GUINNESS PRO14: Round 11 Preview
The GUINNESS PRO14 will make a big impact with a full slate of derby fixtures across Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales which will all play out to the backdrop of the festive season.
After taking on Europe for the past two weeks, there will be no let-up in intensity as precious Championship points and local bragging rights are up for grabs. Round 11 will also see teams playing with a fresh batch of Gilbert MATCH-XV balls which have contributed to a higher number of tries and greater accuracy from goal-kickers in the GUINNESS PRO14.
After 18 players from the Championship won their first international caps in November, everyone who takes to the pitch will be eager to catch the eye of their national coaches as the derbies come thick and fast across Christmas and New Year. For their teams every match point is vital as sides across the Championship keep their ambitions set on reaching the PRO14 final at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, May 26.
The action kicks off in Treviso where Benetton Rugby take on Zebre in what should be one of the fiercest Italian derbies in a long time. Both teams have shown great improvement this season, claiming six wins and 31 points between them compared to last season’s figure of two wins and 14 points after round 10.
Benetton have shown renewed strength this season, but Zebre head coach Michael Bradley has overseen the introduction of some exciting young Italian internationals which promises to add a cutting edge to this fixture.
Galway plays host to Connacht’s eagerly-awaited clash with Ulster at the Sportsground with more than just pride on the line. With the Toyota Cheetahs competing at the top of Conference A, the South Africans’ ineligibility for Europe means that Connacht are duelling with Cardiff Blues for that final automatic Champions Cup spot and they trail the Welsh region by one point. Ulster, meanwhile, need to keep tabs on the Scarlets and Leinster at the top of Conference B and will enter this game buoyed by their recent Champions Cup performances.
The Dragons welcome Cardiff Blues to Rodney Parade where Bernard Jackman’s men have produced their best performances this season. Cardiff, however, need to keep clear of Connacht in terms of European qualification and with both teams keen to play fast rugby, the improved conditions in Newport should set the scene for a cracking encounter.
Sitting second in their respective Conferences, Munster and Leinster meet in a mouth-watering St. Stephen’s Day duel knowing how crucial every point will be in as they aim to reel in pacesetters Glasgow Warriors and the Scarlets. Munster have brought in extra seating to bring the capacity up to 26,267 for what is primed to be a sell-out occasion between Ireland’s fiercest rivals.
With news of players swapping colours between these two neighbours from west Wales for next season, the Scarlets’ battle with the Ospreys will have plenty of story-lines to tuck into. Can the Ospreys use their Champions Cup exploits to launch a resurgence in the PRO14, or will the Scarlets’ slick counter-attacking game prove too much for Steve Tandy’s charges? With some of the best Welsh international talent on show across both teams, this promises to provide plenty of festive fireworks.
In the Scottish capital, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors mix it up in the first 1872 Cup game at BT Murrayfield with a terrific battle in store. The Warriors arrive looking to match Ulster’s record of 11 straight wins to start a Championship season, but Edinburgh have begun to find their groove and physical edge under head coach Richard Cockerill which should bring about a contest full of flair and intensity.
The Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings will not play until January due to their December rest period.
GUINNESS PRO14 – ROUND 11 FIXTURES:
Saturday, December 23 –
Benetton Rugby (5th, Con B) v Zebre (6th, Con A), Stadio di Monigo, 3pm (live Eurosport Italia)
CONNACHT (5th, Con A) v ULSTER (3rd, Con B), the Sportsground, 7.35pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Northern Ireland)
Edinburgh (4th, Con B) v Glasgow Warriors (1st, Con A), BT Murrayfield, 5.10pm (live Sky Sports Action/BBC ALBA)
Tuesday, December 26 –
Dragons (6th, Con B) v Cardiff Blues (4th, Con A), Rodney Parade, 2pm (live BBC 2 Wales)
MUNSTER (2nd, Con A) v LEINSTER (2nd, Con B), Thomond Park, 3.15pm (live TG4/Sky Sports Action)
Scarlets (1st, Con B) v Ospreys (7th, Con A), Parc y Scarlets, 5.35pm (live S4C/Sky Sports Action)
TOP PERFORMERS IN GUINNESS PRO14 AFTER ROUND 10 (Powered by Opta Statistics):
TOP POINTS SCORERS –
Carlo Canna (Zebre) 75
Ross Byrne (Leinster) 74
Gavin Henson (Dragons) 72
Ernst Stapelberg (Toyota Cheetahs) 72
John Cooney (Ulster) 65
TOP TRY SCORERS –
Makazole Mapimpi (Toyota Cheetahs) 9
Alex Wootton (Munster) 7
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh) 6
Elliot Dee (Dragons) 5
Angelo Esposito (Benetton Rugby) 5
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 5
Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) 5
Rory O’Loughlin (Leinster) 5
Andrew Trimble (Ulster) 5
Torsten van Jaarsveld (Toyota Cheetahs) 5
TOP TRY ASSISTS –
Steff Evans (Scarlets) 8
Luke McGrath (Leinster) 7
John Cooney (Ulster) 6
Darren Sweetnam (Munster) 6
METRES GAINED –
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) 853
Charles Piutau (Ulster) 737
Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) 700
Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht) 688
Makazole Mapimpi (Toyota Cheetahs) 657
MOST CARRIES –
Olly Cracknell (Ospreys) 137
Tom Farrell (Connacht) 124
Charles Piutau (Ulster) 118
Bundee Aki (Connacht) 117
Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) 111
CLEAN BREAKS –
Makazole Mapimpi (Toyota Cheetahs) 19
Steff Evans (Scarlets) 15
Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) 13
Mattia Bellini (Zebre) 13
Leonardo Sarto (Glasgow Warriors) 12
Giulio Bisegni (Zebre) 12
Jeff Hassler (Ospreys) 12
DEFENDERS BEATEN –
Tom Farrell (Connacht) 37
Charles Piutau (Ulster) 35
Steff Evans (Scarlets) 34
Willis Halaholo (Cardiff Blues) 31
Makazole Mapimpi (Toyota Cheetahs) 30
MOST PASSES –
John Cooney (Ulster) 669
Tom Habberfield (Ospreys) 662
Kieran Marmion (Connacht) 630
Marcello Violi (Zebre) 617
Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues) 423
MOST OFFLOADS –
Tom Farrell (Connacht) 28
Steff Evans (Scarlets) 20
Charles Piutau (Ulster) 19
Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) 16
Alex Wootton (Munster) 15
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) 15
Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 15
KICKS FROM HAND –
Gavin Henson (Dragons) 71
Carlo Canna (Zebre) 69
Jack Carty (Connacht) 66
Sam Davies (Ospreys) 60
Ian Keatley (Munster) 57
MOST TACKLES –
Andisa Ntsila (Southern Kings) 132
James Benjamin (Dragons) 126
Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues) 122
Paul Schoeman (Toyota Cheetahs) 120
Bobby de Wee (Southern Kings) 114
LINEOUTS WON –
Reniel Hugo (Toyota Cheetahs) 56
Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) 33
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 32
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) 32
Bradley Davies (Ospreys) 30
TURNOVERS WON –
Tadhg Beirne (Scarlets) 19
Nick Williams (Cardiff Blues) 10
Will Boyde (Scarlets) 9
Josh van der Flier (Leinster) 8
Michael Willemse (Southern Kings) 8
Tommaso Castello (Zebre) 8
Carlo Canna (Zebre) 8
Derick Minnie (Zebre) 8
Junior Sipato Pokomela (Toyota Cheetahs) 8
Scott Williams (Scarlets) 8
For more statistics, please visit www.pro14rugby.org/powered-by-opta