WE ARE FOUR hours away from kick-off in some crucial Pro12 matches. The final round of fixtures will tell us the semi-final make up, with Leinster and Ulster looking for home draws.
Zebre v Munster
When: Tonight, 6:45
Where can I watch? Parma, Italy or if you have SportItalia on satellite
The story so far: It will be hard for Rob Penney to get his troops motivated for this end-of-season jaunt to Italy. Munster are marooned in sixth with neither a win, loss or draw affecting their final standings. Zebre have this game to prevent a 0-22 losing record in their first season in the league.
Team news: Only four Munster players that started the Heineken Cup semi-final defeat to Clermont are in tonight’s starting XV. JJ Hanrahan gets the nod at outhalf in a possible glimpse into next season and a ROG-less Munster. Paul O’Connell continues his remarkable comeback, partnering Billy Holland in the second row. Sinoti Sinoti and Daniel Halangahu scored tries against Leinster recently and represent the home team’s best points hopes.
Zebre: Ruggero Trevisan; Giovanbattista Venditti, Alberto Benettin, Gonzalo Garcia, Sinoti Sinoti; Daniel Halangahu, Tito Tebaldi; Matias Aguero, Davide Giazzon, David Ryan; Josh Sole, Marco Bortolami (c); Filippo Ferrarini, Mauro Bergamasco, Andries van Schalkwyk.Replacements: Andrea Manici, Luciano Leibson, Andrea de Marchi, Emiliano Caffini, Filippo Cristiano, Alberto Chillon, Matteo Pratichetti, Samuele Pace.
Munster: Denis Hurley; Ronan O’Mahony, Casey Laulala, Ian Keatley, Johne Murphy; JJ Hanrahan, Cathal Sheridan; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, John Ryan; Billy Holland, Paul O’Connell (c); Dave O’Callaghan, Sean Dougall, Paddy Butler. Replacements: Damien Varley, James Cronin, BJ Botha, Ian Nagle, Niall Ronan, Duncan Williams, Cathal Bohane, Felix Jones.
Leinster v Ospreys
When: Tonight, 7:45
Where can I watch? TG4 from 7:30pm
The story so far: Ospreys are, with the major exception of Clermont, Leinster’s bogey team. Joe Schmidt will be hoping to secure a home semi-final at the RDS and to do one over the side that beat the Blues in last year’s Pro12 Final.
Team news: Brian O’Driscoll, having manically proved himself fit, is rested on a strong bench that includes Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner and Cian Healy. Isa Nacewa annd Andrew Conway are on the wings and three 2013 Lions start: Rob Kearney, Jonny Sexton and Sean O’Brien. Ospreys counter with three Lions of their own: Adam Jones, Justin Tipuric and Alun Wyn Jones.
Leinster: Rob Kearney; Andrew Conway, Fergus McFadden, Ian Madigan, Isa Nacewa; Jonathan Sexton, Isaac Boss; Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan; Leo Cullen (c), Quinn Roux; Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Sean O’Brien. Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, Dominic Ryan, John Cooney, Andrew Goodman, Brian O’Driscoll.
Ospreys: Richard Fussell; Tom Habberfield, Ashley Beck, Ben John, Ross Jones; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Duncan Jones, Scott Baldwin, Adam Jones; Alun Wyn Jones (c), James King; Justin Tipuric, Sam Lewis, Joe Bearman. Replacements: Dmitri Arhip, Ryan Bevington, Cai Griffiths, Ian Evans, Morgan Allen, Matthew Morgan, Tom Isaacs, Jonathan Spratt.
Isa Nacewa owes Ospreys a defeat. (©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Ulster v Cardiff Blues
When: Tonight, 7:45
Where can I watch? BBC2 from 7:30pm
The story so far: Cardiff Blues have endured a pitifully bad season in the Pro12 and Europe. Still, they will hope to finish on a high and deny Ulster a home semi-final. Mark Anscombe’s men have taken the league very, very seriously all season and it would be fitting if they could top the standings at the end of this evening.
Team news: A strong Ulster team with a lethal backline, which includes Jared Payne, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe and Ruan Pienaar. Rory Best, having been omitted from the Lions squad on Tuesday, is sure to receive a warm welcome. Cardiff’s Lions Leigh Halfpenny and Sam Warburton do not feature but Alex Cuthbert, coming back to fitness after a hamstring tweak, does.
