Friday 28 November 2014 20:29, UK
Third-placed Munster will be looking for revenge against second-spot Ulster in the PRO12 on Friday night.
Munster v Ulster
Munster will be looking for revenge in Friday night's interprovincial clash with Ulster at Thomond Park. Ulster have won both meetings with Munster last year and have lost only one of their last four encounters.
But there is added spice to this weekend's occasion, with Ulster second in the GUINNESS PRO12 table and Munster two points behind in third place, chasing a seventh consecutive win.
Centre Pat Howard makes his first start, while BJ Botha comes into the front row. Donncha O'Callaghan is named as captain with Billy Holland alongside him in the second row.
A reshuffle in the back row sees Robin Copeland move to No.6, with Butler switching to openside and CJ Stander coming in at No.8.
Duncan Williams returns at scrum-half, with Gerhard van den Heever on the wing. Returning internationals Dave Kilcoyne, Tommy O'Donnell and Felix Jones are among the replacements.
Ulster welcome back hooker Rory Best as one of four changes, with Ian Humphreys playing at No.10 in place of the injured Paddy Jackson. Alan O'Connor comes into the second row, while Nick Williams is named at No.8 moving Roger Wilson to blindside flanker.
Ireland's Robbie Diack is named among the replacements, alongside Michael Allen, who has recovered from a shoulder injury.
Munster: 15 JJ Hanrahan, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 1 John Ryan, 2 Duncan Casey, 3 BJ Botha, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (c), 5 Billy Holland, , 6 Robin Copeland, 7 Paddy Butler, 8 CJ Stander.
Replacements: 16 Kevin O'Byrne, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Tommy O'Donnell, 20 Sean Dougall, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Felix Jones.
Ulster: 15 Stuart Olding, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Paul Marshall, 1 Callum Black, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 4 Alan O'Connor, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Roger Wilson, 7 Sean Reidy, 8 Nick Williams
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Robbie Diack, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Michael Allen, 23 Peter Nelson.
Cardiff Blues v Treviso
Joaquin Tuculet will make his Cardiff Blues debut on Friday night and director of rugby Mark Hammett is hoping the Argentina international will add some much-needed discipline against Benetton Treviso.
Tuculet starts the clash - his first in the GUINNESS PRO12 - at full-back as one of four changes to Hammett's line-up.
Gareth Anscombe is switched to fly-half, while the only other change in the back line sees Geraint Walsh named on the left wing.
Filo Paulo is back in the second row after international duty with Samoa, where he partners Josh Turnbull who moves from the back row.
And Josh Navidi is the final change to the side as he takes the No.8 jersey, while Craig Mitchell could make his playing comeback after being named on the replacements bench.
Treviso's 24-24 draw at home to Leinster on Sunday ended their twelve-game losing run in all tournaments, but they are still without a win since beating Newport Gwent Dragons in April.
However, Treviso have not been victorious in Wales since their trip to the Scarlets in May 2013, losing on each of their last four visits to Cardiff Arms Park.
And in recent contests between the two honours are even, with each side claiming one victory and a 26-26 draw in Treviso exactly 12 months ago.
Head coach Umberto Casellato has hardly tinkered with the side that drew with Leinster, with Angelo Esposito on the wing and Andrea Pratichetti moving to the bench.
In the forwards, Meyer Swanepoel will replace Mat Luamanu, who was injured in the game against the Dubliners, with Dean Budd moving to No.8.
Meanwhile, captain Antonio Pavanello is ready to return to GUINNESS PRO12 action after being named on the replacements' bench.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Adam Thomas, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Geraint Walsh, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams, 1 Sam Hobbs, (c), 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Adam Jones, 4 Filo Paulo, 5 Josh Turnbull, 6 Macauley Cook, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Josh Navidi.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Miles Normandale, 20 Rory Watts-Jones, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Tom Isaacs
Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Enrico Bacchin, 12 Sam Christie, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Alberto Lucchese, 1 Matteo Zanusso, 2 Davide Giazzon, 3 Rupert Harden, 4 Tomas Vallejos, 5 Corniel Van Zyl (c), 6 Marco Barbini, 7 Meyer Swanepoel, 8 Dean Budd.
Replacements: 16 Amar Kudin, 17 Matteo Muccignat, 18 Romulo Acosta, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Antonio Pavanello, 21 Francesco Minto, 22 Andrea Pratichetti, 23 James Ambrosini
