DRAGONS v ULSTER
At Rodney Parade, 7.05pm live on BBC Wales. Referee: Andy Ireland (SRU)
Following last week’s warm-up match against The Bulls, Ulster coach Mark McCall has made four changes to his starting line-up to face The Dragons as the Celtic League resumes this Friday evening.
Ulster Team:
15 Bryn Cunningham; 14 Tommy Bowe; 13 Paul Steinmetz; 12 Kevin Maggs; 11 Tyrone Howe; 10 David Humphreys; 9 Kieran Campbell; 1 Simon Best; 2 Rory Best; 3 Rod Moore; 4 Gary Longwell; 5 Matt McCullough; 6 Campbell Feather (Captain); 7 Neil Best; 8 Roger Wilson
Replacements: 16 Paul Shields; 17 Ronan McCormack; 18 Rowan Frost; 19 Gavin Pfister; and from Reece Spee; Adam Larkin; Scott Young; Shane Stewart.
The Dragons welcome Welsh international players Steve Jones and Luke Charteris back into the team to face Ulster on Friday night. They are also waiting on the fitness of scrum half Gareth Baber and should he not pass a fitness test then Newport’s James Ireland will play in the No.9 position. On the replacements bench Matthew Veater and Pontypool Captain Cae Trayhern are named.
Dragons’ Team:
Percy Montgomery, Gareth Wyatt, Nathan Brew, Steve Winn, Ben Breeze, Craig Warlow, Gareth Baber/James Ireland, Rod Snow, Steve Jones, Chris Anthony, Luke Charteris, Peter Sidoli, Jamie Ringer, Jason Forster (c), Rhys Oakley
Replacements:
James Richards, Adam Black, Rhys Thomas, Matthew Veater, Cae Trayhern, Sione Tuipulotu, Jonathan Bryant
Friday 18 February
CONNACHT v SCARLETS
At Dubarry Park, 7.30pm. Referee: Graeme Hannah (SRU)
Connacht have made three changes to the side that beat Borders, 18-8, for this Friday’s game;Bernard Jackman comes in at hooker for the injured John Fogarty while Matt Lacey replaces John O’Sullivan. Lacey will start at seven and John Muldoon will move to eight. In the backline Ted Robinson comes into the side in place of the injured Mark McHugh. Robinson will start on the wing with Darren Yapp moving to inside centre. Connacht will name their replacements later in the week.
Connacht team:
Matt Mostyn, Conor McPhillips, Paul Warwick, Darren Yapp, Ted Robinson, David Slemen, Tom Tierney; Ray Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Peter Bracken, Christian Short, Andrew Farley (c), Michael Swift, Matt Lacey, John Muldoon
Replacements to be confirmed
Mark Taylor is set to make his first appearance for the Scarlets since the Autumn internationals when they travel to Connacht this weekend. Elsewhere, fullback Lee Byrne starts in place of Garan Evans at 15, while Liam Davies of the Scarlets Academy features on the bench.
Scarlets Team:
15. Lee Byrne; 14. Aisea Havili; 13. Matthew J Watkins; 12. Salesi Finau; 11. Tal Selley; 10. Gareth Bowen; 9. Mike Phillips; 1. Phil John; 2. Matthew Rees; 3. John Davies; 4. Vernon Cooper; 5. Chris Wyatt; 6. Jonathan Mills; 7. Gavin Thomas; 8. Andy Powell;
Replacements:
16. Dorian Williams; 17. Aled Gravelle, 18. Adam Jones; 9. Ian Boobyer; 20. Liam Davies; 21. Arwel Thomas; 22. Mark Taylor
Saturday 19 February
OSPREYS v THE BORDERS
At The Gnoll, 5.30pm live on S4C & Setanta Scotland. Referee: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
The Ospreys have seven players unavailable due to Wales team commitments – Shane Williams, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Brent Cockbain and Adam Jones. Jason Spice has a groin injury and is targeting to be fit for the match against Leinster on March 6th. Huw Bennett has a neck injury which means he will be out for the rest of the season.
Ospreys Team:
1. P. James, 2. Williams (c), 3. Millward, 4. Newman, 5. Bateman, 6. Bater, 7. Tandy, 8. A. Lloyd, 9. R. Rees, 10. M. Jones, 11. Mustoe, 12. Seveali’i, 13. Bishop, 14. Terblanche, 15. Durston.
Replacements
16. Hibbard, 17. D. Jones, 18. Tait, 19. Pugh, 20. R. Wells, 21. Connor, 22. Tiueti
The Borders Team to be announced