Ulster: Jared Payne; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding, Tommy Bowe; Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall; Callum Black, Rory Best, John Afoa; Johann Muller, Iain Henderson; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams. Replacements: Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Dan Tuohy, Sean Doyle, Paddy Jackson, Mike Allen, Peter Nelson.
Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish; Alex Cuthbert, Gavin Evans (c), Dafydd Hewitt, Harry Robinson; Rhys Patchell, Lewis Jones; Taufa’ao Filise, Kristian Dacey, Scott Andrews; Bradley Davies, Lou Reed; Luke Hamilton, Josh Navidi, Michael Paterson. Replacements: Marc Breeze, Thomas Davies, Campese Ma’afu, Teofilo Paulo, Macauley Cook, Liam Davies, Ceri Sweeney, Tom James.
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
When: Tonight, 7:45
Where can I watch? RTE from 7:30pm
The story so far: Glasgow would ordinarily be favourites for such a fixture but the league’s third-placed team are up against a Connacht team that will be brimming with farewell emotions. Coach Eric Elwood oversees the westerners for the final time and there will be send-offs for departing and retiring players such as Adrian Flavin and Johnny O’Connor.
Team news: Gavin Duffy captains a Connacht side that will feature O’Connor and, in all likelihood, Fetu’u Vainikolo for the last time. Dan Parks continues his partnership with young scrumhalf Kieran Marmion and Mike McCarthy will also wave goodbye to the Connacht faithful at the end of tonight’s proceedings. Stuart Hogg, selected for the Lions squad, is on the bench so Warriors’ main scoring threat should come from DTH van der Merwe.
Connacht: Gavin Duffy (c); Danie Poolman, Eoin Griffin, Brian Murphy, Fetu’u Vainikolo; Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Brett Wilkinson, Ethienne Reynecke, Ronan Loughney; Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy; Andrew Browne, Johnny O’Connor, Eoin McKeon.
Glasgow Warriors: Peter Murchie; Tommy Seymour, Sean Lamont, Peter Horne, DTH Van der Merwe; Ruaridh Jackson, Henry Pyrgos; Moray Low, Pat MacArthur, Jon Welsh; Tim Swinson, Tom Ryder; Rob Harley, John Barclay, Ryan Wilson (c). Replacements: Doug Hall, Ryan Grant, Ed Kalman, James Eddie, Josh Strauss, Niko Matawalu, Sean Maitland, Stuart Hogg.
TheScore.ie will be liveblogging all the action from the RDS from 7:15pm tonight.
Fine player and was guaranteed choice for team of the year. Here’s hoping to more like him coming through
@Shaun Gallagher: sure Porter is not far off him as it is. He would certainly have been fighting it out for a starting berth on the Lions team if it wasn’t for his injury
Over the years tight head props were at least perceived as being slower and less skilful than loose heads. A few years ago before he hit the interprovincial and international stage I asked him if he ever considered switching to loose. He looked at me like I had 2 heads. But after I explained that with his speed and skills he might get more freedom and be on the ball more often at loose he didn’t knock me off my barstool. He said that he would be sticking with tight but would show that modern No 3s
could have all the skills and still anchor the scrum. How right he was. He has set the standard for tight heads worldwide. Brilliant rugby player.
@JG: this is a bit like the Michael Owen BBC sports personality of the year tweet!
Wonderful player great watching him play long may he last
I wonder is he better than Peter Clohessy was?
Just curious but he is one hell of a player
@O’Brien Michael: Claw was a legend but he was a penalty machine. Also, Furlong has broken the mold with his handling and footwork. That simply didn’t exist for props 15 years back.
@Steve O’Farrell: thats a fair comment old chap
A super player, why wouldn’t he amd his mother a Cork woman, but he tries (pun) to keep that quiet.
Great article, and a super player .let’s hope he stays injury free for the next World Cup . Well need all his skills to table for that .
Not only is he the best tighthead in the world at the moment, he is arguably the greatest tighthead prop there has ever been.
G’wan Tadhg ur a ⭐️