URC, Round 14 - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY PREVIEW: The spotlight will be on the South African derbies this weekend as the 2022/2023 United Rugby Championship season enters Round 14.
It kicks off in Johannesburg with the Lions hosting the Sharks at Ellis Park. After that, the focus will move 60km north to Loftus Versfeld, where the Bulls will be looking to get one over their old foes in an eagerly awaited North-South Derby.
It's safe to say that the clash in Pretoria has a higher profile.
The Bulls and Stormers have met four times in the URC, including in last season’s inaugural final, with the Capetonians winning on all four occasions, the last of which was a 37-27 win in Cape Town just before Christmas.
The hosts will be buoyed by the return of their head coach Jake White following surgery and recovery and it will be Morné Steyn’s 150th appearance for the Bulls (in international competitions) when he comes off the bench.
The Bulls will also be boosted by the return of Springbok wing Sibusiso Nkosi, who was away from the camp for two months to deal with mental health issues.
However, that alone will not be enough to topple the high-riding Stormers, whose only defeat on South African soil in the URC was way back in Round Five last season, on December 4, 2021, against the Lions in Cape Town.
The Bulls – who haven’t lost at home since February 2022 (12 matches) – came close last season at Loftus, where the Stormers won by 30-26 courtesy of a converted try at the death by Paul de Wet.
"We need to play for 80 minutes," White told reporters on Friday.
"We were 13-all over Christmas and then we let them score straight after half-time. We let them score two quick tries and then the game was gone.
"There were moments of inaccuracies, moments of not concentrating and then the game was gone.
"The Stormers are like that. They can punish you from anywhere. They basically swapped Warrick Gelant for Clayton Blommetjies, which is like for like.
"Manie [Libbok] is on fire and he playing really good rugby now.
"For me, it is just one simple thing, we got to concentrate for 80 minutes.
"We are good enough if we play for 80 minutes. We just got to make sure that we are switched on for the whole game."
On Nkosi's return, White added: "He needs to get back on the horse as soon as possible.
"He is a good player; he is a World Cup winner.
"Since he has been training with the team, all the signs have been positive.
"He is one of those guys who just adds energy all the time.
"I think he will play well tomorrow [Saturday]."
Meanwhile, Stormers head coach John Dobson says Saturday's clash will test his team's character in a different way.
With a few games left, the Stormers will have their sights set on securing second spot on the standings and, in the process, home-ground advantage should they progress to the semifinals.
The fourth-placed Bulls, on the other hand, are in more of a precarious position as they are being hounded by a chasing pack of teams who will be pressing hard for a top-four finish and quarterfinal hosting rights.
"I think it will be a great test of our evolution and our maturity," said Dobson.
"It's not a do-or-die game for us. The question is can we go to a place like Loftus, which is revered around the world as a tough place to win, and perform without having our backs being against the wall?
"The Bulls' mentality will be to fight for this one and we are expecting that intense game from them from the start.
"If we can produce one of our [signature] performances without our backs against the wall, it will show that we are evolving.
"Playing these long competitions, you need to be able to turn up no matter the opposition and the venue.
"We got some work to do overseas, but it will be interesting to see where we are tomorrow."
Sharks go Lion hunting
The Sharks can also still move up on the log, but they are in eighth place at the moment, and any dropped points in Johannesburg could end up costly.
The Lions, placed 13th with six games to go, will also know that any points will be very valuable as they look to finish in the play-offs this year.
On paper, the Sharks should be favourites to clinch the win, as they have won all three previous encounters with the Lions, including a 37-10 victory in December. However, the hosts will have taken notice that the KwaZulu-Natalians have lost three of their last four league matches away from home.
On their part, the Sharks would have noticed their opponents’ defensive issues, with the Lions’ 49 tries conceded so far this season only topped by Zebre Parma’s 65, while the hosts are also on the wrong end of the table when it comes to tries scored (30).
Lions captain Marius Louw, who is a former Sharks player, has noticed subtle changes in the way the Durban side plays the game.
"I’ve been away [from the Sharks] for a while. They have changed one or two things and new management has come in and new players," said Louw.
"They have done things a little bit differently and they have grown a lot.
"It is something I picked up, but some of the things stayed the same.
"We also analyse and pick up trends."
For Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell, Saturday's outing will be a chance to right some wrongs.
The team from Durban will enter the match after a demoralising 19-46 defeat to the Stormers at Kings Park two weeks ago.
"We basically looked at ourselves and the build-up to that week and the game itself," said Powell.
"As a system and a team, we took responsibility for our performance.
"We are very disappointed with the outcome of that game and we are a lot better than what we showed on the field.
"We needed to shut that door as well. I don't think we can dwell on that performance and we needed to shift our focus to this game.
"I think the fact that we had a bye last week helps us to close that door behind us."
In Saturday's other matches, Zebre will welcome Connacht to Parma and there are two matches in Wales in the form of Cardiff against Benetton and Scarlets against Edinburgh.
The late match on Saturday will see Leinster up against the Dragons in Dublin.
See below for Saturday's teams and predictions!
Saturday, January 18:
Lions v Sharks
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg - Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Sharks by eight points.
Teams:
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabs Maxwane, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Ruhan Delport, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Ruhan Straeuli, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 7 Henco Venter, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Reniel Hugo, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Cameron Wright, 23 Ben Tapuai.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa) & Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Bulls v Stormers
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - Kick-off: 17.05; 15.05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Stormers by five points.
Teams:
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Sibusiso Nkosi, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Jacques Du Plessis, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrick Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Junior Pokomela, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa) & Griffon Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Zebre Parma v Connacht
(Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 16.05; 15.05 UK & Ireland time; 15.05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Connacht by 10 points.
Teams:
Zebre: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Enrico Lucchin (captain), 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Tiff Eden, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Luca Andreani, 5 Josh Furno, 4 Leonard Krumov, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Marco Manfredi, 1 Luca Rizzoli.
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Paolo Buonfiglio, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Jan Uys, 20 Davide Ruggeri, 21 Ratko Jelic, 22 Antonio Rizzi, 23 Richard Kriel.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 John Porch, 10 Jack Carty (captain), 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Niall Murray, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Tom Daly, 23 Adam Byrne.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini (Italy) & Francesco Meschini (Italy)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)
Scarlets v Edinburgh
(Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Scarlets by three points.
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Ioan Nicholas, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Sione Kalamafoni (captain), 7 Dan Davis, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Morgan Jones, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Shaun Evans, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Taylor Davies, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Ben Williams, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Eddie James.
Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Damien Hoyland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 James Lang, 11 Jack Blain, 10 Charlie Savala, 9 Charlie Shiel, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Nick Haining, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 4 Glen Young, 3 Murray McCallum, 2 Dave Cherry (captain), 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Adam McBurney, 17 Jamie Jack, 18 Lee-Roy Atalifo, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Connor Boyle, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Chris Dean.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Jason Bessant (Wales) & Simon Mills (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Cardiff v Benetton
(Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 17.15; 18.15 Italy time; 17.15 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Benetton by seven points.
Teams:
Cardiff: 15 Ben Thomas, 14 Owen Lane, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Jason Harries, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 James Ratti, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 6 Josh Turnbull (captain), 5 Seb Davies, 4 Lopeti Timani, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Corey Domachowski.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Aled Summerhill, 23 Matthew Morgan.
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Onisi Ratave, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Filippo Drago, 11 Mattia Bellini, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Henry Time-Stowers, 7 Alessandro Izekor, 6 Giovanni Pettinelli, 5 Riccardo Favretto, 4 Marco Lazzaroni, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Nahuel Tetaz.
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Filippo Alongi, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Toa Halafihi, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Jacob Umaga, Joaquin Riera.
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (Wales) & Stephen Allsop (Wales)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Leinster v Dragons
(RDS Arena, Dublin – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Leinster by 22 points.
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Liam Turner, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Max Deegan, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Rhys Ruddock (captain), 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 John McKee, 1 Michael Milne.
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Will Connors, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Charlie Tector, 23 Rob Russell.
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien, 14 Sio Tomkinson, 13 Steff Hughes, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Will Reed, 9 Rhodri Williams (captain), 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Ben Fry, 5 Ben Carter, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rhodri Jones.
Replacements: 16 James Benjamin, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Sean Lonsdale, 20 Ryan Woodman, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Jordan Williams.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Oisin Quinn (Ireland) & Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (Scotland)