Ulster bounced back from a heavy defeat to Connacht to take down the Pro 14 champions and swap opponents with the Westerners this week, as Connacht beat Ospreys last week and now face Leinster on Friday night.

Ospreys are hoping to avoid a third loss of the season after the heavy defeat to Andy Friend’s men, just like Ulster did.

Ulster winger Craig Gilroy is set to make his 200th appearance for the side – he will become their eighth double-centurion on the men’s team if he gets minutes from the bench.

Robert Baloucoune and Bradley Roberts have returned to the starting lineup after spending time with Ireland and Wales respectively for the Autumn Nations Series.

Jack McGrath makes his return to the Ulster side after recovering from injury and is named among the replacements.

Although named on the bench last week versus Leinster, Tom Stewart wasn’t called upon, so could make his senior debut on Saturday as he is selected again in the replacements.

Last week’s try-scorer James Hume will miss out.

Ospreys welcome several members of the side back into the squad after injuries and international duty – Alex Cuthbert and Tomas Francis are among those returning.

Michael Collins (not the revolutionary) starts at 13 after a spell on the sidelines.

Captain Rhys Webb and Stephen Myler will aim to impose themselves on their opponents more than they did last week after strong starts to the season.

Dan McFarland’s men sit joint-top of the table – a bonus-point win could help them claim top ahead of Leinster.

Ospreys, on the other hand, can move into the top four with a victory – albeit, ahead of Munster who have only played five games.

Teams

Ulster

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, Angus Curtis, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Bradley Roberts, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Mick Kearney, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Craig Gilroy.

Ospreys

(15-9) Dan Evans, Alex Cuthbert, Michael Collins, Owen Watkin, Luke Morgan, Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (C);

(1-8) Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tomas Francis, Rhys Davies, Bradley Davies, Will Griffiths, Jac Morgan, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Elvis Taione, Nicky Smith, Tom Botha, Jack Regan, Ethan Roots, Reuben Morgan Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler.

Odds

Ospreys 11/5

Draw 19/1

Ulster 4/11

Where To Watch

The match will be available to watch live on Premier Sports 2 and URC TV.

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Gilroy makes way for Robert Baloucoune, who starts in the back three alongside Mike Lowry and Ethan McIlroy.

James Hume will not appear for the side after his game-winning interception against Leinster – Angus Curtis replaces him at 13 with McCloskey retaining the number 12 shirt.

John Cooney and Billy Burns have been named scrum-half and out-half respectively.

Wales international Bradley Roberts will come in to start at hooker, with Eric O’Sullivan and Tom O’Toole on either side of him in the front row.

Alan O’Connor will captain the team and is named in the second row alongside Kieran Treadwell.

Sean Reidy comes in to start at blindside, with Nick Timoney at openside and David McCann completing the base of the pack.

Jack McGrath makes his return to the Ulster side after recovering from injury and is named among the replacements.

Although named on the bench last week versus Leinster, Tom Stewart wasn’t called upon, so could make his senior debut on Saturday as he is selected again in the replacements.

Gilroy, Nathan Doak and Mick Kearney are among those also on the bench.

Ulster team v Ospreys

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, Angus Curtis, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Bradley Roberts, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Mick Kearney, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Craig Gilroy.

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Connacht earned their second win of the season before proceedings were paused for the Autumn international break but will feel like they could be in a better spot after five games – the road to correcting that starts now.

Their opponents, Ospreys, have had a strong start to life in this new league and are aiming for a third victory in a row.

Gareth Anscombe and Rhys Webb have endured fruitful spells of form as they lead their side’s charge up the table.

Anscombe is rested this weekend with Stephen Myler taking this place – a man also worthy of the 10 shirt at the club.

Anscombe and fellow Wales international Alex Cuthbert will not feature as boss Toby Booth looks to manage their reintegration.

Ireland inside centre Bundee Aki is rested for the home side, with Sammy Arnold moving to 12 and debutant Shayne Bolton donning number 13 for the night.

Hooker Dave Heffernan will earn his 150th cap for the province – the starting XV includes three other players with over a century and a half worth of caps for the Westerners.

Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Mack Hansen and Jack Carty all start for the side after being involved with the Irish national side in the past month.

Teams

Connacht

15. Oran McNulty (2)
14. Alex Wootton (22)
13. Shayne Bolton *
12. Sammy Arnold (21)
11. Mack Hansen (5)
10. Jack Carty (164) (C)
9. Kieran Marmion (191)
1. Matthew Burke (28)
2. Dave Heffernan (149)
3. Finlay Bealham (164)
4. Niall Murray (21)
5. Ultan Dillane (119)
6. Jarrad Butler (78)
7. Conor Oliver (25)
8. Paul Boyle (62)

16. Shane Delahunt (105)
17. Jordan Duggan (17)
18. Jack Aungier (18)
19. Oisín Dowling (11)
20. Eoghan Masterson (113)
21. Caolin Blade (135)
22. Conor Fitzgerald (39)
23. Peter Robb (47)

Ospreys

15. Dan Evans

14. Max Nagy

13. Owen Watkin

12. Joe Hawkins

11. Luke Morgan

10. Stephen Myler

9. Rhys Webb ©

1.Nicky Smith

2. Elvis Taione

3. Tom Botha

4. Bradley Davies

5. Rhys Davies

6. Sam Cross

7. Jac Morgan

8. Ethan Roots

16. Sam Parry

17. Gareth Thomas

18. Rhys Henry

19. Will Griffiths

20. Morgan Morris

21. Reuben Morgan- Williams

22. Josh Thomas

23. Cai Evans

Odds

Connacht 3/10

Draw 20/1

Ospreys 11/4

Where To Watch

The game will be shown live on RTÉ Two with coverage beginning at 7 pm. URC TV will also show the clash.

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Ospreys v Munster will kick off at 19:35 on Saturday 23rd October in the Swansea.com Stadium in Wales. Referee Hollie Davidson will take charge of the match while Mike Adamson will be on TMO.

This match will also be shown live on RTE 2, Premier Sports, URC TV, and S4C.

Munster will head to Wales with their tails up after a late 20-18 win over Connacht maintained their 100 percent winning start to the season.

Beaten finalists last term, Munster has triumphed in their last 11 matches against the Ospreys in all competitions since a defeat in Cork in February 2016.

The Stags will also be boosted by the long-awaited return of some of their international players, Conor Murray and Damien De Allende.

The Ospreys survived a Benetton fightback to claim a third victory in four matches but have won only twice in eight meetings against Irish provinces.

They have also beaten an Irish opponent just once at this stadium since April 2018 while Munster has prevailed on their last five visits.

What a moment for @Munsterrugby!

Diarmuid Barron gives his side the bragging rights and keeps their unbeaten streak going with this late try #URC | #MUNCON pic.twitter.com/XRUkN0hXws

— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 16, 2021

Ospreys v Munster Starting Teams

Ospreys

Max Nagy; Alex Cuthbert, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Mat Protheroe; Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (C); Nicky Smith, Elvis Taione, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Rhys Davies, Sam Cross, Jac Morgan, Ethan Roots.

Replacements

Ifan Phillips, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Henry, Jack Regan, Morgan Morris, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Joe Hawkins, Dan Evans.

Injuries / Suspensions

N/A

Munster

Matt Gallagher; Andrew Conway, Liam Coombes, Dan Goggin, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements

Kevin O’Byrne, Josh Wycherley, Keynan Knox, Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Conor Murray, Ben Healy, Damian de Allende.

Injuries / Suspensions

RG Snyman, Jason Jenkins, James French, Chris Farrell, Roman Salanoa

On this day in 2017, @Munsterrugby edged a tight second round match to claim a win at Thomond Park

How far can they go in this years #HeinekenChampionsCup ? pic.twitter.com/rj73E0mEZ5

— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) October 21, 2021

Ospreys v Munster Betting

Outright Betting

Ospreys: 7/2

Draw: 25/1

Munster: 1/6

Handicap Betting:

Ospreys (+12): 10/11

Draw (+12): 22/1

Munster (-12): 10/11

Score Prediction

Munster are again the clear favorites for another URC match. They will be on high alert after complacency nearly lead to them losing last week. The Irish provincial side will push on once more this week especially with the return of some of their stars.

