RaboDirect PRO12: Round 9 Preview
Round 9 of the RaboDirect PRO12, the last round of games before the return of European competition, is evenly split with three games on Friday night and three on Saturday.
Table-topping Munster must be wary on their Friday night trip to Wales as their opponents, the Newport Gwent Dragons, defeated Glasgow Warriors at their fortress home of Scotstoun Stadium last time out.
Munster are building up a good lead at the top of the table, they are already four points and two wins clear of their nearest rivals while just two points separate the next four teams in the table.
Two of those four sides face each other also on Friday night when the second-placed Ospreys host fourth in the table Glasgow at the Liberty Stadium. Success for the visitors could see them leapfrog their hosts in the standings.
Elsewhere, champions Leinster welcome the Scarlets to the RDS on Saturday, with the visitors keen to avoid any loss if they are to maintain their push for the play-offs, while Ulster are on the road to Italy to face Zebre.
The province broke Zebre hearts last year when a penalty try five minutes from time secured them the points and denyied Zebre a first ever victory in the RaboDirect PRO12.
RABODIRECT PRO12 – ROUND 9 FIXTURES:
Friday, November 28 –
Ospreys (2nd) v Glasgow Warriors (4th), Liberty Stadium, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Wales/BBC ALBA)
Newport Gwent Dragons (7th) v MUNSTER (1st), Rodney Parade, 7.15pm
Edinburgh (9th) v CONNACHT (12th), Murrayfield, 7.45pm
Saturday, November 29 –
Zebre (11th) v ULSTER (5th), Stadio XXV Aprile, 3pm local time/2pm Irish time (live Sport Mediaset/RTÉ Two/BBC Sport NI Website)
Benetton Treviso (10th) v Cardiff Blues (8th), Stadio di Monigo, 5pm (live Sport Mediaset)
LEINSTER (3rd) v Scarlets (6th), the RDS, 7.15pm (live TG4/S4C)