THE PRO14 BOOTROOM
GLASGOW v LEINSTER Scotstoun, 7.35pm
TEAM NEWS: Both sides are missing a raft of players due to international call-ups and are placing an emphasis on youth. Leinster hand a senior debut to 21-year-old centre Conor O’Brien in a side captained by Ross Molony, while Sean Cronin returns to the side after missing out on the Ireland squad. Glasgow go with the pacey Lelia Masaga and Niko Matawalu on the wings and boast a strong bench containing internationals Henry Pyrgos, Alex Dunbar and Leonardo Sarto.
VERDICT: Glasgow WHY: Dave Rennie’s side are high on confidence with a 100% Pro14 record and will be desperate for revenge after being done over by Leinster here in the European Cup a couple of weeks ago. The home side’s powerful bench could swing it.
KEY STAT: Glasgow have won all seven of their league matches this season. GLASGOW: R Jackson; L Masaga, N Grigg, S Johnson, N Matawalu; P Horne, G Horne; J Bhatti, G Turner, D Rae; T Swinson, S Cummings, Rob Harley; C Gibbins (capt), M Fagerson. Reps: P MacArthur, A Allan, A Nicol, L Wynne, M Smith, H Pyrgos, A Dunbar, L Sarto. LEINSTER: J Larmour; A Byrne, R O’Loughlin, C O’Brien, D Kearney; R Byrne, J Gibson-Park; E Byrne S Cronin, M Bent; R Molony (capt), M Kearney; S Fardy, J Murphy, M Deegan. Reps: R Strauss, P Dooley, A Porter, J Murphy, D Leavy; N McCarthy, C Marsh, H Keenan. Referee: S Berry (Scotland). TV: Live on BBC Alba, Highlights TG4 9.30pm.
MUNSTER v DRAGONS Musgrave Park, 7.35pm
TEAM NEWS: Munster hand a debut to South African openside Chris Cloete alongside Jack O’Donoghue and Robin Copeland with Billy Holland captaining the side from the second row. Like Munster, Bernard Jackman’s Dragons are affected by international callups and are also without veteran Gavin Henson, so they will look to younger players like 20-year-old flanker Aaron Wainwright to step up. VERDICT: Munster. WHY: Although Dragons have more fire under Jackman, Munster are determined to give director of rugby Rassie Erasmus a fitting send-off before he joins up with the Springboks and pack the greater power and experience, including the Ireland spurned Simon Zebo at full-back. KEY STAT: The Dragons have never beaten Munster in Cork.
MUNSTER: S Zebo; D Sweetnam, C Farrell, R Scannell, A Wootton; JJ Hanrahan, D Williams; L O’Connor, R Marshall, S Archer; J Kleyn, B Holland (capt); J O’Donoghue, C Cloete, R Copeland. Reps: K O’Byrne, J Cronin, B Scott, D O’Shea, M Flanagan, J Hart, I Keatley, S Arnold.
DRAGONS: W Talbot-Davies; A Hewitt, A Warren, J Dixon, J Rosser; A O’Brien, C Davies; T Davies, G Ellis, L Fairbrother; J Davies, R Landman; A Wainwright, J Sheekey, J Benjamin (capt), Reps; L Belcher, L Garrett, B Harris, S Andrews, B Roach, S Pretorius, A Robson, P Howard
Referee: M Adamson (Scotland). TV: Not on live.