Preview: Pro12, Round 16
In contrast the previous leaders, Ulster, dropped to fourth – following their defeat by the narrowest of margins to Scarlets.
Ulster's losing bonus point in that game was the 50th claimed so far this season, that tally has only been bettered in an entire season on three occasions – and there's still seven rounds to play.
In fact 280 points in total were scored in the six games last weekend, the best in a round this season, helped no doubt by the 85 points scored in the game in Parma – the fourth biggest match tally in Pro12 history.
Benetton Treviso's Ludovico Nitoglia became the first Italian to make 100 Pro12 appearances and also became just the sixth player to score a try on his 100th game, whilst Munster's Ian Keatley racked up his 150th Pro12 appearance.
Just four points separate the teams in the play-off zone, but second placed Leinster have a game in hand over Scarlets, Ulster and leaders Connacht.
Connacht are the only one of the top four at home this weekend, and face Ospreys who along with Edinburgh and Munster are the three teams level on 38 points battling it out for European Champions Cup qualification.
We look at Round 16!
Saturday, February 27
Connacht v Ospreys
(Sportsground – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
Connacht have won their last four first team fixtures with their 51-34 victory at Zebre on Saturday returning them to the top of the Pro12 table for the first time since November.
Connacht's only defeat in their last 10 contests at The Sportsground in all competitions came when Ulster were the visitors in the Pro12 on 26
December.
Ospreys have lost only one of their last nine Pro12 encounters: 9-22 at home to Leinster in round 12.
The Welsh region have won their last three away games in the Pro12 and have never won four in a row on their travels in the history of the competition.
Connacht beat Ospreys 21-16 at Liberty Stadium in round 5 and have only once before achieved a season's double over the Welshmen, in the regions inaugural season in 2003/04. Ospreys have won on six of their last seven visits to Galway.
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 John Muldoon (captain), 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 George Naoupu, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ben Marshall, 20 James Connolly, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Peter Robb.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Ben John, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Olly Cracknell, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 James King, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Paul James (captain).
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Jordan Collier, 21 Brendon Leonard, 22 Owen Watkin, 23 Eli Walker.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andy Brace, John Carvill (both Ireland)
TMO: Jude Quinn (Ireland)
Sunday, February 28
Benetton Treviso v Munster
(Stadio Monigo – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Benetton Treviso have won their last two matches, at home to Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons, but have not won three in succession since October 2011.
The Italians have not beaten an Irish opponent since their victory over Connacht at Stadio Monigo in the Pro12 in October 2013.
Munster have lost their last two Pro12 fixtures, against Ospreys and Glasgow and have not lost three regular season games in succession since April 2013.
Munster have won their last ten encounters with Italian opponents since their 19-29 reversal in Treviso in September 2013.
The two sides have already met three times this season (two of those in the European Champions Cup) with Munster victorious on each occasion.
The Munstermen have visited Stadio Monigo on eight previous occasions where their record is won five, lost three.
Teams:
Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Alberto Sgarbi (captain), 11 Angelo Esposito, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Alberto Lucchese, 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Marco Lazzaroni, 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Alberto De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Federico Zani, 17 Cherif Traorè, 18 Filippo Filippetto, 19 Jeff Montauriol, 20 Dean Budd, 21 Andrea De Marchi, 22 Chris Smylie, 23 Tommaso Iannone.
Munster: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Darren Sweetnam, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Dave O'Callaghan, 6 Jack O'Donoghue, 5 Billy Holland (captain), 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 John Ryan, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Peter McCabe, 18 Mario Sagario, 19 Dave Foley, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 Cian Bohane, 23 David Johnston.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant referees: Elia Rizzo, Simone Boaretto (both Italy)
TMO: Alan Falzone (Italy).
Cardiff Blues v Ulster
(Cardiff Arms Park – Kick-off: 14.30; 14.30 GMT)
Cardiff Blues have slipped to successive defeats in the Pro12, at Treviso and at home to Leinster.
The Blues' only victory over an Irish province in their last seven such encounters was 20-16 at home to Connacht in December.
Ulster's three game winning run in the Pro12 came to a halt by the narrowest of margins at home to Scarlets on Sunday.
The Ulstermen have not lost successive regular season games in the same season since December 2014. Ulster won 19-12 against Dragons on their most recent visit to Wales and have not won on back-to-back trips to the country since season 2012/13.
The Blues have won only one of their last seven fixtures with Ulster: 28-23 at Sport Cardiff Arms Park in March 2014.
Teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Aled Summerhill, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 James Down, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Matthew Rees (c), 1 Brad Thyer
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Taufa'ao Filise, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Garyn Smith
Ulster: 15 Stuart Olding, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Sammy Arnold, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Paddy Jackson (captain), 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Robbie Diack, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Pete Browne, 3 Bronson Ross, 2 John Andrew, 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Jonny Murphy, 17 Kyle McCall, 18 Ricky Lutton, 19 Roger Wilson, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Darren Cave, 23 Rory Scholes.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Dan Jones, Gwyn Morris (both Wales)
TMO: Jon Mason (Wales)
Edinburgh v Scarlets
(Murrayfield – Kick-off: 14.05; 14.05 GMT)
Edinburgh have slipped to four straight defeats in all competitions, although all four games have been away from home.
Edinburgh's only defeat at Murrayfield in any tournament this season was 14-16 to Munster in round seven of the Pro12.
Scarlets have won their last two Pro12 fixtures, against Edinburgh and Ulster but have not won successive away games in the Pro12 since October.
Edinburgh's only victory in their last seven encounters with Scarlets was 26-15 at Parc y Scarlets in March 2015, whilst their only victory over Scarlets at Murrayfield since 2010 was 26-23 in March 2012.
Teams:
Edinburgh: TBC
Scarlets: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Gareth Owen, 13 Regan King, 12 Hadleigh Parkes (captain), 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Morgan Allen, 7 James Davies, 6 Maselino Paulino, 5 David Bulbring, 4 George Earle, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Phil John.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Rory Pitman, 20 Will Boyde, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Steff Evans.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Keith Allen, Graeme Ormiston (both Scotland)
TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Zebre v Leinster
(Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 GMT)
Zebre have slipped to three successive defeats in the Pro12 but at least gained their first try bonus point since October during the loss to Connacht on Saturday.
Zebre's record against Irish provinces is won one, lost 31.
Leinster are the best team in the Pro12 on current form having picked up 21 league points from their last six matches.
Their only reversal in the last ten rounds was 13-23 at Newport Gwent Dragons on 29 January.
The two sides have met on seven previous occasions with Leinster easily winning all the games.
Zebre have scored just one try and only 11 points in their last four encounters with the Irishmen.
Teams:
Zebre: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Tommaso Boni, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Kayle Van Zyl, 10 Ian McKinley, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Federico Ruzza, 6 Jacopo Sarto, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Guillermo Roan, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Bruno Postiglioni.
Replacements: 16 Gabriele Morelli, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Emiliano Caffini, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Maicol Azzolini, 23 Ulrich Beyers.
Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Ben Te'o, 11 Isa Nacewa (captain), 10 Cathal Marsh, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Dominic Ryan, 5 Mick Kearney, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 James Tracy, 1 Peter Dooley
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Hayden Triggs, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Cian Kelleher
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Matteo Liperini, Ricardo Angelucci (both Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Source: @PRO12rugby
