Preview: Pro12, Round 18
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After a scintillating finish to the Six Nations, there is an Irish v Scottish flavour again in this round of Pro12 games with a repeat of a Final and play-off from the last two seasons, Leinster v Glasgow Warriors.
Unusually this time it is the hosts, Leinster, who are battling for the points to make the play-offs, their visitors, Glasgow Warriors, sit atop of the table four points clear of their nearest opponents.
Also on Friday, second placed Ulster face Cardiff Blues, their form this season must favour the hosts and every point counts when they are trying to secure home advantage in the play-offs, as Irish rivals Munster are tied with them on league points.
Munster themselves are in action on Saturday, welcoming Connacht to Thomond Park.
Although the visitor's record in the province is not good, they are fighting for an automatic place in next season's European Champions Cup, so this will be a tough game to call.
Scarlets and Edinburgh, the other two teams realistically challenging Connacht for a place in Europe's top tier next season, also face each other on Saturday.
Neither of them have been in the top half of the table since early in the season, but could find themselves elevated if other results go their way.
It's a straightforward head to head for Italian European qualification, and both their teams face Welsh opposition this weekend.
Benetton Treviso have the advantage of a home game against Newport Gwent Dragons, whilst Zebre face a trip to fourth placed Ospreys who themselves need to garner as many points as possible to claim a place in the play-offs.
We look at all the Round 18 matches!
Friday, March 27
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
(RDS arena, Dublin – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
Leinster’s only victory in their last five fixtures in all tournaments was 29-8 against Zebre at the RDS Arena in Round 15.
The Leinstermen have lost just once at home in their last nine encounters since October: 14-16 to the Dragons.
Glasgow Warriors’ only defeat in the last five rounds was 10-22 in Munster in Round 16.
The Warriors have won only once away from home in the tournament since Round Five: 54-10 on a trip to Zebre.
Glasgow were victorious 22-20 when the two sides met at Scotstoun in Round One and have never before achieved a season’s double over the Irishmen, whilst the Warriors’ only previous victory on Leinster soil was 23-19 at the RDS Arena in 2011.
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Ian Madigan, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Shane Jennings (captain), 6 Jordi Murphy, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Tom Denton, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Michael Bent.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Ben Marshall, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Gordon D'Arcy, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Al Kellock (captain), 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Mike Cusack, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Adam Ashe, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Connor Braid, 23 Richie Vernon.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Kieran Barry (Ireland)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (Ireland)
Ulster v Cardiff Blues
(Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
Ulster’s four game winning run in all competitions ended in Newport in the last round of the Pro12.
The Ulstermen have won all eight home games they have played in the Pro12 this season – their most recent reversal in Belfast in the competition being to Leinster.
Cardiff Blues have won their last two games, at home to Edinburgh and Connacht, but have not won three in a row in the tournament since last May.
The Blues only victory away from home since Round One came on a trip to Newport Gwent Dragons on New Year’s Day.
Ulster have won four of their last five contests with the Blues whilst Cardiff Blues have not been victorious Kingspan Stadium since April 2010
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Darren Cave (captain), 12 Stuart Olding, 11 Michael Allen, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Clive Ross, 6 Iain Henderson, 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 Robbie Diack, 20 TBC, 21 Paul Marshall, 21 Ian Humphreys, 23 Rory Scholes.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Lucas Amorosino, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Josh Navidi, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Lou Reed, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees (captain), 1 Sam Hobbs.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Taufa’ao Filise, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Tom Isaacs.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Gary Conway (Ireland), Olly Hodges (Ireland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Saturday, March 28
Scarlets v Edinburgh
(Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 14.40; 14.40 GMT)
Scarlets only defeat in their last four Pro12 fixtures was 20-25 to Ulster in Belfast in Round 16.
The Welshmen are unbeaten at Parc y Scarlets in the competition in their last 13 matches since Boxing Day 2013 – a run that includes two draws.
Edinburgh, despite lying in eighth place in the table, are actually the best team on current form, having accumulated 19 league points from their last six matches.
The Scotsmen have won just once in their last nine visits to Wales, 23-19 at Dragons.
Edinburgh’s only victory in their last nine encounters with Scarlets was 26-23 at Murrayfield in March 2012, although the two sides did play out a 20-all draw at the same venue in September.
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Regan King, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Hadleigh Parkes, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Aled Davies, 8 John Barclay, 7 James Davies, 6 Lewis Rawlins, 5 George Earle, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Phil John, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Jack Payne, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Michael Tagicakibau.
