URC, Round Two - Teams and Predictions

PREVIEW: After a clean sweep by the South African sides in the opening week of the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship, optimism remains for a repeat in Round Two.

However, things can change quickly in a week’s time, and teams will have to adapt to overcome different challenges to keep their early-season momentum.

The Stormers are in action on Friday evening while the Lions, Sharks and Bulls will do battle against overseas opposition on Saturday.

Stormers aiming to break Edinburgh hoodoo

The Stormers face Sean Everitt’s Edinburgh at Hive Stadium, a venue they’ve never tasted victory at, having only secured a draw in the inaugural URC season.

They have, however, improved their overseas record last season after previously being woeful on the road and will be brimming with confidence after defeating Connacht in Round One on a 4G pitch.

They’ll have the same playing surface challenge this weekend and will hope to pick up where they left off to return to DHL Stadium with a full house of points.

Lions to build on Leinster scalp

The Lions pipped Leinster in the opening Round at 10Bet Ellis Park and will relish the opportunity to face an Ospreys side which had moments of brilliance against the Sharks, but were ultimately outplayed.

The Ospreys, however, have been a thorn in the Lions’ flesh in previous seasons, but it appears the Johannesburg-based side finally have an identity to consistently beat teams, as we saw last season when they made the URC play-offs for the first time in history.

The Lions will be wary of the Ospreys’ attacking game, having scored four tries against the Sharks last weekend and will have to sharpen up their defence, having missed 29 tackles against Leinster for a return of an 85 percent tackle success rate.

Sharks braced for wounded Leinster

The Sharks will have their work cut out against a Leinster side which will be hurting following their defeat to the Lions.

The Irishmen will enter this clash with some confidence after losing by a solitary point against the Lions and will want to make a statement before heading home.

The Sharks, on the other hand, will take plenty of positives from their win against the Ospreys but will have to be wary of conceding possession against a Leinster side which can make something from nothing.

The Sharks conceded 20 turnovers against Ospreys, and if they continue with that trend, it could turn out to be a long day at the office.

Different beast awaiting Bulls

The Bulls recorded a solid victory over notorious strugglers Zebre in Round One, but will face a Munster side who will feel they let it slip against Glasgow last week.

The Bulls have defeated Munster only once away from home in the Jake White era but have gotten the better of the Irishmen twice last season:  in the round-robin stage and the URC quarterfinal at Loftus Versfeld.

Despite putting 47 points on Zebre, the Bulls merely scored an average of 2.4 points in 19 22-metre entries. If they are to topple Munster away from home, they will have to better their conversion rate.

Continues below…

Cardiff and Glasgow on track to repeat last season’s trend

Cardiff will lick their lips and gun for a bonus-point victory against Zebre on Friday, whilst Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors will face another Irish outfit in the form of Ulster for a second consecutive weekend on Saturday.

Cardiff were consistently in the top four last season before a few defeats saw them drop to sixth place.

They were eliminated by the Stormers in the quarterfinals but have built a fortress at home, which will be an advantage this weekend.

Glasgow Warriors will want to start faster this time around after being 0-10 down against Munster up until the 30th minute.

Ulster will be desperate for a win after losing at home against Edinburgh last weekend and will come out guns blazing to claim a victory away from home.

The other Friday clash sees Benetton hosting Connacht, with both teams out to record a victory after a draw and defeat, respectively.

The Dragons and Scarlets clash will be an interesting one given last weekend’s results and probably the toughest to call out of all the non-South African games.

*See all the teams and predictions below!

Friday, October 2

Cardiff v Zebre Parma
(Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK; 20.45 CEST; 18.45 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Cardiff by 20 points

Teams:

Cardiff: 15 Jacob Beetham, 14 Harri Millard, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Taine Basham, 7 James Botham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally (captain), 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Daf Hughes, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Tom Howe, 17 Rhys Barratt, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Evan Lloyd, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Steffan Emanuel

