Four games are scheduled in the PRO14 on Saturday as the Conference B showdown between Edinburgh and Scarlets stands out.
Edinburgh vs Scarlets
Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill has made four changes to his team to face reigning champions Scarlets.
Jaco van der Walt, Chris Dean and James Johnstone replace Duncan Weir, Phil Burleigh and Mark Bennett in the backline, whilst Cornell du Preez comes in for the injured Bill Mata at number eight.
An unchanged back-three sees full-back Blair Kinghorn link up with wings Dougie Fife and Duhan van der Merwe.
Scotland Sevens star Johnstone gets the nod at outside centre alongside Dean in a revamped midfield.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne keeps his place at scrum-half and is partnered by Van der Walt, who returns to the starting XV after being an unused substitute in last weekend’s clash with Ulster.
Hooker Stuart McInally captains the side and is joined up-front by Jordan Lay and Simon Berghan. Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toolis are once again named in the second-row.
The only alteration to the back-row sees Du Preez slot in at number eight alongside Magnus Bradbury and Jamie Ritchie.
Meanwhile, with Scarlets still fighting on both fronts their head head coach, Wayne Pivac, has put squad rotation into practice with a European Rugby Champions Cup semi final, against fellow PRO14 side Leinster, also on the horizon.
Rhys Jones lines up at full-back with former England flyer Tom Varndell and Ryan Conbeer starting on the wings. Steff Hughes captains the side from inside centre and he is joined in midfiled by Ioan Nicholas while Dan Jones and Aled Davies are the half-back pairing.
Will Boyde starts at number eight while Josh Macleod and Lewis Rawlins are the two flankers. David Bulbring and Steve Cummins are the starting locks while Ryan Elias packs down at hooker alongside props Werner Kruger and Dylan Evans.
The teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 James Johnstone, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Ben Toolis, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Jordan Lay
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Lewis Carmichael, 20 Luke Crosbi, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Mark Bennett
Scarlets: 15 Rhys Jones, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Ioan Nicholas, 12 Steff Hughes (c), 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Will Boyde, 7 Josh Macleod, 6 Lewis Rawlins, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Dylan Evans
Replacements: 16 Taylor Davies, 17 Phil Price, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Josh Helps, 20 Shaun Evans, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Corey Baldwin, 23 Tom Rogers
Venue: Murrayfield
Kick-off: 15:15 BST (14:15 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: David Sutherland (Scotland), Dunx McClement (Scotland)
Television match official: Charles Samson (Scotland)
Zebre vs Dragons
Zebre head coach Michael Bradley has made five changes to his starting line-up to take on the Dragons.
In the back-line, Giovanbattista Venditti will start on the left wing and he is joined in the back three by full-back Matteo Minozzi and right wing Mattia Bellini.
Italian international inside centre Tommaso Castello, who has recovered from a knee injury suffered during the Six Nations, captains the side and will pair with Giulio Bisegni in midfield, while Azzurri duo Carlo Canna and Marcello Violi are the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Johan Meyer will start in the back-row on the openside flank alongside number eight David Sisi and Jacopo Sarto is the blindside flanker.
There will be no change in the second-row, with captain George Biagi partnering Leonard Krumov, while in the front-row, Eduardo Bello and Andrea Lovotti are the starting props while Luhandre Luss packs down at hooker.
Meanwhile, Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman has made three personnel changes and one positional change to the team that narrowly lost out in the dying minutes to Benetton Rugby last weekend.
There is just one change in the backs as scrum-half Charlie Davies replaces Owain Leonard seeing Leonard named on the replacements bench.
The remaining changes have been made in the forwards as we see Luke Garrett given an opportunity in the front-row, as he packs down alongside fellow prop Lloyd Fairbrother and hooker Elliot Dee.
Lock Joe Davies is given the nod as he moves into the starting XV to join skipper Cory Hill in the boiler room, whilst versatile forward Rynard Landman moves into the back-row to replace Harri Keddie, who has failed the return to play protocol.
Landman is joined in the back-row by flanker Aaron Wainwright and number eight Lewis Evans.
The teams:
Zebre: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Mattia Bellini, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Tommaso Castello (c), 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 David Sisi, 7 Johan Meyer, 6 Jacopo Sarto, 5 George Biagi, 4 Leonard Krumov, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Luhandre Luus, 1 Andrea Lovotti
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D’Apice, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Roberto Tenga, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Andrea De Marchi, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Serafin Bordoli, 23 Gabriele Di Giulio
Dragons: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Ashton Hewitt, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Charlie Davies, 8 Lewis Evans 7 Aaron Wainwright, 6 Rynard Landman, 5 Cory Hill (c), 4 Joe Davies, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Luke Garrett
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Josh Reynolds, 18 Dan Suter, 19 Max Williams, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Owain Leonard, 22 Adam Warren, 23 Joe Goodchild
Venue: Stadio Tommaso Fattori
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Correll (Ireland), Manuel Bottino (Italy)
Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Kings vs Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues have made eight changes for their vital PRO14 clash with Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Following the heartbreak of an injury-time defeat to the Cheetahs, head coach Danny Wilson has reshuffled his side as they look to move a step closer to European qualification.
