Pro12: Local derbies Part Two
With 11 of the 22 rounds of the Pro12 now complete, the teams have passed the halfway mark and their focus will now be concentrated on the end of season play-offs, along with qualification for next season's European competitions.
Four of the six games this round are the reversal of the Christmas derbies, with only the Irish provinces facing new opponents.
Two of the provinces are in action on New Year's Day when Connacht welcome Munster to the Sportsground. After a good start to the season Connacht have been stuck in sixth place for the last five rounds, four points from a win could help keep up their challenge of making the play-offs, Munster however, have not lost in Galway since December 2008.
The round starts earlier in the day with Cardiff Blues making the short trip to face Newport Dragons at a packed Rodney Parade, a win for either side is vital if they are to keep the pressure on Scarlets ahead of them in the race for European qualifications.
Glasgow Warriors take a ten point lead with them for the second leg of the 1872 Cup against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in the only Friday night game. Apart from the trophy, Warriors will be keen to add the points a win would bring them to maintain their challenge at the top of the table.
A victory for Leinster in their game against Ulster, at the RDS on Saturday, could see the hosts leapfrog their rivals and return to the top four and a place in the play-off zone for only the second time this season. Ulster though, are unlikely to give up their top four spot easily.
Benetton Treviso recorded their first victory of the season against Zebre in Parma, if they were to do the double over their fellow countrymen in the game at Treviso on Saturday, they would climb above them in the table. Essential if they are to claim the place up for grabs in next season's European Champions Cup.
Current leaders, Ospreys, have to wait until the final game of the round, also on Saturday, to see if they can maintain their position at the top of the table, although their hosts, Scarlets, will make that as difficult as possible for their local rivals if they hope to keep in touch with the top four themselves.
Scarlets head coach, Wayne Pivac, believes Samson Lee is destined for great things, according to Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac, as the young prop heads into 2015 in sparkling form.
The Scarlets boss believes Lee is ready to capitalise on his potential and cement himself as one of the competition's best tighthead props over the coming year.
"Samson is certainly developing into having a very, very big future in the game," Pivac told Wales Online.
"He understands what is required at scrum time. I think he has got a great mentality for scrummaging. He wants to scrum and he enjoys it. He has taken ownership for getting it right, so he's done very well. There have been plenty of props across the world that have come through at a young age. It's the ones that kick on who become great props.
"He has got a level-head on his shoulders. He doesn't get carried away with things and I think that is one of his strengths."
And the New Zealander conceded Lee's form has not come as a surprise, seeing as the youngster already has nine Wales caps to his name.
"I knew he was an international tighthead, so we expected good things. He was slow starting because he obviously had that suspension, so he was a bit underdone at the start of the season when he came back into the side.
"But he's improved as the season has gone on and I think the scrum has just got better and better," he added.
We look at all the Round 12 matches!
Thursday, January 1
Newport Dragons v Cardiff Blues
(Rodney Parade - Kick-off: 14.05; 14.05 GMT)
Teams:
Newport Dragons: 15 Tom Prydie, 14 Matthew Pewtner, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Taulupe Faletau. 7 Nic Cudd, 6 James Thomas, 5 Rynard Landman (captain), 4 Andrew Coombs, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Phil Price.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Dan Way, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Andy Powell, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Dorian Jones, 23 Geraint Rhys Jones.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Lucas Amorosino, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Josh Navidi, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Adam Jones, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Adam Thomas.
Referee: Ian Davies
Assistant referees: Sean Brickell, Simon Rees
TMO: Derek Bevan
Connacht v Munster
(Sportsground - Kick-off: 17.00; 17.00 GMT)
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Danie Poolman, 10 Craig Ronaldson, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 George Naoupu, 21 John Cooney, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Dave McSharry.
Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Pat Howard, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony (captain), 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Billy Holland, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Kevin O'Byrne, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Dave O'Callaghan, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Ivan Dineen.
Referee: David Wilkinson
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice
TMO: Kevin Beggs
Friday, January 2
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors
(Murrayfield - Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Tonks, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 David Denton, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 Mike Coman (captain), 5 Ben Toolis, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 John Andress, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Sam Beard.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Tyrone Holmes, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Al Kellock (captain), 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Gordon Reid.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Euan Murray, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 James Eddie, 21 Ali Price, 22 Richie Vernon, 23 Stuart Hogg.
Referee: Nigel Owens
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White, Peter Allan
TMO: Jim Yuille
Saturday, January 3
Leinster v Ulster
(RDS Arena - Kick-off: 14.40; 14.40 GMT)
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Luke Fitzgerald, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Issac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip (captain), 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Ben Te'o.
Ulster: 15 Peter Nelson, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Stuart Olding, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Clive Ross, 6 Robbie Diack, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Franco van der Merwe, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Alan O'Connor, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Luke Marshall.
Referee: Marius Mitrea
Assistant referees: Eddie Hogan-O'Connell, Mark Connolly
TMO: Jude Quinn
Treviso v Zebre
(Stadio Monigo - Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Teams:
Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Henry Seniloli, 8 Dean Budd, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Simone Favaro, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Antonio Pavanello (captain), 3 D'arcy Rae, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Zanusso.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Josè Novak, 18 Matteo Muccignat, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Alessandro Zanni, 21 Marco Barbini, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Edoardo Gori.
Zebre: 15 David Odiete, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Tommaso Iannone, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Edoardo Padovani, 9 William Palazzani, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Filippo Cristiano, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Andrea Handles, 1 Andrea De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Luke Scarsini, 18 Luke Redolfini, 19 George Biagi, 20 Valerio Bernabo, 21 Brendon Leonard, 22 Kelly Haimona, 23 Mirco Bergamasco.
Referee: Gary Conway
Assistant referees: Claudio Blessano, Stefano Penne
TMO: Carlo Damasco
Scarlets v Ospreys
(Parc y Scarlets - Kick-off: 17.05; 17.05 GMT)
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Hadleigh Parkes, 13 Regan King, 12 Scott Williams (captain), 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Rob McCusker, 7 John Barclay, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Johan Snyman, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 George Earle, 20 Will Boyde, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Jordan Williams.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Aisea Natoga, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 James King, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Marc Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Tom Grabham.
Referee: John Lacey
Assistant referees: Ian Davies, Marty Lewis
TMO: Tim Hayes