Friday night preview
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Friday night preview
PRO 12
Scarlets vs Treviso (19:05) BBC Wales
Scarlets will look to get back to winning ways tonight when they host Italian side Treviso at Parc Y Scarlets. The Welsh region lost ground on Connacht and Leinster last weekend with a late defeat against Edinburgh and a win could further cement their top 4 hopes.
The home side welcome back some of their internationals, with Jake Ball, Aled Thomas and Aled Davies all returning from Wales duty. DTH van der Merwe also comes back into the fold for Scarlets after missing out through injury last weekend.
Also Scarlets prop Dylan Evans will make his first start in the PRO 12 for Scarlets tonight.
John Barclay comes in at 8 with James Davies and Maselino Paulino joining him in a back row.
Barclay said on returning to the squad: "I think the boys are playing with a lot of confidence, it's good to come back to a camp that's feeling that way.
"We're in a good spot, it's a big game this weekend against Treviso."
"We're in a good spot, it's a big game this weekend against Treviso."
Treviso sit rock bottom of the PRO 12 despite a recent turn of form and were narrowly edged out by Munster last weekend.
They make 1 change to their side as Tommaso Iannone comes in for Ludovico Nitoglia on the wing.
Scarlets have won their last five fixtures with Treviso since the Italians' 41-17 victory at Parc y Scarlets in May 2013 - their only victory in Wales in the last four seasons.
Prediction. Scarlets by 15. With all their returning internationals Scarlets should pull away with this one, Treviso will make it difficult in the first half but Scarlets should win this handy.
Edinburgh vs Connacht (19:35) TG4/BBC Alba
This is the fixture of the night in the PRO 12 as Connacht face a tough test in Scotland against top 4 chasing Edinburgh.
Edinburgh come into this one off the back of a 1 point win over 3rd place Scarlets and know that a win keeps the pressure on the top 4.
The hosts welcome back some international players, with Matt Scott, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Rory Sutherland returning from Scotland duty, and centre Chris Dean is promoted from the bench to start in the centre.
Edinburgh, who ended a 4 game losing run in all competitions last weekend, have only lost once at home in the PRO 12 when Irish province Munster edged out a 16-14 win at Murrayfield.
Head coach Alan Solomons said this week: "Connacht are at the top of the Guinness PRO12 table and we are looking forward to the challenge that taking on the league leaders presents."
"We get a 10-day break afterwards, so we don't want to leave anything out on the field," he added.
"The win over Scarlets was absolutely critical for us if we want to compete for a top six spot."
"We get a 10-day break afterwards, so we don't want to leave anything out on the field," he added.
"The win over Scarlets was absolutely critical for us if we want to compete for a top six spot."
Pat Lam's side sit top of the league and will be looking to drift away from the chasing pack with a win tonight.
He makes 5 changes to the starting XV that beat Ospreys last week, welcoming back Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion and Nathan White.
Quinn Roux starts for the first time in 2016 after an ankle problem and Danie Poolman returns to the wing.
Also returning is captain John Muldoon, who will start at the base of the pack.
Last time the pair met this season Connacht came out 14-9 victors at the Sportsground.
Connacht boss Pat Lam noted the threat that Edinburgh will bring to the game, "There is consistency in the way Edinburgh play - they are very physical, very direct, and they are a settled team with a lot of experienced players.
"BT Murrayfield is always tough but they've really made it into a fortress now having only lost there once this season.
"But we're travelling with confidence knowing that if we continue to focus on what we've been doing and the game plan we have in place, we can take another step closer to Champions Cup qualification."
"BT Murrayfield is always tough but they've really made it into a fortress now having only lost there once this season.
"But we're travelling with confidence knowing that if we continue to focus on what we've been doing and the game plan we have in place, we can take another step closer to Champions Cup qualification."
Prediction. Edinburgh by 3. Very tight one to call, Connacht are top but Edinburgh's home record is quite strong so we can just see them edging it.
Ulster vs Zebre (19:35) BBC Ulster
Ulster will look to get back to winning ways at the Kingspan tonight when they host Italian side Zebre.
Without a win in their last 2 games, a win is crucial to keep the chasing pack at bay and Neil Doak has named a strong side tonight.
Ulster welcome back hooker and captain Rob Herring, who will be joined in the front row by Kyle McCall at loosehead prop and Ricky Lutton at tighthead.
Edinburgh bound Rory Scholes will come into the backline and will feature on the right wing, with Stuart Olding replacing Sammy Arnold at inside centre after he was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Joining Olding in the centre will be Luke Marshall, who signed a contract extension with the province this week, while Paul Marshall has been selected on the bench after overcoming a virus.
