URC, Round Seven - teams and predictions

FRIDAY PREVIEW: James Lowe has urged Leinster to deliver an “awesome” attack as they take on the inform Ulster in the United Rugby Championship Round Seven showdown.

The URC returns with some enticing matches after a two-week break due to the European tournaments.

Leinster will take on Ulster at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, while Scarlets host Cardiff in Wales.

After an uncharacteristically disappointing start to the season, the URC champions have turned things around in terms of results, winning their last four matches in all competitions.

But Ireland winger Lowe admits they are still looking to sharpen their cutting edge as they prepare for Friday night’s derby clash with Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

“We have been a little bit sticky so far,” he said.

“We are creating a lot of opportunities, but we have left tries out there through a lack of execution.

“We are so, so close, and hopefully if we have another conversation in a month, we will be talking about how awesome it’s been.

“That’s the plan, that’s what we are striving for, and hopefully we can get that sorted.”

Lowe says part of the challenge for Leinster is overcoming the efforts of the opposition to stifle their attacking ambition.

“Teams don’t want to go head to head with us playing free-flowing rugby,” said the 33-year-old.

“They want to slow down our ruck, they want to be nasty at the set-piece, they want the ref to ref it.

“They want to be told to chill out. They don’t want to go back to a Monday meeting and be told that they were soft. So everyone is on the edge.”

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It’s a busy period for Leinster, coming up with the game against Ulster followed by further festive inter-pro derbies against Munster and Connacht.

“It’s an extremely exciting time. We are fully focused on putting in performances,” said Lowe.

“We haven’t had the better of teams as we have at the start of competitions, so there’s a lot for us to prove.

“I think if we can play in the right areas of the field and our set piece ticks over like we know it can, fingers crossed it’s going to be a good day.

“Hopefully, we don’t even have to catch and pass. Let the forwards do whatever they need to!”

Leinster take on an Ulster team who won five of their first six matches in all competitions before going down to a last-gasp Challenge Cup defeat against Cardiff Rugby last Saturday.

“They are flying high,” said Lowe.

“I know their result from the weekend didn’t go their way, but it easily could have.

“We are looking forward to a good ding-dong battle. It’s an exciting opportunity.

“It’s Ulster first, and then we can worry about what’s around the corner.”

The man who oversees Leinster’s attacking game is Kiwi coach Tyler Bleyendaal, and he, in particular, will be looking for improvement in that area as they aim to move up from sixth in the league table.

“It’s a good and exciting period for us in the URC with some tough interpro games that we want to win,” said the former Munster outside half.

“We really value this competition, and it’s about log points. We are obviously behind Ulster at the moment.

“They are playing really well, and we are going to have to be on our game.

“I think they will come fully loaded and very motivated.

“They are playing some great rugby. You can really admire what they are doing.

“If you turn the ball over, they can score from the length of the field.

“We are expecting a tough challenge. We are going to have to turn up physically and be really sharp mentally.”

He added: “We are still trying to improve our game. I have been speaking about our attacking side.

“It’s a frustrating one when you aren’t converting some pretty clear opportunities, so that’s definitely something we’ve identified as an area for improvement.

“Sometimes it’s just an individual area, sometimes it’s a bit of composure, other times it’s a decision-making thing. I think just as a group we’ve got to be better.”

Cardiff v Scarlets
(Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)

Prediction: 

Rugby365: Cardiff by 10 points

Teams: 

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Harri Millard, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Mason Grady, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 George Nott, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Danny Southworth
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Rhys Barratt, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Alex Mann, 21 Taulupe Faletau, 22 Johan Mulder, 23 Jacob Beetham

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 6 Max Douglas, 5 Jake Ball, 4 Sam Lousi,3 Archer Holz,2 Ryan Elias,1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Alec Heburn, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Jarrod Taylor, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Elis Price, 23 Joe Roberts

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) & Ben Connor (Wales)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)

Leinster v Ulster
(Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Leinster by seven points

Teams: 

Leinster: 15 Ciarán Frawley, 14 Joshua Kenny, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan (captain), 7 Scott Penny, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 James Ryan, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Jack Boyle
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ruben Moloney

Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney (captain), 6 David McCann, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Joe Hopes, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ethan McIlroy

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Fogarty (Ireland) & Tomás O’Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)