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Tom Brown, 13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Tonks, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 David Denton, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Mike Coman (captain), 5 Ben Toolis, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 John Andress, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Roddy Grant, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Sam Beard.
Referee: Johnny Lacey (Ireland)
Munster v Connacht
(Thomond Park, Limerick – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)
Munster’s four game unbeaten run in the Pro12 came to an end against Ospreys in Swansea in Round 17.
The Munstermen have won their last five home games in the tournament at their two venues since Ospreys beat them 19-14 at Thomond Park in September.
Munster have lost just one home game against a fellow Irish Province since the start of last season: 17-19 to Ulster.
Connacht have obtained three away wins this season whilst the only time they have ever gained four victories on the road in the same season was a decade ago.
All four of Connacht’s fixtures with fellow Irish provinces this season have been won by the home side on the day, whilst the one occasion that they have ever beaten such an opponent on their own soil in the tournament was against Leinster at Donnybrook in September 2002.
Connacht beat Munster 24-16 at the Sportsground in Round 12 and have never achieved a season’s double over their rivals.
Connacht have not been victorious in Munster since and 11-9 win at Thomond Park in 1986.
Teams:
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Denis Hurley (captain), 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Duncan Casey, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Paddy Butler, 20 Jack O'Donoghue, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ronan O'Mahony.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Danie Poolman, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Eoghan Masterson, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 John Cooney, 22 Shane O'Leary, 23 Conor Finn.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mark Patton (Ireland), Jonathan Peak (Ireland)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)
Ospreys v Zebre
(Liberty Stadium, Swansea – Kick-off: 19.15; 20.15 EU time; 19.15 GMT)
Ospreys three game winless run in the Pro12 ended with a 26-12 victory at home to Munster in Round 17.
Ospreys are unbeaten at Liberty Stadium in the tournament in their last dozen fixtures since Munster beat them there in February 2014.
Zebre have won just one of their last five matches in all tournaments: 23-17 at home to Dragons.
The Italian’s only away win this season came on a trip to Brive in the European Challenge Cup in October.
Zebre’s only previous victory over Ospreys was in Parma in the Pro12 in Round 21 last season, although the Italian’s did score the only try in a 14-15 defeat to the Welshmen in Parma in Round Five.
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Justin Tipuric (captain), 6 James King, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Lloyd Peers, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Ryan Bevington.
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Ben John.
Zebre: 15 Guglielmo Palazzani, 14 Dion Berryman, 13 Mirco Bergamasco, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Giulio Toniolatti, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 6 Valerio Bernabò, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Andrea De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Luciano Leibson, 18 Lorenzo Romano, 19 Jacopo Sarto, 20 Filippo Ferrarini, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Matteo Pratichetti, 23 Michele Visentin.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Jonathan Hardy
TMO: Gareth Simmonds
Treviso v Newport Gwent Dragons
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 20.30; 19.30 UK time; 19.30 GMT)
Benetton Treviso’s only win in their last five Pro12 matches was 40-24 at home to Cardiff Blues in Round 15.
Treviso have won their last two matches against Welsh opponents in all tournaments and have not won three in a row against such foe since 1998.
Newport Gwent Dragons have lost just two of their last six away games in all competitions, to Ospreys and to Zebre in the Pro12.
Dragons have not been victorious in Italy since a 14-13 win against Zebre in Parma in February 2013.
The last five clashes between the two sides have all been won by the home side on the day whilst Dragons’ only previous victory at Stadio Monigo was 35-33 in the European Cup in December 2007.
Teams:
Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Simone Ragusi, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Alberto Lucchese, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Antonio Pavanello (captain), 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Zanusso.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Romulo Acosta, 18 Matteo Muccignat, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Meyer Swanepoel, 21 Dean Budd, 22 Andrea Pratichetti, 23 Edoardo Gori.
Dragons: 15 Jason Tovey, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Pat Leach, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Nick Crosswell, 7 James Benjamin, 6 James Thomas, 5 Cory Hill, 4 Andrew Coombs, 3 Brok Harris, 2 T. Rhys Thomas (captain), 1 Boris Stankovich.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Phil Price, 18 Dan Way, 19 Taulupe Faletau, 20 Ollie Griffiths, 21 Luc Jones, 22 Tyler Morgan, 23 Carl Meyer.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant referees: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy), Cladio Blessano (Italy)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
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