivation of finishing off their tour on a high note, especially since points away from home have proven to be invaluable in the last few seasons.

“They [Edinburgh] are under pressure. With their selection changes, they are going to change their game a little bit,” said Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson.

“However, we also have to convey our desperation because another win on tour puts us on a high road.

“Desperate teams are always dangerous to play against but that desperation can also put them under pressure.

“If we are clever with our technical pressure, whether it’s our kicking game, our defensive pressure and excellent discipline, then those cracks can start to show.”

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Will we see another dramatic ending between @BenettonRugby and @SharksRugby? 🤯#BKTURC #URC | #BENvSHA pic.twitter.com/PR2lBBrNoF

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 11, 2024

In Italy, the Sharks will target their second victory on tour after losing by a narrow six points in their opening match against Connacht and then bouncing back with a tenacious effort against the Dragons last week to come away with a valuable 33-30 victory.

Sharks head coach John Plumtree is hoping his team can deliver an 80-minute performance this week.

“They [Benetton] are a pretty proud club and they are clearly the best club in Italy,” said Plumtree.

“I think they’ve got their full contingent of internationals back with their foreigners as well, so they are going to be a real tough prospect this week.

“We’ve got to be at our very best. It’s going to be a massive physical challenge because they will come hard at us and we’ve got to play really well for the longer periods.

“We’ve played some really good rugby at Connacht and Newport, but we haven’t put it together for long enough periods.

“That will be our challenge this week. The field is going to be a bit sticky as well as we had a lot of rain in Italy.”

The Lions, who are currently SA’s top-ranked team in sixth place on the table, find themselves in a similar position to the Bulls as they prepare to face the Dragons in Newport on Sunday, with the visitors boasting two bonus-point wins in as many matches.

They will, however, be wary of the Dragons, who have delivered encouraging performances with a two-point defeat against Ospreys and a heart-breaking defeat at the death against the Sharks last week.

In fact, their only really disappointing result so far this season was their 6-34 defeat against log-leaders Leinster in Ireland.

The Welsh region will not underestimate the Lions, who have scored 90 points in their two matches this season to the Dragons’ 59 in three matches and who have conceded 45 points less in their matches to date, which will set the scene for a gripping encounter.

The Lions have had the upper hand over the Dragons in the last few seasons, winning all three of their matches since 2022 – an impressive track record they would like to build on.

Speaking ahead of that clash at the Rodney Parade, Lions assistant coach Barend Pieterse says they are pleased with the momentum the team currently has going into this tour.

“We are really happy with where we are at the moment as a group,” he said.

“It’s always a nice feeling coming on tour with 10 points in the bag.

“We will need to maintain that momentum as we really believe we can become a championship team.”

Pieterse said picking up points on the road is key towards achieving success towards the end of the season.

“This is the tour we believe we can collect our points to make it easier towards the end of the season without relying on other teams to get us into a play-off position,” he concluded.

See below for Saturday and Sunday’s teams and predictions!

Saturday, October 12:

Benetton v Sharks
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 SAST; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Sharks by one point.

Teams:

Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Enzo Avaca, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Destiny Aminu, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Eli Snyman, 21 Sebastian Negri, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Leonardo Marin.

Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne’ Rahl, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Francois Venter.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Federico Vedovelli (Italy), Alex Frasson (Italy)
TMO: Colin Brett (Scotland)

Cardiff v Scarlets
(Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Cardiff by 12 points.

Teams:

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ben Thomas (captain), 11 Harri Millard, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Dan Thomas, 8 Alun Lawrence, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Efan Daniel, 1 Ed Byrne.
Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Mackenzie Martin, 20 James Botham, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Josh Macleod (captain), 5 Max Douglas, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Macs Page.

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)

Edinburgh v Stormers
(Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 17.15; 18.15 SAST; 16.15 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Stormers by three points

Teams:

Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mosese Tuipulotu, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Ben Muncaster, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Jamie Hodgson, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Patrick Harrison, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Boan Venter, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Matt Currie.

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Willie Engelbrecht, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (Wales)

Leinster v Munster
(Croke Park, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.45; 16.45 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Leinster by 10 points.

Teams:

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Liam Turner, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ciarán Frawley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 James Ryan, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Lee Barron, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Harry Byrne.

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Seán O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman.
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Ruadhán Quinn, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Shay McCarthy.

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Keane Davison (Ireland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)

Ospreys v Bulls
(Swansea Stadium, Swansea – Kick-off: 19.35; 20.35 SAST; 18.35 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bulls by six points.

Teams:

Ospreys: 15 Max Nagy, 14 Iestyn Hopkins, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Jac Morgan (captain), 5 Adam Beard, 4 James Ratti, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Will Greatbanks, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Luke Scully, 23 Jack Walsh.

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Aphiwe Dyantyi.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales), Ben Connor (Wales)
TMO: Colin Stanley (Ireland)

Ulster v Connacht
(Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 20.00; 19.00 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365com: Ulster by two points.

Teams:

Ulster: 15 Ethan McIlroy, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Stewart Moore, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Sean Reffell, 6 David McCann, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 John Andrew, 1 Andrew Warwick.
Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Alan O’Connor, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Ben Carson, 23 Mike Lowry.

Connacht: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Temi Lasisi, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 David O’Connor, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Cathal Forde, 23 Conor Oliver.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Sunday, October 13:

Dragons v Lions
(Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 14.30; 15.30 SAST; 13.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Lions by four points.

Teams:

Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Lloyd Evans, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Harri Keddie, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Ben Carter (captain), 3 Leon Brown, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Oli Burrows, 17 Cameron Jones, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Ryan Woodman, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Will Reed, 23 Ewan Rosser

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Nico Steyn, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Henco van Wyk.

Referee: Fillipo Russo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Rhys Jones (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

Additional source: South African Rugby Union