THE PRO14 BOOTROOM
SCARLETS V MUNSTER Parc Y Scarlets, 3pm
TEAM NEWS: Rookie scrum-half Craig Casey, 21, starts in the injuryenforced absence of Conor Murray. Mike Haley and Darren Sweetnam return from injury and start in a back three alongside Andrew Conway. Jean Kleyn has recovered from a neck injury and starts at lock while Rhys Marshall is named at hooker. LAST MEETING - FEB 2020 - Munster 29 Scarlets 10. VERDICT: Scarlets. WHY? The hosts have named a powerful starting line-up filled with Welsh internationals as well as Tongan No8 Sione Kalamafoni.
SCARLETS: L Halfpenny; T Rogers, J Davies, S Hughes, S Evans; D Jones, G Davies; W Jones, K Owens (capt), W Kruger; J Ball, S Lousi; B Thomson, J Macleod, S Kalamafoni. Reps: R Elias, P Price, J Sebastian, L Rawlins, J Davies, K Hardy, R Patchell. MUNSTER: M Haley; A Conway, C Farrell, D de Allende, D Sweetnam; JJ Hanrahan, C Casey; J Cronin, R Marshall, J Ryan; J Kleyn, T Beirne; P O’Mahony (capt), J O’Donoghue, CJ Stander. Reps: K O’Byrne, J Loughman, S Archer, F Wycherley, G Coombes, N Cronin, B Healy, R Scannell. Referee: S Grove-White (Scotland). TV: Live on Eir Sport/TG4 from 2.50pm.
KEY STAT
Munster’s only opening weekend defeat since 2009 was by a single point at home to Edinburgh in 2014.
CONNACHT V GLASGOW
The Sportsground, 5.15pm
TEAM NEWS: The Irish international trio of Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty and Bundee Aki form a potent axis at 9-10-12 for the hosts. Tom Farrell partners Aki in the centre, while Australian John Porch continues at full-back. Paul Boyle starts at No8. Glasgow head coach Danny Wilson has named a matchday 23 containing 17 internationals. LAST MEETING - FEB 2019 - Glasgow 43 Connacht 17. VERDICT: Connacht. WHY? Andy Friend’s side showed their attacking potential during the win over Ulster in August.
CONNACHT: J Porch; P Sullivan, T Farrell, B Aki, A Wootton; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham; G Thornbury, Q Roux; J Butler (capt), C Oliver, P Boyle. Reps: J Murphy, J Duggan, J Aungier, N Murray, S Masterson, C Blade, C Fitzgerald, S Arnold. GLASGOW WARRIORS: H Jones; T Seymour, N Grigg, S McDowall, R Nairn; A Hastings, A Price; O Kebble, F Brown, D Rae; R Harley, S Cummings; R Wilson, C Fusaro, M Fagerson. Reps: G Turner, A Seiuli, E Pieretto, R Gray, F Lokotui, G Horne, P Horne, R Tagive. Referee: C Evans (Wales) TV: Live on Eir Sport/TG4 from 5pm
KEY STAT
Connacht have not beaten a Scottish opponent since their victory at Edinburgh in April 2017.