Welcome back to Sportin Wales’ rugby column! Cardiff and Scarlets host Friday night fixtures against Glasgow and Connacht respectively, while Ospreys face a tricky trip to Munster following their excellent win over Stormers last week, and its a battle of the big beasts as the Sharks enter Dragon country.

Top of the table Cardiff face the champions

The URC champions are in town on a Friday night, and no, it isn’t Sione Tuipulotu’s stag do…

The Scotland centre skippers a strong Glasgow Warriors side aiming to end Cardiff’s 100% record so far this season. He is joined in midfield by his international teammate Huw Jones as Tom Jordan moves back to his preferred position of flyhalf.

For Cardiff, Harri Millard comes in for Iwan Stephens in the only change to the XV, with new halfback partnership Callum Sheedy and Aled Davies keeping their spots ahead of Ellis Bevan and Tinus de Beer.

After coming back from 15-0 down in 11 minutes last time out at Scarlets, Cardiff will be looking to avenge their own lead-slip the last time these two played. A 13-0 halftime lead in Glasgow was eroded by the champions and Cardiff were eventually beaten 17-13 in March.

Teams

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett; Mason Grady, Ray Lee-lo, Ben Thomas, Harri Millard; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Kieron Assiratti; Josh McNally, Teddy Williams; Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Aled Lawrence.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Ed Byrne, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Mackenzie Martin, Ellis Bevan, Tinus de Beer, Gabe Hamer-Webb

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay; Kyle Rowe, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Facundo Cordero; Tom Jordan, Jamie Dobie; Rory Sutherland, Johnny Matthews, Sam Talalkai; Alex Samuel, Scott Cummings; Gregor Brown, Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Jamie Bhatti, Patrick Schickerling, Richie Gray, Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie, Ben Afshar, Duncan Weir.

Scarlets Look to Upset Form Book

Scarlets, still looking for a first win of the season after a draw at Benetton and a loss at home to Cardiff, face Connacht at Parc Y Scarlets on Friday night.

Connacht have an excellent record against Welsh opponents – they have won their last 10 fixtures against Welsh regions – and have a strong team travelling to Llanelli, with Irish internationals Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, and Finlay Bealham all in the starting XV.

For Dwayne Peel’s side, they welcome back Ioan Nicholas and Sam Lousi, who come straight into the side at fullback and second row respectively.

New props Alec Hepburn and Henry Thomas start together for the first time and have been brought in to bring stability to a scrum that was Scarlets’ biggest issue last season.

In the back row, captain Josh Macleod is joined by Dan Davies and Taine Plumtree. Davis and Macleod started five games in a row together between January and March 2019 and have then only been in the same starting back row five more times since, a total of 120 games. Hat-tip to the excellent Russ Petty for that one!

Teams

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Eddie James, Blair Murray; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas; Sam Lousi, Max Douglas; Josh Macleod (capt), Dan Davis, Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page.

Connacht: Santiago Cordero; Mack Hansen, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Piers O’Conor; Jack Carty, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Niall Murray, David O’Connor; Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast (capt).

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Temi Lasisi, Oisin Dowling, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, David Hawkshaw, Shayne Bolton.

Wales Women Look To Bounce Back From Australia Setback

Rewind a week and Wales women were heading to South Africa full of confidence. A first ever win over their first opponents, Australia, at Rodney Parade was a massive confidence boost for a side that was clearly lacking during the 2024 Six Nations and their 40-14 friendly defeat to Scotland a week before.

All that work seemed to have left them once again as a positive first period performance (10-5) was undermined by a dismal second half display, leading to a disappointing 37-5 defeat in their first WXV2 match.

Wales have a good record against their opponents on Friday, Italy, having beaten them in their two most recent Six Nations meetings. The most recent of which was a hugely emotional 22-20 win at the Principality Stadium in front of a record crowd.

That result may well have saved head coach Ioan Cunningham his job and the scenes on the final whistle showed the relief within the camp after ending a run of seven straight defeats.

Captain Hannah Jones returns to the centres after overcoming a calf injury, while Sisilia Tuipulotu is on the bench, having been delayed in her travel to South Africa due to a visa issue.

Teams

Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Carys Cox, Hannah Jones (capt), Kerin Lake, Nel Metcalfe; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Alaw Pyrs, Kate Williams, Sian Jones, Kayleigh Powell, Courtney Keight.

Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi; ⁠Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni, ⁠Francesca Grantzotto; ⁠Emma Stevanin, ⁠Sofia Stefan, Silvia Turani, Vittoria Vecchini, ⁠Sara Seye, Valeria Fedrighi, Giordana Duca, Sara Tounesi, Francesca Sgorbini, ⁠Elisa Giodano (capt).

Replacements: Laura Gurioli, Emanuela Stecca, ⁠⁠Vittoria Zanette, ⁠⁠Alessandra Frangipani, ⁠⁠Alissa Ranuccini, ⁠⁠Beatrice Veronese, ⁠⁠Sara Mannini, Beatrice Capomaggi.

Dragons Host The Sharks In the Battle of the Big Beasts

While the Lions and Bulls certainly have a claim, and Zebres are certainly not to be missed with, none of the teams competing in the URC can come close to Dragons and Sharks in terms of size and ferocity.

After Dragons’ momentous opening weekend win over Ospreys, Dai Flanagan’s men faced a tough trip to Dublin which ended in a 34-6 defeat to Leinster.

With two home games on the bounce coming up against Sharks and Lions, the Newport-based region have the chance to build some momentum against two sides that have proved to be inconsistent in recent times.

Teams

Dragons: Angus O’Brien; Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Leon Brown; Matthew Screech, Ben Carter (capt); Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Dan Lydiate.

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Joe Westwood.

Sharks: Jordan Hendrikse; Eduan Keyter, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker; Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse; Ntuthuko Mchunu, Dylan Richardson, Ruan Dreyer; Jason Jenkins, Gerbrandt Grobler; James Venter, Vincent Tshituka (capt), Manu Tshituka.

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Trevor Nyakane, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Lionel Cronje, Francois Venter.

Ospreys face hurting Munster in Cork

It’s not often that a Welsh side travels to Cork with a genuine opportunity to make some history.

Ospreys face a Munster side still wounded from their shock 42-33 to Zebre last weekend.

The Irish club have conceded 75 points so far this season, giving Toby Booth’s side a chance to record a first win at Munster since 2014.

New centre Phil Cokanasiga comes into the side at inside centre, with Keiran Williams dropping to the bench. Elsewhere, Max Nagy returns at 15, while Iestyn Hopkins replaces Luke Morgan on the wing.

In the pack, Steffan Thomas is handed a first start since his move from Scarlets and Sam Parry returns to the bench. Justin Tipuric misses out as James Ratti moves from second row to blindside flanker and Huw Sutton comes into the XV.

Teams

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Jack Daly.

Ospreys: Max Nagy; Iestyn Hopkins, Owen Watkin, Phil Cokanasiga, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Steffan Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha; Huw Sutton, Adam Beard; James Ratti, Jac Morgan (capt), Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Lewis Jones, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Jack Walsh, Keiran Williams.

Fixtures

Friday

Wales vs Italy

Cardiff Rugby vs Connacht

Scarlets vs Glasgow Warriors

Saturday

Dragons vs Sharks

Munster vs Ospreys

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