Four of the changes come in the pack with Scott Andrews given the nod in the front-row and Josh Turnbull coming into the second-row. Nick Williams starts at number eight and Ellis Jenkins captains the side from the openside flank.
In the backs, Gareth Anscombe switches to full-back with Jarrod Evans partnering Tomos Williams at half-back, while Rey Lee-Lo returns to the centre.
Following the encounter on Saturday, the Blues depart South Africa on Sunday, arriving in the UK on Monday, and will prepare for the crucial Challenge Cup semi-final against Pau at Cardiff Arms Park.
Meanwhile, the Kings have made five changes to their side to face the Welsh region at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
There is a start at fly-half for Ntabeni Dukisa while Luzuko Vulindlu and Berton Klaasen line up in the midfield.
Lusanda Badiyana comes in on the openside while Lubabalo Mtyanda is in the second-row and tighthead prop Rossouw de Klerk returns from injury as a starter.
The teams:
Kings: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Ntabeni Dukisa, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Martinus Burger, 6 Lusanda Badiyana, 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 4 Bobby de Wee, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Schalk Ferreira (c)
Replacements: 16 Tango Balekile, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Luvuyo Pupuma, 19 Lindokuhle Welemu, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Rudi Van Rooyen, 22 Alshaun Bock, 23 Harlon Klaasen
Cardiff Blues: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Blaine Scully, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Ellis Jenkins (c), 6 Josh Navidi, 5 Josh Turnbull, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rhys Gill
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Anton Peikrishvili, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Olly Robinson, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Garyn Smith, 23 Matthew Morgan
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Kick-off: 18:35 BST (17:35 GMT)
Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Ruhan Meiring (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
Leinster vs Benetton
Leo Cullen is able to welcome back a number of players from injury to the RDS as his Leinster side looks to cement their place at the top of Conference B of the PRO14.
With two games remaining Leinster have a four-point cushion over nearest rivals the Scarlets with a home Semi-Final the prize for the team that finishes top after 21 rounds of PRO14 action.
Jack McGrath will captain the side from loosehead, with Richardt Strauss at hooker and Andrew Porter selected at tighthead. Behind them, Ross Molony and Ian Nagle are the second-row combination.
In the back-row, there is a welcome return for Seán O’Brien from a shoulder injury picked up against Scarlets last month. Joining him are Jordi Murphy and Max Deegan.
In the backs, Jordan Larmour makes his first appearance for Leinster since appearing off the bench for Ireland in the Grand Slam decider against England in March. The former St Andrew’s man has recovered from a calf injury and makes his 17th appearance of the season from full-back.
Fergus McFadden and Barry Daly occupy the right and left wings with Noel Reid and Rory O’Loughlin the centre combination.
In the half-backs, Jamison Gibson-Park is joined by Joey Carbery for his first start of the season at number 10.
Meanwhile, Benetton have made five changes to the XV that beat Dragons last week.
Full-back will be Jayden Hayward while on the wings Andrea Bronzini and Monty Ioane start, with Tommaso Iannone and captain Alberto Sgarbi in the centres.
The half-backs are Tito Tebaldi at scrum-half and Tommaso Allan at fly-half.
The front-row will consist of Federico Zani, Luca Bigi and Simone Ferrari, with Marco Lazzaroni and Alessandro Zanni the locks and Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri and Nasi Manu completing the XV.
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Rory O’Loughlin, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Barry Daly, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Max Deegan, 7 Seán O’Brien, 6 Jordi Murphy, 5 Ian Nagle, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Andrew Porter, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jack McGrath (c)
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Peadar Timmins, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Adam Byrne
Benetton: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Andrea Bronzini, 13 Tommaso Iannone, 12 Alberto Sgarbi (c), 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Sebastian Negri, 6 Federico Ruzza, 5 Alessandro Zanni, 4 Marco Lazzaroni, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Federico Zani
Replacements: 16 Engjel Makelara, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Irné Herbst, 20 Marco Fuser, 21 Dean Budd, 22 Ian McKinley, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti
Venue: RDS
Kick-off: 19:35 BST (18:35 GMT)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Aled Evans (Wales), Jonathan Peak (Wales)
Television match official: Jon Mason (Wales)
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