Zebre: 15 Giovanni Montemauri, 14 Mirko Belloni, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Damiano Mazza (captain), 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Thomas Dominguez, 8 Davide Ruggeri, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Francesco Ruffolo, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Juan Ignacio Castellano, 2 Francisco Minervino, 1 Federico Pisani
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Sergio Pelliccioli, 18 Matteo Barbotti, 19 Alessandro Ortombina, 20 Giacomo Ferrari, 21 Patricio Baronio Guana, 22 Marco Zanon, 23 Giacomo Da Re

Referee: Morné Ferreira (SARU)
Assistant referees: Ben Connor (WRU), Lucas Yendle (WRU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Benetton v Connacht
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 20.45 CEST; 19.45 IRE & UK; 18.45 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Connacht by seven points

Teams:

Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Riccardo Favretto, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Giulio Marini, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Matias Medrano
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Sootala Fa’aso’o, 20 Antony Miranda, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Ignacio Mendy

Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Finn Treacy, 13 John Devine, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Ciarán Frawley, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Seán O’Brien, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Matthew Victory, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Shane Jennings

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant referees: Franco Rosella (FIR), Manuel Bottino (FIR)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Edinburgh v Stormers
(Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK; 20.45 SAST; 18.45 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Stormers by five points

Teams:

Edinburgh: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Malelili Satala, 13 Matt Currie (co-captain), 12 Kienan Higgins, 11 Geordie Gwynn, 10 James Grayson, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Magnus Bradbury (co-captain), 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Glen Young, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Harri Morris, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Euan McVie, 20 Tom Currie, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Rory McHaffie

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Andre Warner, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Jonny MacKenzie (SRU), Ciaran Stark (SRU)
TMO: Paul Haycock (IRFU)

Saturday, October 3

Lions v Ospreys
(10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 13.45 SAST; 12.45 IRE & UK; 11.45 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Lions by 17 points

Teams:

Lions: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Siba Mahashe, 21 Dylan Sjoblom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Quan Horn

Ospreys: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles (co-captain), 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 Liam Wright (co-captain), 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Huw Sutton, 3 Rhys Henry, 2 Efan Daniel, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Cam Jones, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Rhys Davies, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 Luke Morgan

Referee: Fillipo Russo (FIR)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Dragons v Scarlets
(Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Dragons by two points

Teams:

Dragons: 15 Huw Anderson, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Harri Keddie, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ben Carter (captain), 4 Seb Davies, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Ryan Woodman, 20 Harry Beddall, 21 Che Hope, 22 Jac Lloyd, 23 Fetuli Paea

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Macs Page, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Osian Williams, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Josh Macleod (captain), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Harri O’Connor, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Will Evans, 20 Tristan Davies, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Johnny Williams.

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (WRU), Marcus Caudle (WRU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)

Sharks v Leinster
(Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 18.30 SAST; 17.30 IRE & UK; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Sharks by six points

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Lili Bester, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 23 Ethan Hooker

Leinster: 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Caspar Gabriel, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Josh Ericson, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Alan Spicer, 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher (captain), 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Niall Smyth, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Diarmuid Mangan, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Hugo McLaughlin.

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
Assistant referees: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU), Jonathan Lottering (SARU)
TMO: Ben Breakspear (WRU)

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Glasgow Warriors by 10 points

Teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Stafford McDowall (captain), 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Angus Fraser, 6 Ally Miller, 5 Max Williamson, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Fin Richardson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Rory Darge, 21 Macenzzie Duncan, 22 Callum Reidy, 23 Bayley Kuenzle

Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Ethan McIlroy, 12 Jamie Benson, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Bryn Ward, 7 David McCann, 6 James McKillop, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Cormac Izuchukwu, 3 Keynan Knox, 2 Tom Stewart (captain), 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Tom McAllister, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Ben Donnell, 20 James McNabney, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Juarno Augustus

Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU)
Assistant referees: Jonny MacKenzie (SRU), Sam O’Neil (SRU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Munster v Bulls
(Thomond Park, Limerick – Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK; 20.45 SAST; 18.45 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Munster by two points

Teams:

Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Seán O’Brien, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Shay McCarthy, 10 Charlie O’Shea, 9 Craig Casey (captain), 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Seán Edogbo, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Kieran Brookes, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Alex Kendellen

Bulls: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Stravino Jacobs, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Cheswill Jooste, 23 Willie le Roux.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (IRFU), Andrew Fogarty (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)