URC, Round 12 - teams and predictions
FRIDAY PREVIEW: The URC is back with a full round of fixtures this weekend and it kicks off on Friday evening with Munster hosting Edinburgh and the Dragons traveling to Zebre Parma.
Munster is fifth in the standings on 31 points and still within striking distance of the fourth-placed Sharks (34) although they have played one game more.
Two defeats have seen Edinburgh drop to ninth overall as the pressure heats up on Sean Everitt and his coaching staff ahead of what will be a tough challenge at Thomond Park.
The Scots will be out for redemption, but Munster’s superior depth should carry them to another victory.
The Munster side shows eight changes to the one that recorded a bonus-point win against Scarlets last time out as Niall Scannell captains the side.
Two players have been released from Ireland camp as John Hodnett and Calvin Nash are named in the starting XV.
Hodnett, Nash, Alex Nankivell, Shay McCarthy, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Evan O’Connell and Brian Gleeson all start.
Nankivell makes a welcome return from injury having been out of action since December.
Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler and Seán O’Brien are the backline replacements. O’Brien is set for his first appearance since October after recovering from a leg injury.
Everitt has made seven changes to the side that heads to Cork for their first away match against the men in red since the 2021/22 season, boosted by the return of club centurion Magnus Bradbury to the back row.
Bradbury returns at No. 8 following his red card against Black Lion and forms a new-look back-row alongside flankers Luke Crosbie and Ben Muncaster.
Club co-captain Ben Vellacott starts at scrumhalf to skipper the side as one of two personnel changes in the capital back-line.
“We’re excited about the challenge, but we know it won’t be easy to get a result away against Munster, whether they’re in Cork or Limerick they’re strong at home,” Everitt said.
“We’ve had a good week at training, and we’re ready to bounce back.”
The only change in the back three sees Matt Currie shift from midfield to the wing, where he will join Ross McCann and fullback Wes Goosen.
Currie’s move out wide sees James Lang return to the capital starting line-up at outside centre, partnering Mosese Tuipulotu in the midfield.
*The Dragons are 12 points back of their 15th-placed foes this week after enduring a season from hell so far. They’ve lost 10 of their 11 matches to date and don’t look capable of outdoing what will be a confident Zebre team at home.
Zebre are playing fantastic rugby at the minute and currently enjoy a two-game winning streak in the competition – a complete rarity for the perennial tournament strugglers.
For the Dragons, Ashton Hewitt makes his first appearance of the season at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Friday.
Wing Hewitt – joint second top try scorer in the club’s history – will represent the Men of Gwent for the first time since Boxing Day 2023 after recovering from a serious knee injury.
Dragons coach Filo Tiatia has made six changes for the Round 12 clash in Parma with centre Joe Westwood and flyhalf Will Reed also given recalls. Lloyd Evans misses the game through injury.
Prop Rhodri Jones makes his first start since October and is joined up front by the returning hooker Brodie Coghlan. The final change is a return for Taine Basham in the back row.
“Zebre are a good side. They are heading in the right direction in terms of performances, with recent wins over Ulster and Edinburgh.
“They will be challenging on their home patch. But we are looking forward to it and playing against a side that like to release and play with the ball. We’ve got to try and stop them.
“They are the highest mauling team in the competition, from all areas of the field, and they like to play with momentum. They have players, like Fetuli Paea and Gonzalo Garcia, who get them momentum and are threats.
“We know what their strengths are. It’s going to be a good test for us,” Tiatia commented.
Munster v Edinburgh
(Musgrave Park, Cork – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Munster by 10 points
Teams:
Munster Rugby: 15 Ben O’Connor, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shay McCarthy, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Evan O’Connel, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell (captain), 1 Josh Wycherley,
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Ruadhán Quinn, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Seán O’Brien
Edinburgh: 15 Wes goosen, 14 Matt Currie, 13 James Lang, 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Ross McCann, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ben Vellacott (captain), 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Ben Muncaster, 6 Luke Crosbie, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Glen Young, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Ali Price, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Mark Bennett
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Chris Lough (Ireland)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Zebre Parma v Dragons
(Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 20.35; 19.35 UK & Ireland time; 19.35 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction
@rugby365com: Zebre by seven points
Teams:
Zebre: 15 Geronimo Prsciantelli, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Gonzalo Garcia, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Giovanni Ligata, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Rusiate Nasove, 3 Ion Neculai, 2 Luca Bigi (captain), 1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Davide Ruggeri, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Giovanni Montemauri, 23 Jacopo Trulla
Dragons: 15 Huw Anderson, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Will Reed, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 George Nott, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rhodri Jones
Replacements: 16 James Benjamin, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Steve Cummions, 20 Barny Langton-Cryer, 21 Che Hope, 22 Harri Ford, 23 Scott Williams
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Filipo Russo (Italy), Lorenzo Negro (Italy)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
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