Guinness PRO12: Team news for New Year's Day matches

There is plenty of PRO12 action on New Year's Day as the Scarlets travel to Cardiff, the Ospreys host the Dragons and Leinster take on Connacht

Ospreys v Dragons (2pm)

Ospreys coach Gruff Rhys is anticipating a tough afternoon when they play host to the Newport Gwent Dragons on New Year's Day.

The Dragons let a commanding lead slip against the Cardiff Blues as Rhys Patchell went over in the final minute to snatch the win from the Dragons.

The Ospreys secured a late victory over the Scarlets on Boxing Day but Rhys says they have to back it up against the Dragons.

"We often have uncomfortable days against the Dragons, they've got a good balance and it is credit to the way they have evolved," said Rhys.

"They get in your face and make life uncomfortable for you. But there are guts and character in our team in abundance. They keep fronting up on game day and the way they approach the next challenge is really pleasing to see.

"People built the Scarlets game up as a huge one but we know the result there is no good without backing it up against the Dragons."

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Ben John, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Tom Habberfield; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 4 Lloyd Ashley, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Dan Baker.

Replacements: 16 Sam Parry,17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 James King, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Jonathan Spratt.

Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Nick Scott, 13 Adam Hughes, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Sarel Pretorius; 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas (c), 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Nick Crosswell, 7 Ollie Griffiths, 8 Ed Jackson.

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Phil Price, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Nic Cudd, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Ross Wardle.

Cardiff Blues v Scarlets (5pm)

Cory Allen will make his first start of the Guinness PRO12 season when Cardiff Blues host Scarlets on New Year's Day.

The Wales international centre was a second-half replacement in the Blues' win over Newport Gwent Dragons but will make his first start of the campaign after recovering from injury.

In other changes, Dan Fish comes in at full-back as Rhys Patchell moves to fly-half in a positional change, while Jarrad Hoeata partners James Down in the second row.

Scarlets have made three changes to the side that narrowly lost to Ospreys at the Parc on Boxing Day with injuries forcing a reshuffle in the pack.

Jake Ball and John Barclay have both been ruled out, with a knee and forearm injury respectively, which sees Tom Price and Jack Condy coming into the starting XV for the New Year clash.

Scrum-half Gareth Davies, who pulled up in last Saturday's warm up with a calf injury, returns to the starting line-up with Aled Davies named on the bench. Further injuries also means that hooker Emyr Phillips is named as back-row cover on the replacements bench.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 James Down, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Josh Navidi, 8 Manoa Vosawai.

Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Lou Reed, 20 Macauley Cook, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Garyn Smith.

Scarlets: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ken Owens (c), 3 Samson Lee, 4 Tom Price, 5 Lewis Rawlins, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Jack Condy, 8 Morgan Allen

Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Phil John, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Maselino Paulino, 20 Emyr Phillips, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Regan King.

Leinster v Connacht (5pm)

Leinster have made 11 changes from the team that beat Munster including the return of Luke McGrath, Johnny Sexton and Ben Te'o from injury.

In the pack Marty Moore comes in at tighthead prop, while it is a completely new back row with captain Rhys Ruddock leading the charge from blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier selected at openside and Jordi Murphy starts in the No 8 jersey. Prop Cian Healy is serving a two-match suspension.

In the backs Rob Kearney starts at full-back in only his second Guinness PRO12 game of the season on his 170th appearance for Leinster with Dave Kearney coming in on the left wing. Ben Te'o returns from injury and takes over the inside centre jersey from Luke Fitzgerald, with Garry Ringrose outside him at 13. Luke McGrath and Johnny Sexton both return from injury to start in the half-backs.

Connacht coach Pat Lam has made three changes to the starting XV that lined up against Ulster last weekend.

All three changes are in the forwards with the return of hooker Tom McCartney while flanker Jake Heenan makes his first start of the season following shoulder surgery in May.

Andrew Browne is the other changes and partners Aly Muldowney in the second row.

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Ben Te'o, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Luke McGrath; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Richardt Strauss, 3 Marty Moore, 4 Devin Toner, 5 Mike McCarthy, 6 Rhys Ruddock(c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jordi Murphy. 

Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Zane Kirchner.

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Nathan White, 4 Aly Muldowney, 5 Andrew Browne, 6 John Muldoon (c), 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoghan Masterson.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Ian Porter, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Rory Parata.