RaboDirect PRO12: Round 2 Preview
Round 2 of the RaboDirect PRO12 sees both the reigning league champions and Heineken Cup champions in action on Friday night.
The current league title holders, Munster, travel to Scotland to face Glasgow Warriors, with the prospect that another victory could see them set a new tournament record for successive wins.
Meanwhile, Europe’s best side last season, Leinster, will be hoping to put their opening round defeat at the Ospreys behind them when they welcome another Welsh region, the Newport Gwent Dragons, to the RDS.
The action switches to Italy for the first of three games on Saturday, Aironi hosting Ulster at Stadio Zaffanella. The visitors have an impressive record against the hosts, so it will be no easy task for the Italian outfit to try and secure their second ever victory in the competition.
Connacht are also in action on Saturday, with the Scarlets the visitors to the redeveloped Sportsground in Galway.
Eric Elwood’s men repeated their 2010/11 opening day success this season, and will be looking to put together back-to-back victories at the start of a season for the first time since the 2005/06 campaign.
The final game on Saturday is at the Liberty Stadium where the Ospreys welcome Edinburgh. The Welshmen lie second in the table after missing out on a try-scoring bonus point in their opening round success over Leinster.
Round 2 wraps up in Wales on Sunday with Benetton Treviso’s trip to Cardiff. The Blues are top of the table after their bonus point win in Edinburgh last weekend, and will be looking to consolidate that position by denying Treviso their first ever league victory outside of Italy.
RABODIRECT PRO 12 – ROUND 2 FIXTURES:
Friday, September 9 –
Glasgow Warriors v MUNSTER, Firhill Stadium, 7.30pm
LEINSTER v Newport Gwent Dragons, the RDS, 7.35pm (live RTÉ Two/BBC 2 Wales)
Saturday, September 10 –
Aironi Rugby v ULSTER, Stadio Zaffanella, 3pm local time/2pm Irish time
CONNACHT v Scarlets, the Sportsground, 3.15pm (live TG4)
Ospreys v Edinburgh, Liberty Stadium, 6.30pm (live S4C/BBC ALBA)
Sunday, September 11 –
Cardiff Blues v Benetton Treviso, Cardiff City Stadium, 3.45pm (live S4C)