Preview: Pro12, Round 16

 

There are now just three points separating the second to fifth placed teams in the table, so as the competition heads towards its conclusion, the challenge to make the end of season play-offs intensifies.

 

Another four points then separates the three teams in line for the elusive sixth spot that could see them claim a place in Europe's top tier next season.

 

The round opens on Friday with Ospreys, the team that have slipped from top to fifth in the table over the last couple of rounds, facing another tough challenge with the visit of Leinster, who themselves have been dropping in and out of the play-off zone over the last six rounds.  

 

Also on Friday Ulster, who have climbed three places in the last two weeks, welcome Scarlets to the Kingspan Stadium, a tough task for the visitors who have European qualification on their minds.  

 

Glasgow Warriors are not in action until Saturday when they visit the redeveloped Irish Independent Park, and although their record in Cork is not great, the leaders are building up a formidable reputation having won 12 of their 15 games so far this season, so Munster will have their work cut out to keep their play-off hopes on track.

 

Connacht and Edinburgh, the other two teams with their eye on the prize of European Champions Cup qualification next year, both play on Sunday against Benetton Treviso and Cardiff Blues respectively.

 

Connacht have held on to sixth place in the table since Round Seven so they are the team making the running at present, however there is not much room for error.

 

 

 

 

 

Ospreys have lost their last two Pro12 matches, both in Scotland in successive weeks, to Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, dropping from top spot to fifth in the table in the process. 

 

The Welshmen have not lost three successive Pro12 encounters since September 2012. Ospreys have won their last ten matches played at Liberty Stadium in the Pro12 since Munster beat them there twelve months ago.

 

Leinster have won three of their last four fixtures in the Pro12 and were victorious at Cardiff in their most recent away game in the tournament however they have not won successive away games over the last year.

 

Ospreys only win in their last six encounters with Leinster in all tournaments was 25-19 in this equivalent fixture at Liberty Stadium last year, whilst Leinster have not been victorious at Liberty Stadium since a visit in September 2009.

 

 

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 Dan Baker, 7 James King, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Tyler Ardron (captain), 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Ryan Bevington.

Replacements: 16 Matthew Dwyer, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Daniel Suter, 19 Rhodri Hughes, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Morgan Allen, 22 Tom Habberfield, 23 Richard Fussell.

 

Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh Van Der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Tom Denton, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Michael Bent .

Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Royce Burke-Flynn, 19 Ben Marshall, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Darragh Fanning.

 

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Chris Williams (Wales)

TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)

 

 

 

 

Ulster have won their last three matches in all tournaments and have lost just once at the Kingspan Stadium in the Pro12 since the start of the 2013/14 season: 20-22 to Leinster in Round 21 last year.

 

Scarlets have won just two of their last seven fixtures, both at home, to Ospreys and Connacht, whilst the Welshmen have not won away from home in any tournament since February 2014 on a trip to Treviso.

 

The two sides have already met on three occasions this season with each team winning its respective home game in the European Champions Cup, and sharing a 32-all draw at Parc y Scarlets on the opening weekend of the Pro12 campaign.

 

Scarlets have not been victorious in Belfast since September 2008.

 

 

Ulster: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Michael Allen, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Clive Ross, 6 Roger Wilson (captain), 5 Franco Van der Merwe, 4 Dan Tuohy, 3 Wiahahn Herbst, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Callum Black.

Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Mike McComish, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Mike Stanley, 23 Rory Scholes.

 

Scarlets: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Regan King, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Aled Davies, 8 John Barclay, 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Lewis Rawlins, 4 George Earle, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Phil John.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Rhys Thomas, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Jack Payne, 20 Rob McCusker, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Adam Warren, 23 Kristian Phillips.

 

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Assistant referees: Barry Kieran (Ireland), Dermot Blake (Ireland)

TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)

 

 

 

 

 

Munster’s only defeat in their last five fixtures in all competitions was 10-33 at Saracens in the European Champions Cup in January. 

 

Munster have won their last four home games in the Pro12 and have been victorious on their last seven fixtures in Cork since Cardiff Blues beat them there in January 2013.

 

The Munstermen have lost their last three encounters with Scottish opponents.

 

Glasgow Warriors have lost only once since Round Eight: 8-20 to Edinburgh at Murrayfield in January. 

 

The Warriors’ solitary victory in their last four visits to the Irish Provinces came in this equivalent fixture against Munster in Limerick in Round 19 last season.

 

Munster have won only one of their last five fixtures against the Warriors: 13-6 at Scotstoun in October 2013, whilst Glasgow’s only previous win in Cork came in May 2008.

 

 

 

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Assistant referees: Mark Patton (Ireland), John Carvill (Ireland)

TMO: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)

 

 

 

 

 

Cardiff Blues have slipped to three straight Pro12 defeats but have not lost four in a row since this time last year, whilst their only victory at Cardiff Arms Park in their last four fixtures in al tournaments was 104-12 over Rovigo in the European Challenge Cup in January.

 

Edinburgh's three game winning run ended at the hands of Ulster on Friday. 

 

Edinburgh won their most recent away game in the competitions, 16-13 at Connacht, and have not secured back-to-back away victories in the competition since September 2009.

 

Edinburgh’s 28-13 victory at Murrayfield in Round Eight ended a three game losing run against the Blues, whilst they have not achieved a season’s double over the Welshmen since season 2009/10.

 

 

 

Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Neil Hennessy (Wales), Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)

 

 

 

 

Connacht have remained at sixth place in the Pro12 table since Round Seven, despite having a record of won 4 lost 5 in the subsequent rounds. 

 

The Irishmen have lost their last two games at the Sportsground, to Edinburgh and to Exeter Chiefs.

 

Benetton Treviso have won three of their last five fixtures but have not won outside of Italy since a trip to Scarlets in May 2013, whilst you have to go back to December 2011 to discover their most recent victory at an Irish Province.

 

Connacht have lost just one of their last five contests with Treviso: 3-23 at Stadio Monigo in October 2013 whereas the Italian’s only previous win in Galway was 15-13 in December 2011.

 

Teams:

 

 

Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales)

Assistant referees: Mark Connolly (Ireland), Ken Imbusch (Ireland)

TMO: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)

 

 

 

 

Zebre have lost their last Six Pro12 encounters since beating Edinburgh 18-12 in Parma in November. 

 

Zebre’s only two other victories at home this season were against Ulster in September and Brive in January. 

 

The Italians have lost all four matches they have played so far against the Welsh Regions this season.

 

Newport Gwent Dragons’ only victory in their last four matches was 16-14 over Leinster at the RDS Arena in Round 14. 

 

The Dragons have not won successive away games in the tournament since March 2012.

 

Zebre have never beaten Dragons in their five previous meetings, however the two did draw 25-all in Parma in this equivalent fixture last season.

 

 

 

Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)

Assistant referees: TBC

TMO: TBC