Preview: Pro12, Round 12
Whilst Edinburgh and Zebre managed to complete the season's double over their fellow countrymen, three further games were so close that less than a score separated the teams.
Scarlets held on to their lead at the top of the Pro12 table over the festive period, but Leinster are now just one point behind with a game in hand, whilst Edinburgh moved back into a play-off spot courtesy of the eight points they took off their fiercest rivals, Glasgow Warriors.
With three Pro12 fixtures postponed in this weekend to accommodate the rearrangement of European fixtures, the pick of this round might be the game at the Liberty Stadium between Ospreys and Leinster.
These are the two best teams in the Pro12 on current form, Ospreys taking 22 and Leinster 25 league points from their last 6 matches, propelling Leinster to second in the table in the process.
Alternatively looking at the Pro12 table the highlight would be the first versus third clash on Sunday – between Scarlets and Connacht, neither enjoyed much success over the holidays, but the winner of this game could be leading the table at the end of this abbreviated round.
Kicking off the action on Friday Edinburgh must be hoping to continue the success they experienced in their last three games in the capital, this time welcoming Benetton Treviso to Murrayfield, but the Italians have won at the venue before, in October 2012.
We look at all the Round 12 action!
Friday, January 8
Edinburgh v Benetton Treviso
(Murrayfield – Kick-off: 19.30; 19.30 GMT)
Edinburgh have won their last three matches in all competitions, with all fixtures being played at Murrayfield despite one of them counting as an away game.
The Scotsmen have in fact only lost one of their last eight encounters at the famous venue: 14-16 to Munster in the Pro12 on 7th November.
Benetton Treviso have not won a game in any tournament since beating Cardiff Blues 40-24 at Stadio Monigo in the Pro12 on 20th February 2015 whilst their only away victory since May 2013 came against Zebre in Parma in December 2014.
Edinburgh won 27-24 in Treviso in Round Two to add to the Pro12 double they achieved over the Italians last season.
The only Italian club side ever to have won a game at Murrayfield is Treviso themselves who did so against Edinburgh in the Pro12 in October 2012.
The teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Michael Allen, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Damien Hoyland, 10 Greig Tonks, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Cornell Du Preez, 7 John Hardie, 6 Mike Coman (captain), 5 Alex Toolis, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Neil Cochrane, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Allan Dell, 18 John Andress, 19 Jamie Ritchie, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Blair Kinghorn, 23 Andries Strauss.
Benetton Treviso: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Sam Christie, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Simone Ragusi, 10 James Ambrosini, 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Alessandro Zanni (captain), 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Jeff Montauriol, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Salesi Manu, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Matteo Zanusso.
Replacements: 16 Ornel Gega, 17 Cherif Traorè, 18 Alberto De Marchi, 19 Tom Palmer, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Marco Lazzaroni, 22 Alberto Lucchese, 23 Enrico Bacchin.
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson, Stephen Hart (both Scotland)
Ospreys v Leinster
(Liberty Stadium – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
Ospreys achieved a fifth successive Pro12 victory at home to Newport Gwent Dragons on New Year's Day.
The Welshmen have not been beaten at Liberty Stadium since Connacht were the visitors in October.
Leinster have won their last six Pro12 encounters since their 14-25 defeat to Scarlets in Llanelli in Round Four.
The Leinstermen are winless on their last four visits to Wales since beating Blues at Sport Cardiff Arms Park on 10 January 2015.
Ospreys have won just one of their last seven fixtures against Leinster in all tournaments: 25-19 at Liberty Stadium in the Pro12 in April 2014, however Leinster have not been triumphant at the venue in the Pro12 since September 2009.
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Sam Underhill 6 James King, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ma'afu Fia, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Eli Walker.
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Isa Nacewa (captain), 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Noel Reid.
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse, Simon Rees (both Wales)
TMO: Jon Mason (Wales)
Sunday, January 10
Scarlets v Connacht
(Parc y Scarlets – Kick-off: 14.30; 14.30 GMT)
Scarlets have slipped to four straight defeats in all competitions although achieving a losing bonus point in each of the last three encounters.
Scarlets were defeated 26-27 at Parc y Scarlets on Boxing Day in their most recent home game and have not lost successive matches at the venue in the same season in the Pro12 since 2009/10.
Connacht's only win in their last five fixtures in all tournaments was 25-10 at home to Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup on 11th December.
Connacht have slipped to three straight defeats on the road since their momentous victory in Munster in the Pro12 on 28th November.
Connacht have won just one of their last seven encounters with Scarlets: 14-8 at the Sportsground in November 2014, whilst they have not beaten Scarlets on their own soil since a trip to the old Stradey Park in October 2004.
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Regan King, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Morgan Allen, 7 John Barclay, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Lewis Rawlins, 4 Tom Price, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Phil John, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Maselino Paulino, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Steff Hughes
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoghan Masterson, 7 Jake Heenan, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Andrew Browne, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Nathan White, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Finlay Bealham.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Ian Porter, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Rory Parata.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris, Stuart Kibble (both Wales)
TMO: Paul Adams (Wales)
Source: @PRO12rugby
