RaboDirect Pro12: Week 15 Preview
RaboDirect Pro12: Week 15 Preview
Friday
Cardiff Blues vs Ulster, 7:05pm
This is potentially a very tasty fixture, with both sides in decent form of late. As usual Gavin Henson's presence ensures much interest in the game, while Ulster appear to possess depth with the squad, being able to bring in the likes of Robbie Diack and Nigel Brady when the internationals are unavailable. The kicking prowess of Ben Blair will be influential for the Blues while Ulster will rely on Pienaar and Humphreys to spark a dangerous backline. Ulster by 3 points.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Tom James, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams,, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 Paul Tito (capt), 4 Cory Hill, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Ryan Tyrell, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 T Rhys Thomas, 17 Nathan Trevett, 18 Ryan Harford, 19 Maama Molitika, 20 21 Richie Rees, 22 Ceri Sweeney, 23 Chris Czekaj
Ulster: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Nevin Spence, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Ian Whitten, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 Chris Henry (capt), 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 John Afoa, 2 Nigel Brady, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Andi Kyriacou, 17 Paddy McAllister, 18 Adam Macklin, 19 Tim Barker, 20 Mike McComish, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Simon Danielli, 23 Adam D'Arcy.
Ospreys vs Aironi, 7:30pm
It's been a week of turmoil off the field for the Ospreys, with the coaching duo of Johnson and Holley shown the door. Former Ospreys stalwart Steve Tandy has taken over and his side will look to put the coaching issues behind them. Aironi are probably side to face in this case, as they are atrocious away from home. Ospreys to win by at least 20 points with a bonus point.
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Tom Smith, 5 James King, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 3 Joe Rees, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Ryan Bevington.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Will Taylor, 19 James Goode, 20 George Stowers, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs.
Aironi: 15 Alberto Benettin, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Gilberto Pavan, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Simone Favaro, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Nicola Cattina, 5 Carlo Del Fava, 4 Joshua Furno, 3 Lorenzo Romano, 2 Roberto Santamaria (cap), 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Antonio Denti, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Salvatore Perugini, 19 George Biagi, 20 Filippo Ferrarini, 21 Tyson Keats, 22 Riccardo Pavan, 23 Matteo Pratichetti.
Leinster vs Scarlets, 7:35pm
Leinster are well ahead of the chasing pack at the top of the table and are simply on a roll. The can call upon many names from the Irish squad, including Reddan, McFadden and Boss. Scarlets play a good brand of rugby but their squad depth struggles when the internationals are not available. Leinster are unstoppable at the moment and Scarlets don't have the quality to put a halt to the winning streak. Leinster by 10-15 points.
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 David Kearney, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Rhys Ruddock, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin (c), 5 Devin Toner, 4 Damian Browne, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Nathan White, 19 Leo Auva'a, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Brendan Macken.
Scarlets: 15 Dan Newton, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Gareth Maule (c), 12 Scott Williams, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Stephen Jones, 1 Rhodri Jones, 2 Emyr Phillips, 3 Deacon Manu, 4 Sione Timani, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Kieran Murphy
Replacements: 16 Craig Hawkins, 17 Phil John, 18 Peter Edwards, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Liam Davies, 22 Adam Warren, 23 Viliame Iongi.
(Other games to come)
