THE PRO14 BOOTROOM
SOUTHERN KINGS v LEINSTER NELSON MANDELA BAY, 1.15PM
TEAM NEWS: Leinster’s Jordi Murphy makes his first competitive appearance in ten months, while Joey Carbery, Dave Kearney, Noel Reid and Ross Molony are all handed their first starts of the season. Ed Byrne starts at loosehead prop for the first time in Leinster colours, while James Ryan gets his first start for the Blues. Cian Healy will win his 175th cap for the province should he be introduced from the bench. The Kings bring in Luvuyo Pupuma from the start, while Stephan Greeff takes over from Jurie Van Vuuren at lock.
VERDICT: Leinster.
WHY: Even with a large injury list and the loss of Isa Nacewa and Jamison Gibson-Park following their embarrassing visa mix-up, Leinster have travelled to South Africa with a squad packing plenty of power. The Blues recorded highscoring wins in their opening two Pro14 games, and given the disastrous start the Kings have had to Pro14 life, they’ll be keen to mount a challenge in front of their home support.
KEY STAT LEINSTER have taken the maximum 10 points from their opening two fixtures, while the Kings have yet to register a point.
SOUTHERN KINGS: M Banda; Y Penxe, B Klaasen, L Vulindlu, S Sithole; K Coleman, R van Rooyen; S Ferreira, M Willemse, L Pupuma; S Greeff, D van Schalkwyk; K Majola, V Sekekete, A Ntsila.
Replacements: S Coetzee, P Strauss, M Dreyer, B de Wee, S Mdaka, G Masimla, N Dukisa/O Zono, J Nel.
LEINSTER: J Carbery; A Byrne, R O’Loughlin, N Reid, D Kearney; R Byrne, L McGrath; E Byrne, S Cronin, A Porter; R Molony, J Ryan; R Ruddock (capt) (capt), J Murphy, J Conan.
Replacements: J Tracy, C Healy, M Bent, M Kearney, J van der Flier, N McCarthy, C Marsh, J Larmour
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) TV: Live on TG4 from 1.10pm.
OSPREYS v MUNSTER LIBERTY STADIUM, 3.15PM
TEAM NEWS: Rassie Erasmus makes just one change to the side that hammered the Cheetahs in Thomond Park last week, with Tyler Bleyendaal returning to captain the side in the No10 jersey. Ireland international John Ryan will make his 100th appearance for Munster if he comes off the bench. Wales internationals Dan Lydiate and Dan Biggar are named among Ospreys’ replacements for the visit of Munster. LAST THREE MEETINGS: May 17 – Munster 23 Ospreys 3 Feb 17 – Ospreys 23 Munster 25 Nov 16 – Munster 33 Ospreys 0
VERDICT: Munster. WHY: Ospreys have looked poor so far this season, falling to a 3110 defeat in Glasgow weekend after stuttering past Zebre in their first outing. Munster on the other hand have taken maximum points in beating the Cheetahs and Zebre, and while Ospreys will surely present a sterner challenge the Reds look wellplaced to keep up their 100 per cent start to the season. KEY STAT MUNSTER have scored 14 tries in just two games this season, ten more than Ospreys have managed.
OSPREYS: D Evans; K Giles, C Allen, J Hook, J Hassler; S Davies, T Habberfield; P James, S Parry, M Fia, B Davies, L Ashley, J King, J Tipuric (capt), D Baker. Replacements: S Baldwin, N Smith, R Jones, A Beard, D Lydiate, M Aubrey, D Biggar, K Fonotia.
MUNSTER: A Conway, D Sweetnam, C Farrell, J Taute, A Wootton; T Bleyendaal (capt), D Williams; L O’Connor, R Marshall, S Archer; J Kleyn, B Holland; S O’Connor, T O’Donnell, J O’Donoghue. Replacements: N Scannell, J Cronin, J Ryan, F Wycherley, R Copeland, J Hart, R Scannell, S Zebo.
Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU). TV: Live on Sky Sports Action and TG4, kick-off 3.15.