Springboks Rugby

URC teams: Leinster lose TWO more Lions while Springboks playmaker returns for Bulls

The United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-finals take place on Saturday as Leinster face Glasgow Warriors in Dublin before the Bulls host the Sharks.

Glasgow Warriors have made two changes to their starting line-up as Adam Hastings and Fin Richardson come into the team at fly-half and tighthead prop respectively.

Meanwhile, Leinster boss Leo Cullen has made three alterations to his run-on side as British & Irish Lions duo Hugo Keenan and Josh van der Flier are both left out of the matchday squad.

That means Jimmy O’Brien shifts to full-back as Tommy O’Brien comes in on the right wing, while Scott Penny has been named at openside flanker and Dan Sheehan gets the nod at hooker.

Elsewhere, the Bulls are bolstered by the return to fitness of star fly-half Johan Goosen in the only change to Jake White’s starting team. He replaces Keagan Johannes.

The Sharks will be without Springboks enforcer Eben Etzebeth due to a concussion as they look to back up last week’s dramatic victory over Munster at Loftus Versfeld.

Leinster v Glasgow Warriors

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan (c), 7 Scott Penny, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Ciarán Frawley

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Euan Ferrie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Alex Samuel, 3 Fin Richardson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Jack Mann, 21 Macenzzie Duncan, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Jamie Dobie

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 14:45 UK & IRE / 15:45 SAST
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (WRU), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Bulls v Sharks

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canon Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Jurenzo Julius, 23 Yaw Penxe

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17:15 UK & IRE / 18:15 SAST
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (SRU), Adam Jones (WRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4, URC.tv, FloRugby

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