RaboDirect PRO12: Round 15 Preview
With a pause in the international action, the RaboDirect PRO12 takes centre stage again this weekend with games in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
First up on Friday night table toppers Ulster welcome Zebre to Ravenhill. The leaders will be keen to get back to their winning ways having suffered only their second defeat in this season’s campaign at the hands of the Ospreys.
However , hey will know Zebre can be tough opposition having only narrowly won the reverse fixture in Italy in November.
Ulster’s closest challengers, Glasgow Warriors, are also in action on Friday night travelling to face the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade, a ground they have not won at since 2008.
It is the battle of two capital city teams when Edinburgh host the Cardiff Blues, also on Friday night. Edinburgh took the spoils when the sides met in September, but they have not managed a season’s double over their visitors since the 2009/10 season.
The final game on Friday night is in Galway where Connacht take on current champions, the Ospreys. Buoyed by their success over leaders Ulster in the last round, the Welshmen will be looking to consolidate their play-off spot with victory at a ground where they have not lost since 2008.
The remaining two games are on Saturday with Leinster hosting Benetton Treviso and Munster travelling to Llanelli to take on the Scarlets.
Both Munster and Scarlets are just outside the play-off zone currently, and defeat for either may compromise their plans of a top four finish.
Likewise, with only eight rounds left, Leinster will be looking for every point to try and secure a home semi-final. Their opponents Treviso have not won in Ireland for 15 months.
RABODIRECT PRO12 – ROUND 15 FIXTURES:
Friday, February 15 –
Newport Gwent Dragons (11th) v Glasgow Warriors (2nd), Rodney Parade, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Wales/BBC ALBA)
ULSTER (1st) v Zebre (12th), Ravenhill, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland)
Edinburgh (9th) v Cardiff Blues (7th), Murrayfield, 7.30pm
CONNACHT (10th) v Ospreys (4th), the Sportsground, 7.45pm (live TG4)
Saturday, February 16 –
LEINSTER (3rd) v Benetton Treviso (8th), the RDS, 5pm
Scarlets (5th) v MUNSTER (6th), Parc y Scarlets, 6.30pm (live RTÉ Two/S4C)