Edinburgh bound Rory Scholes will come into the backline and will feature on the right wing, with Stuart Olding replacing Sammy Arnold at inside centre after he was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Joining Olding in the centre will be Luke Marshall, who signed a contract extension with the province this week, while Paul Marshall has been selected on the bench after overcoming a virus.
Director of Rugby Les Kiss noted his sides dip in form when speaking to the media this week.
"We're really disappointed with what we've delivered over the past three or four weeks," he said.
"We've worked it back to a couple of key areas. We're just missing a level of excellence in certain skills sets.
"But we know what we are capable of and if we can get those things right, I believe we can deliver and make sure we are in a position to make Europe but also make the PRO12 semi-finals."
"We've worked it back to a couple of key areas. We're just missing a level of excellence in certain skills sets.
"But we know what we are capable of and if we can get those things right, I believe we can deliver and make sure we are in a position to make Europe but also make the PRO12 semi-finals."
Zebre are without a win in 5 in all competitions and have only beaten Ulster once in the last 6 encounters.
Zebre manager Andrea De Rossi is hoping to shock the Irish province tonight.
"It will be difficult and we have had to add four injured players to our long list of those who are unavailable," he said.
"However, we rely on the return of some important players who will lead the group through this difficult phase of the season with the Six Nations taking place. Once again, we face a test of character against one of the toughest teams in the competition.
"We have to prepare for the game in just two days because we played on Sunday and rested on Monday, so we have had just two training sessions before flying to Ireland.
"We will run the team out in the beautiful Kingspan, a notoriously difficult place to play."
"However, we rely on the return of some important players who will lead the group through this difficult phase of the season with the Six Nations taking place. Once again, we face a test of character against one of the toughest teams in the competition.
"We have to prepare for the game in just two days because we played on Sunday and rested on Monday, so we have had just two training sessions before flying to Ireland.
"We will run the team out in the beautiful Kingspan, a notoriously difficult place to play."
Prediction. Ulster by 15. Big chance for Ulster to move on from a disappointing few weeks, they should deal with Zebre easily tonight.
Aviva Premiership
Worcester Warriors vs Newcastle Falcons (19:45) BT Sport
A massive game tonight at the bottom of the table in the Aviva Premiership as Worcester host Newcastle at Sixways.
A win for either side would ease pressure and pull them away from 12th placed London Irish.
Worcester make just the one change as Phil Dowson comes into the back row, with Carl Kirwan dropped and Dewald Potgieter moving to 7.
Director of Rugby Dean Ryan said: "There's nobody here that doesn't understand the significance of this game.
"Newcastle have developed a style of play which suits them at home and they've got decent momentum.
"The addition of Andy Goode has given them a boost. He's been a catalyst for their success.
"The game will be a bit faster on the 4G up there so it'll be more dynamic around rucks.
"We have to attack. I think it will suit us and the surface up there. Fingers crossed we don't get a storm because conditions can dictate how you approach a game in Newcastle."
"Newcastle have developed a style of play which suits them at home and they've got decent momentum.
"The addition of Andy Goode has given them a boost. He's been a catalyst for their success.
"The game will be a bit faster on the 4G up there so it'll be more dynamic around rucks.
"We have to attack. I think it will suit us and the surface up there. Fingers crossed we don't get a storm because conditions can dictate how you approach a game in Newcastle."
Newcastle's home form has been their saving grace this season, with their last 4 wins coming at Kingston Park against Bath, Leicester, Harlequins and Northampton.
They make 5 changes to the side, 3 in the backs with Andy Goode, Micky Young and Alex Tait coming into the starting XV.
Two changes in the forwards as Nili Latu and Sean Robinson come in.
Rob Vickers is set to make his 200th appearance for the club tonight, he starts at loose head.
Scrum half Micky Young is weary of the threat Worcester will bring.
"Worcester are a very good team," he said. "They are a bit like ourselves in that they are in a similar position down the bottom but they have some very good players.
"It's another one of those games where we really want to perform. You can't pay too much attention to the fact that we are both near the bottom, we have to focus on just getting the win and then moving onto the next match.
"We're pleased with how our home form is going at the moment so we want to carry that on and put in a good performance for our fans on Friday night."
"It's another one of those games where we really want to perform. You can't pay too much attention to the fact that we are both near the bottom, we have to focus on just getting the win and then moving onto the next match.
"We're pleased with how our home form is going at the moment so we want to carry that on and put in a good performance for our fans on Friday night."
Prediction. Newcastle by 6. In a massive game the crowd will be behind them, also their home form is excellent for a side down the bottom. Will be close but Falcons for us.
Dan Hayes
