PRO12 in Europe - Part Three

Champions Cup

Benetton Treviso v Munster

Munster avoided a fourth straight European defeat for the first time in their history by beating Stade Français 26-13 last week but now must get a bonus-point win against Treviso and hope a series of improbable events unfold to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Munster defeated their GUINNESS PRO12 rivals 32-7 back in November and Anthony Foley makes two changes from last week with prop John Ryan and lock Donnacha Ryan both coming in.

For their part, Treviso have lost all five European games this term, failing to pick up a point and this is their last chance to rectify that.

Their scrum could test a Munster pack that struggled at times against Stade Français but with a Champions Cup-worst points differential of -157, they will be hoping to tighten up defensively.

Sunday, 1pm GMT, Stadio Comunale di Monigo

Benetton Treviso: 15. Jayden Hayward, 14. Andrea Pratichetti, 13. Enrico Bacchin, 12. Alberto Sgarbi, 11. Simone Ragusi, 10. James Ambrosini, 9. Alberto Lucchese; 1. Matteo Zannuso, 2. Ornel Gega, 3. Simone Ferrari; 4. Marco Fuser, 5. Jean-Francois Montauriol; 6. Marco Lazzaroni, 7. Alessandro Zanni (capt), 8. Abraham Steyn.
Replacements: 16. Davide Giazzon, 17. Alberto De Marchi, 18. Salesi Manu, 19. Tom Palmer, 20. Marco Barbini, 21. Tommaso Iannone, 22. Samuel Christie, 23. Luke McLean

Munster: 15. Simon Zebo, 14. Keith Earls, 13. Francis Saili, 12. Rory Scannell, 11. Ronan O'Mahony, 10. Ian Keatley, 9. Conor Murray; 1. David Kilcoyne, 2. Mike Sherry, 3. John Ryan; 4. Dave Foley, 5. Donnacha Ryan; 6. Billy Holland, 7. Tommy O'Donnell, 8. CJ Stander (capt).
Replacements: 16. Niall Scannell, 17. James Cronin, 18. Mario Sagario, 19. Mark Chisholm, 20. Robin Copeland, 21. Jack O'Donoghue, 22. Tomas O'Leary, 23. Gerhard van der Heever

Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys

Ospreys are in pole position in Pool Two of the Champions Cup and know that victory over Exeter Chiefs will guarantee them a spot in the quarter-finals.

However, they will have to do it without Wales flanker Dan Lydiate, who has failed to overcome a neck injury although Moldovan prop Dmitri Arhip is back after a hamstring injury - the only change from their 21-13 win over Clermont-Auvergne last time out.

The GUINNESS PRO12 outfit beat Exeter 25-13 at the Liberty Stadium back in Round One - with tournament top-scorer Dan Biggar notching 20 points - but the English side have not lost at home in over a year.

A bonus-point win could still see the Chiefs sneak through to the quarter-finals and they have made 13 changes to the starting XV that lost to Bordeaux last weekend.

Sunday, 3.15pm GMT, Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs: 15. Phil Dollman, 14. Olly Woodburn, 13. Michele Campagnaro, 12. Ian Whitten, 11. James Short, 10. Gareth Steenson, 9. Dave Lewis; 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Jack Yeandle (capt), 3. Alex Brown, 4. Jonny Hill, 5. Geoff Parling, 6. Kai Horstmann, 7. Don Armand, 8. Tom Waldrom.
Replacements: 16. Elvis Taione, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Harry Williams, 19. Ollie Atkins, 20. Tom Johnson, 21. Haydn Thomas, 22. Will Hooley, 23. Max Bodilly.

Ospreys: 15. Dan Evans, 14. Hanno Dirksen, 13. Jonathan Spratt, 12. Josh Matavesi, 11. Eli Walker, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Brendon Leonard; 1. Paul James, 2. Scott Baldwin, 3. Dmitri Arhip, 4. Lloyd Ashley, 5. Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 6. Sam Underhill, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. James King.
Replacements: 16. Sam Parry, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Aaron Jarvis, 19. Rory Thornton, 20. Dan Baker, 21. Tom Habberfield, 22. Sam Davies, 23. Owen Watkin.

To buy tickets for the GUINNESS PRO12 Grand Final click here. Also follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12.