RaboDirect PRO12: Round 8 Preview

Table toppers Ulster welcome Edinburgh to Ravenhill in one of three round 8 matches in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Friday night.

Ulster have been victorious in all competitions so far this season, and will no doubt want to maintain that unbeaten record as the RaboDirect PRO12 breaks for the November internationals.

In Scotland third-placed Glasgow Warriors face a Newport Gwent Dragons team currently residing at the wrong end of the table, and the Warriors will be looking for a win to equal their best ever run in the competition.

Elsewhere Munster, who sit just outside the play-off zone, travel to Cardiff to take on a Blues team facing their worst run of defeats since the 2004/05 season. Munster need a victory if they are to have any chance of re-entering the top four before the international break.

The two Italian teams are both in action away from home on Saturday, Benetton Treviso travelling to the Sportsground in Galway and Zebre making their first appearance at Parc y Scarlets.

The second-placed Scarlets have only lost two games in this campaign whereas their opponents have yet to record a victory.

Benetton Treviso currently sit two places and three points ahead of their hosts this weekend, Connacht, in the RaboDirect PRO12 table.

The round wraps up on Sunday at the Liberty Stadium when reigning champions, the Ospreys, take on Leinster, the side they beat in last May’s league final.

Just three points separate the two teams in the table and should other results go their way, victory could see the Welsh region take over Leinster’s current spot in the top four.

RABODIRECT PRO12 – ROUND 8 FIXTURES:

Friday, November 2 –

ULSTER (1st) v Edinburgh (9th), Ravenhill, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland/BBC ALBA)

Cardiff Blues (7th) v MUNSTER (5th), Cardiff Arms Park, 7.05pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Wales)

Glasgow Warriors (3rd) v Newport Gwent Dragons (11th), Scotstoun Stadium, 7.30pm

Saturday, November 3 –

CONNACHT (10th) v Benetton Treviso (8th), the Sportsground, 5pm

Scarlets (2nd) v Zebre (12th), Parc y Scarlets, 6.30pm (live S4C)

Sunday, November 4 –

Ospreys (6th) v LEINSTER (4th), Liberty Stadium, 4pm (live RTÉ One/S4C)