URC Latest: All you need to know

The teams for this weekend’s Round 4 fixtures of the Vodacom URC have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.

TEAM NEWS HEADLINES

#EDIvBEN

Three changes in the Edinburgh Rugby side as double-centurion Grant Gilchrist returns

Manuel Zuliani and Leonardo Marin return for Benetton

#CONvBUL

British & Irish Lions Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen all start for Connacht

Vodacom Bulls team sees 11 changes in the starting lineup, including Reinhardt Ludwig being named as captain

#DRAvCAR

Wales Under-20 captain Harry Beddall makes his Dragons RFC debut

Taulupe Faletau returns to the starting XV for Cardiff Rugby

#LIOvSCA

Reinhard Nothnagel returns from injury as he is named the Lions matchday squad

On-loan second rows Harvey Cuckson and Alex Groves handed debuts for Scarlets

#SHAvULS

Hollywoodbets Sharks Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi join fellow Springboks Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch after the pair played off the bench last week

Michael Lowry returns from injury for Ulster

#LEIvMUN

Tommy O’Brien set to make 50th Leinster appearance

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne returns and will become the 36th player to line out for the province so far this season

#ZEBvSTO

Captain Giovanni Licata returns to starting XV for Zebre Parma

Hencus van Wyk set to make his DHL Stormers debut

#OSPvGLA

Gwilym Evans is in line to make his Ospreys debut off the bench

Seb Stephen and Nathan McBeth set for first appearances of the season for Glasgow Warriors if called upon from bench

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

Edinburgh Rugby v Benetton

Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 12th league game)

AR 1: Jonny MacKenzie (SRU) AR 2:  Finlay Brown (SRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport,  Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Piers O’Conor, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, Cammy Scott, Charlie Shiel, Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D’arcy Rae, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson, Magnus Bradbury (CAPT)

Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Jame Whitcombe, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Freddy Douglas, Ben Vellacott, Ross Thompson, Ross McCann

Benetton: Matt Gallagher, Rhyno Smith, Filippo Drago, Malakai Fekitoa, Ignacio Mendy, Jacob Umaga, Louis Werchon; Mirco Spagnolo, Siua Maile, Giosuè Zilocchi, Giulio Marini, Eli Snyman (CAPT), Alessandro Izekor, John Bryant, So’otala Fa’aso’o

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Thomas Gallo, Tiziano Pasquali, Riccardo Favretto, Federico Ruzza, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Leonardo Marin

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt: “We’re excited to be back at home after a false start with the postponed Ulster game.

“It had already felt like a long time since we’d been back with our fans, and now even more so – so we can’t wait be playing in front of them again.

“Benetton can’t be underestimated with the squad they have. They’ve got plenty of Italian internationals playing for them, and they’ve got overseas internationals as well, so they’re a really good team.”

Benetton Head Coach Calum MacRae said: “We know that Edinburgh will be hungry and determined to deliver a strong performance in front of their home crowd. In these opening matches, they’ve shown to be an extremely physical side, so we’ll need to be ready for the battle from the very first minute. Finally, discipline will be a key factor: Edinburgh are very consistent when they get into the opposition’s 22, so we’ll need to minimize errors and stay focused throughout the game.”

Connacht Rugby v Vodacom Bulls

Dexcom Stadium, Galway – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 93rd league game)

AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2:  Jack MacNeice (IRFU)

TMO: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Connacht Rugby: Mack Hansen, Chay Mullins, Byron Ralston, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade, Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (CAPT), Sean Jansen

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Sean O’Brien, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Cathal Forde

Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Sebastian de Klerk, Keagan Johannes, Paul de Wet, Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Reinhardt Ludwig (CAPT), Nama Xaba, JJ Theron, Jeandre Rudolph

Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Mpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs

Connacht Rugby Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “The Vodacom Bulls are a formidable side, with a strong blend of power up front and pace in the back field. They were Vodacom URC finalists for a reason last year, and we’re expecting a response after their defeat in Ulster last week. With the fans behind us, the three returning Lions and a much-improved performance, it should make for a great game.”

Vodacom Bulls Head Coach Johan Ackermann said: “I’m surprised Connacht lost to Cardiff after a strong first game. They’re a quality team, like Ulster, with big ball carriers and Stuart Lancaster coaching. With several British & Irish Lions returning, they’ll be strong and motivated after a home loss. It’s a tough challenge in difficult conditions, so we must prepare fully for a hard-fought match.”

Dragons RFC v Cardiff Rugby

Rodney Parade, Newport  – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 17th league game)

AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU) AR 2:  Keith David (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (C.CAPT), Rio Dyer, Aneurin Owen, Harri Ackerman, Fine Inisi, Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams; Wyn Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Robert Hunt, Seb Davies, Ben Carter (C.CAPT), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harry Beddall, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Niall Armstrong, Cai Evans, Huw Anderson

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Josh Adams, Jacob Beetham, Ben Thomas, Tom Bowen, Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Corey Domchowski, Liam Belcher (CAPT), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, George Nott, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Javan Sebastian, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Taine Basham, Johan Mulder, Ioan Lloyd

Cardiff Rugby Coach Corniel van Zyl said: “We were really pleased with the fight and resilience last week against Connacht, in what was an attritional, hard-fought win.

“There’s no doubt we will need a lot of the same characteristics on Friday against the Dragons. It’s a Welsh derby, which are always tight affairs and Rodney Parade is a tough place to go.

