GUINNESS PRO12: Round 6 Preview
The GUINNESS PRO12 continues after a round that saw five losing bonus points claimed for the first time since March 2014, with an average winning margin in the 30 games played to date of 10.73, the best since 2007/08, showing yet again what an exciting brand of running rugby is on display in the league.
The table-topping Scarlets, the only team left with a 100% record in this season’s GUINNESS PRO12, open the round in Wales on Friday night at the earlier time of 6pm to avoid clashing with the Rugby World Cup. They welcome Welsh rivals Newport Gwent Dragons to Parc y Scarlets, a venue where the visitors are yet to win a PRO12 game.
Meanwhile, at the same time in Ireland, the first of this season’s interprovincials takes place when Thomond Park is the venue for the clash between Munster and Ulster.
Munster lost their unbeaten record last time out and now just two points separate the teams in the table, thanks to Ulster picking up three try-scoring bonus points in their games to date. This has all the hallmarks of being an enthralling encounter.
The two fixtures on Saturday neatly sandwich the Rugby World Cup final, Zebre facing Cardiff Blues in the early kick-off and Connacht against Edinburgh in the later one. Zebre took Edinburgh’s unbeaten record off them last time out, and have previously completed a season’s double over Cardiff, so the trip will not be an easy one for the Welsh visitors.
Connacht and Edinburgh have each won four out of five games this campaign, but Pat Lam’s men sit second in the table thanks to the four bonus points they have picked up along the way.
The round wraps up with two games on Sunday, Benetton Treviso hosting Leinster and the Ospreys travelling to Glasgow Warriors. The Italian outfit have yet to record a victory this season, but Leinster must be wary having drawn in Treviso last year and they lost at the venue back in the 2010/11 season.
Neither last season’s champions Glasgow Warriors nor play-off qualifiers the Ospreys have made the start they may have wished for and with five rounds already played both will be looking to get their campaigns back on track. Every game counts as teams vie to claim the title of 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12 Champions.
The GUINNESS PRO12 final will take place at BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh on Saturday, May 28, 2016. See www.pro12rugby.com for ticket details.
GUINNESS PRO12 – ROUND 6 FIXTURES:
Friday, October 30 –
MUNSTER (3rd) v ULSTER (5th), Thomond Park, 6pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Northern Ireland)
Scarlets (1st) v Newport Gwent Dragons (8th), Parc y Scarlets, 6pm (live BBC 2 Wales)
Saturday, October 31 –
CONNACHT (2nd) v Edinburgh (4th), the Sportsground, 6.45pm (live Galway Bay FM)
Zebre (11th) v Cardiff Blues (9th), Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 2pm local time (live Rai Sport)
Sunday, November 1 –
Benetton Treviso (12th) v LEINSTER (6th), Stadio di Monigo, 4pm local time/3pm Irish time (live Sky Sports 3 HD/Rai Sport)
Glasgow Warriors (7th) v Ospreys (10th), Scotstoun Stadium, 2.30pm (live BBC ALBA/S4C)