Thursday 6 April 2017 15:41, UK
Ulster take on Cardiff Blues in Belfast while Connacht travel to Edinburgh in the PRO12 on Friday.
Ulster v Cardiff (7.45pm)
Ulster have named a strong side for the visit of Cardiff Blues to Kingspan Stadium on Friday night as Ulster aim for a 7th consecutive Guinness PRO12 win
Rory Best returns to provincial action and he will lead the side from hooker as regular captains Rob Herring and Andrew Trimble are both named on the bench. The latter makes a welcome return having recovered from a hand injury sustained against Treviso last month.
Joining them on the bench is Hughes Insurance Academy back row Nick Timoney, who will make his senior debut if called upon. The 21-year-old has produced notable displays for Queen's University RFC, Ulster A and Ireland 7s over the past couple of seasons.
There are two other personnel changes to the starting XV that defeated Dragons 17-27 a fortnight ago, with Roger Wilson and Paddy Jackson coming back into the team.
Cardiff Blues have made four changes for their return to PRO12 action.
Following last weekend's Challenge Cup exit, the Blues are determined to secure a play-off position to qualify for the Champions Cup.
Rhun Williams returns to the starting line-up for the first time since February, replacing Matthew Morgan, while Willis Halaholo steps up from the bench to re-form a midfield partnership with Rey Lee-Lo.
Up front, Ellis Jenkins returns at blindside flanker with Josh Navidi switching to No 8 and Nick Williams dropping to the bench. The only other change sees Matthew Rees starting at hooker in the place of Kristian Dacey, who is rested.
Ulster: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart Olding, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 1 Andrew Warwick, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 4 Kieran Treadwell, 5 Alan O'Connor, 6 Iain Henderson, 7 Sean Reidy, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Black, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Jacob Stockdale, 23 Andrew Trimble.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhun Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Blaine Scully, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams, 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 George Earle, 5 Jarrad Hoeata, 6 Ellis Jenkins, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Josh Navidi.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Kieron Assiratti, 19 James Down, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Matthew Morgan.
Edinburgh v Connacht (7.35pm)
Edinburgh have made six changes to his starting side for Friday's PRO12 clash against Connacht at Myreside.
Four changes are made in the back division, with two changes named in the starting pack as Ben Toolis has recovered from a back injury and is named in the second row with fellow incomer Fraser McKenzie.
Glenn Bryce starts at full-back in place of Blair Kinghorn, who is currently on duty with Scotland 7s. Another change of personnel in the back-three sees Rory Scholes taking up a spot on the left wing.
It's all change at half-back with Nathan Fowles and Duncan Weir replacing Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Jason Tovey respectively.
Connacht have made seven changes to the team beaten in Zebre last weekend with Ireland internationals Tiernan O'Halloran and Kieran Marmion among the players to be drafted into the starting XV.
Set to make his 100th PRO12 appearance, O'Halloran has been among the top full-backs in the competition again this season with the most metres gained and more carries than any other player.
With five personnel changes in the backline, Marmion starts at scrum-half and Niyi Adeolokun, having shaken off a niggle, also returns on the right ring. Danie Poolman switches to the left flank while Steve Crosbie makes his second start for the province at out-half. After making his return from injury off the bench last week, Eoin Griffin is handed a starting place and will partner Bundee Aki in the centres.
There is one change to the front-row as Dominic Robertson-McCoy replaces Finlay Bealham with Denis Buckley and Tom McCartney retaining their places.
Jake Heenan has recovered from a minor shin injury to start at openside flanker. Captain John Muldoon continues at No 8.
Edinburgh: 15 Glenn Bryce, 14 Damien Hoyland 13 Chris Dean, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Rory Scholes, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Nathan Fowles; 1 Murray McCallum, 2 Ross Ford (c), 3 Simon Berghan, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 5 Ben Toolis, 6 Viliame Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Cornell du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Derrick Appiah, 18 Kevin Bryce, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Jamie Ritchie, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Tom Brown, 23 Junior Rasolea
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Danie Poolman, 10 Steve Crosbie, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Andrew Browne, 6 Eoin McKeon, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 John Muldoon (c).
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Cannon, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Jack Carty.
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