“The Dragons rotated their team a bit last week so they will be fresh and hugely motivated to take us on Rodney Parade.

“They will throw everything at us, but we are excited by the challenge. It has been a short turnaround, but we have prepared well. Again, it is a case of concentrating on ourselves and putting our game on the pitch.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

Lions v Scarlets

Ellis Park, Johannesburg – KO 12.45  IRE & UK / 13.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 31st league game)

AR 1: Griffin Colby (SARU) AR 2:  AJ Jacobs (SARU)

TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Lions: Quan Horn, Eduan Keyter, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Angelo Davids, Chris Smith, Nico Steyn, SJ Kotze, Franco Marais, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Etienne Oosthuizen, Darrien Landsberg, JC Pretorius, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn (CAPT)

Replacements: Morne Brandon, RF Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Reinhard Nothnagel, Jarod Cairns, Layton Horn, Lubabalo Dobela, Kelly Mpeku

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas, Ellis Mee, Macs Page, Johnny Williams (CAPT), Blair Murray, Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes, Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Archer Holz, Harvey Cuckson, Alex Groves, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Taine Plumtree

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Sam O’Connor, Henry Thomas, Dan Gemine, Ben Williams, Dane Blacker, Joe Hawkins, Joe Roberts

Lions Assistant Coach Ricardo Loubscher said: “The energy within the camp is good, he commented. We can’t wait for Saturday, it’s great to be back home.”

“We know that it’s going to be a tough challenge on the weekend. Scarlets present a different approach defensively, so from an attack point of view we need to be ready for that, he cautioned.”

“Our training this week was focused mainly on simulating the pressure we can expect from the opposition in terms of defense and attack pictures, in order for the players to get a feel of what it will be like come Saturday.”

Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “The Lions are always a difficult proposition at home, you are playing at altitude and it is a place where they look to run teams off their feet, they are also a physical, athletic team so we will have to manage that. Winning here last season was big for us and a lot of the boys here were part of that squad. We have to bring the same physicality and intensity again. Ellis Park is one of the great rugby stadiums, always a great place to play. We have been disappointed with the results so far, but we are only two games in, it is a long season and things can change quickly in rugby.”

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Ulster Rugby

Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 111th league game)

AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2:  Sean Muller (SARU)

TMO: Ben Connor (WRU)

Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Hollywoodbets Sharks: Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Grant Williams, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Tshituka (CAPT), Phepsi Buthelezi

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Simphiwe Matanzima, Ruan Dreyer, Bathobele Hlekani, Emmanuel Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Lukhanyo Am

Ulster Rugby: Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Jack Murphy,  Nathan Doak, Sam Crean, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus

Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Reid, Tom O’Toole,  Joe Hopes, Sean Reffell, Conor McKee,  Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite

Leinster Rugby v Munster Rugby

Croke Park, Dublin – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 44th league game)

AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU) AR 2:  Jonny Erskine (IRFU)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Leinster Rugby: Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, James Ryan, Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (CAPT)

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley

Munster Rugby: Shane Daly, Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams, Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan, Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson

Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell

Zebre Parma v DHL Stormers

Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 109th league game)

AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2:  Lorenzo Pedezzi (FIR)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Zebre Parma: Giovanni Montemauri, Mirko Belloni, Giulio Bertaccini, Damiano Mazza, Simone Gesi, Giacomo Da Re, Thomas Dominguez; Muhamed Hasa, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Ion Neculai, Guido Volpi, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Samuele Locatelli, Giovanni Licata (CAPT)

Replacements: Giovanni Quattrini, Juan Pitinari, Matteo Nocera, Franco Carrera, David Odiase, Migael Prinsloo, Marco Zanon, Lorenzo Pani

DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (CAPT), Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stefan Ungerer, Ali Vermaak, JJ Kotze, Zachary Porthen, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers,  Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos

Replacements: André-Hugo Venter, Vernon Matongo, Hencus van Wyk, JD Schickerling, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Imad Khan, Wandisile Simelane

DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said: “It was fantastic to get a win in our first game on tour last week, but there is no doubt that there are several areas that we can improve on as we take on a very competitive Zebre side this weekend.

“Having a player like Warrick back in the mix is a boost for us and the other players coming in are also keen to make an impression so hopefully that will work in our favour,”

Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors

Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 56th league game)

AR 1: Ben Breakspear (WRU)  AR 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys: Jack Walsh, Dan Kasende, Phil Cokanasiga, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (CAPT), Ben Warren, Rhys Davies, James Fender, James Ratti, Morgan Morse, Ross Moriarty

Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Garyn Phillips, Kian Hire, Huw Sutton, Gwilym Evans, Luke Davies, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins

Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, Jamie Dobie; Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Murphy Walker, Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Angus Fraser, Matt Fagerson

Replacements: Seb Stephen, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Craig, Macenzzie Duncan, Ben Afshar, Dan Lancaster

Ospreys Head Coach Mark Jones said: “Glasgow were the champs two years ago and have made the semi-finals on a few occasions. They’re an all-court team that can threaten on all fronts.

“It’s a top-class outfit that is well coached by Franco and his team, so we’re going to have to be at our absolute best to get the result.”

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “We were pleased with the result last weekend, but know that there is still plenty for us to build and improve upon as we move forward.

“The Ospreys have shown so far that they can pose problems for any team, with a squad packed with talent across every position on the field.

“They showed how proudly they defend their home record by shutting out Zebre last weekend, and we know we will need to raise our level to meet their challenge.”

Catch all the action live on URC.tv