URC, Round Eight - Teams and Predictions

FRIDAY PREVIEW: It's all about local pride and bragging rights as derbies dominate the United Rugby Championship Round Eight matches on Friday.

The derby round action starts with the 1872 cup, where South African coaches Franco Smith and Sean Everitt will go head to head as Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh clash.

Smith and Everitt crossed paths in South Africa when Everitt was an assistant at the Sharks and Smith coached the Cheetahs.

“Local derbies are always special occasions whatever sport you’re involved in," Edinburgh coach Everitt said.

"I’ve been part of many in South Africa, and it’s now a privilege to take charge of Edinburgh in world rugby’s oldest intercity rivalry."

The two teams come into the game off the back of European victories, with Edinburgh beating Castres and Glasgow Warriors defeating Aviron Bayonnais.

“Both sides head into tomorrow night’s match in good form off the back of European wins, however, history has shown us that the formbook goes out the window when these teams meet.

"It will be 80 minutes of hard-nosed, physical rugby – like derbies always are – and it’s up to us to set the tone and for 1-15 to win their battles.

“The boys know what it means to wear the castle on their chest and represent Edinburgh. These are the games you want to be involved in and we’re excited for the challenge at Scotstoun.”

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Smith wants to finish 2023 on a high note in their final URC home match of the calendar year.

“We have prepared well all week following our return from Bayonne, and every player in the squad put their hand up to strongly compete for selection.

“This group continues to drive each other forward and demand the best from each other, with everyone keen to end this block of fixtures on a high over the next two weeks.

“We know that Scotstoun has been sold out for weeks in advance of this match – it will be a special atmosphere tomorrow night.”

*Meanwhile, Friday’s other game sees Ulster host Connacht in an all-Irish derby.

Both sides head into the fixture looking to improve on recent URC form. The two provinces have won four of their opening seven fixtures, with Ulster losing out to Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh in the past two rounds.

Connacht are also looking for a reaction after their URC losses against Leinster and Bulls in South Africa.

The Champions Cup has offered Ulster a chance to turn the tide, after an impressive 31-15 home bonus-point victory against French Top 14 leaders, Racing 92, at Kingspan Stadium.

Connacht started their European campaign off with two defeats against Bordeaux and Saracens, with the English side handing them the Irish a 55-36 beating.

Nonetheless, Connacht showed their attacking threat against the Premiership side after tries from Aki, Blade, Hanrahan, Joyce and Prendergast.

They will certainly be a massive threat to Ulster, as Connacht edged a tight two-point game by 22-20 at the Sportsground Stadium in Round three the last time the two teams met.

"When Connacht come to town, you know it’s going to be physical, and they will challenge us," Ulster defence coach Jonny Bell said.

"We need to be good across the board and back ourselves.

"They are dangerous, but we will be in front of a home crowd under the Friday night lights, and we will be focused on imposing what we want to do in the game.”

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Friday, December 22:

Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh

(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)

Prediction: 

@rugby365com: Glasgow Warriors by five points

Teams: 

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Huw Jones, 13 Sione Tuipulotu (Captain), 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 George Horne, 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Ally Miller, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti

Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Greg Peterson, 20 Max Williamson, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Tom Jordan

Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Ali Price, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (Captain), 4 Glen Young, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman

Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Boan Venter, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Mark Bennett, 23 Emiliano Boffelli

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Ru Campbell (Scotland)

TMO: David Sutherland (Scotland)

Ulster v Connacht

(Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)

Prediction: 

@rugby365com: Ulster by seven points

Teams

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jake Flannery, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Sean Reffell, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Iain Henderson (Captain), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Andy Warwick

Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Al O’Connor, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jude Postlethwaite, 23 Will Addison

Connacht: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Byron Ralston, 10 Jack Carty (Captain), 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Sean O’Brien, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 1 Denis Buckle

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Gavin Thornbury, 20 Conor Oliver, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Shane Jennings

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland), Joy Neville (Ireland)

TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)