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16th May 2014

JOE’s RaboDirect PRO 12 semi final preview

Here's all the team news for this weekend's big games...

Joe Harrington

They’re down to the final four in the PRO12 with three Irish provinces still involved…

Munster take on Glasgow Warriors this evening in the first of the weekend’s semi finals. The Scottish side were the form side in the season run in and finished in second place in the table which secured a home game tonight.

Rob Penney 4/12/2013

Reds head coach Rob Penney has made four changes from last weekend’s defeat to Ulster. BJ Botha is back into the front row after missing the Ulster game due to the birth of his baby daughter and there’s one more change in the pack as CJ Stander takes the number six jersey off of Paddy Butler.

There’s two changes in the back line with Conor Murray returning at scrum half and Keith Earls will make his first appearance since the defeat to Toulon.

Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley (captain), BJ Botha; Dave Foley, Paul O’Connell; CJ Stander, Sean Dougall, James Coughlan.

Replacements: Quentin MacDonald, James Cronin, John Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paddy Butler, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Andrew Conway.

Glasgow: Peter Murchie; Sean Maitland, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Tommy Seymour; Finn Russell, Chris Cusiter; Ryan Grant, Dougie Hall, Jon Welsh; Jonny Gray, Al Kellock (captain); Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Josh Strauss.

Replacements: Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid, Geoff Cross, Tim Swinson, Leone Nakarawa, Niko Matawalu, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont.

Dave Kearney supported by Shane Jennings is tackled by Andrew Trimble and Roger Wilson 2/5/2014

The second semi final in on Saturday at the RDS when Leinster take on Ulster. The Blues topped the table after last weekend’s win over Edinburgh and are favourites ahead of the derby this weekend.

Matt O’Connor has made eight changes from that game but interestingly he’s named seven of the eight forwards who started in the win over Ulster at Ravenhill two weeks ago, Mike McCarthy is the player that joins that group.

There is only one change to the backs as Eoin Reddan comes in to make his 100th appearance for the province.

Leinster: Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Dave Kearney, Jimmy Gopperth, Eoin Reddan, Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Martin Moore, Devin Toner, Quinn Roux, Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Aaron Dundon, Jack McGrath, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Sean O’Brien, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Zane Kirchner.

Ruan Pienaar 10/5/2013

Ulster welcome their big guns back as Rory Best and Ruan Pienaar have been passed fit for the game in Dublin as they make a whopping 13 changes to the team that started against Ulster last weekend.

The only players to retain their places are Craig Gilroy and Callum Black while Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Chris Henry and Johann Muller are among those coming back into the starting team.

Ulster: Craig Gilroy, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rory Best, Ricky Lutton, Johan Muller (Captain), Iain Henderson, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Adam Macklin, Dan Tuohy, Sean Doyle, James McKinney, Luke Marshall.

 

JOE’s Prediction: Munster need a massive performance to beat Glasgow and we think they’ll just about do enough. Leinster have home advantage which makes a big difference, they’re favourites with the bookies and we have to go along with them.

So if JOE is right, we have a Leinster v Munster Final to look forward to. Exciting.