GUINNESS PRO12: Round 3 Preview

The GUINNESS PRO12 returns this weekend with kick-offs for the games in round 3 staggered to avoid clashing with the Rugby World Cup.

Two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the table are in action on Friday night, Edinburgh hosting the Ospreys at BT Murrayfield and Munster welcoming reigning champions Glasgow Warriors to Thomond Park.

Edinburgh have not opened a season with three wins since the 2009/10 campaign, so they will be looking to set a new benchmark, while Munster must be aware that their recent record over Glasgow Warriors is not good. 
 
In the remaining game on Friday, Ulster will be hoping to maintain their impressive home record when Italian outfit Benetton Treviso visit Kingspan Stadium, however the visitors have won at the Belfast venue before so Ulster will need to be wary.
 
The two games on Saturday are both Irish-Welsh affairs – Connacht welcoming Cardiff Blues to the Sportsground in Galway, whiled the RDS sees Leinster take on Newport Gwent Dragons.

Connacht are ahead of the Blues in the table thanks to picking up two bonus points in their loss at Glasgow last time out, while six is the value of the points difference currently keeping the Dragons ahead of Leinster in the PRO12 standings.
 
The round wraps up in Italy on Sunday, with the table-topping Scarlets hoping to extend their winning opening to the season as the expense of Zebre. The Scarlets are the only Welsh region the Italians have yet to beat.

GUINNESS PRO12 – ROUND 3 FIXTURES:

Friday, October 2 –

Edinburgh (2nd) v Ospreys (11th), BT Murrayfield, 6pm (live BBC ALBA/BBC 2 Wales)

MUNSTER (3rd) v Glasgow Warriors (9th), Thomond Park, 6pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD)

ULSTER (6th) v Benetton Treviso (10th), Kingspan Stadium, 6.05pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland)

Saturday, October 3 –

LEINSTER (8th) v Newport Gwent Dragons (7th), the RDS, 2.30pm (live TG4)

CONNACHT (4th) v Cardiff Blues (5th), the Sportsground, 5pm (live Galway Bay FM)

Sunday, October 4 –

Zebre (12th) v Scarlets (1st), Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 2pm (live Rai Sport/S4C)