Expect Munster to win by 9 points with a victory bonus point secured.

To read more in-depth and up-to-date provincial and Irish rugby news, click here.

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The two teams will face each other at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh with kick-off at 3:00 pm.

Six Irish players are included in the starting XV – Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw. You can use your Coral Promo Code and back The Lions at 2/1 to win the tour in South Africa.

It is the highest amount of players in the XV from any of the four national teams of Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland.

Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong is on the bench, bringing the total of Irish players in the 23 to seven.

Tour Captain Alun Wyn Jones= takes the armband for the side’s first warm-up test.

Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson give a Scottish feel to the front row while the back row includes Beirne and Conan alongside Hamish Watson.

Conor Murray and Dan Biggar are the starting inside-back pairing with Irish centres Aki and Henshaw beside them.

Duhan Van Der Merwe, Josh Adams and Liam Williams round off the XV.

Furlong, Jamie George, Owen Farrell and Anthony Watson are among those on the bench.

The game will be available to watch on Channel 4 in Ireland and the UK with coverage starting at 2:15 pm.

British and Irish Lions 1888 Cup Squad

Backs

15. Liam Williams (Wales/Scarlets)

14. Josh Adams (Wales/Cardiff Blues)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland/Leinster)

12. Bundee Aki (Ireland/Connacht)

11. Duhan Van Der Merwe (Scotland/Edinburgh)

10. Dan Biggar (Wales/Northampton Saints)

9. Conor Murray (Ireland/Munster)

Forwards

1. Rory Sutherland (Scotland/Edinburgh)
2. Ken Owens (Wales/Scarlets)
3. Zander Fagerson (Scotland/Glasgow Warriors)
4. Iain Henderson (Ireland/Ulster)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales/Ospreys)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland/Munster)
7. Hamish Watson (Scotland/Edinburgh)
8. Jack Conan (Ireland/Leinster)

Bench

16. Jamie George (England/Saracens)

17. Wyn Jones (Wales/Scarlets)

18. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland/Leinster)

19. Courtney Lawes (England/Northampton Saints)

20. Taulupe Faletau (Wales/Bath)

21. Ali Price (Scotland/Glasgow Warriors)

22. Owen Farrell (England/Saracens)

23. Anthony Watson (England/Bath)

Match Review

Chris Farrell opened Ireland’s account with a try after Yu Tamura’s early penalty. Japan responded when Michael Leitch touched down after the visitors mauled over for a try.

Stuart McCloskey then gave Ireland a 12-10 lead after Joey Carbery started an attack with a clever chip, but Japan continued to attack in waves and Timothy Lafaele got over after a free-flowing move.

Finlay Bealham responded for Ireland just before half-time with a try and they took a 19-17 lead into the break.

Siosaia Fifita was next to touch down after the break as Japan came out all guns blazing. It was tit-for-tat as Josh van der Flier then got an Ireland try to put Farrell’s men 26-24 ahead.

Jacob Stockdale was next to notch a try for Ireland but Japan rallied with a late try from Naoto Saito. A Joey Carbery penalty opened up an eight-point lead and Ireland held on for the win.

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Connacht v Ospreys

The Sportsground, Galway – Sunday 24th January 2021 @3pm

Did you know?
• Connacht’s last three matches in the Guinness PRO14 have all strangely been won by the away side on the day.
• Connacht have lost their last three matches at The Sportsground in all competitions since beating Benetton there on 4 December.
• Ospreys have lost just once in any tournament since mid-November: 14-16 against Scarlets in Llanelli on 26 December.
• Ospreys only victory in their last thirteen matches against Irish provinces in the PRO14 was 26-24 at home to Ulster in February 2020.
• Ospreys most recent victory away to an Irish province was over Connacht at The Sportsground in September 2016.
• Connacht have won their last two matches against Ospreys and have only once before won three in succession against the Welshmen, between 2003-2004.

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