Preview: Pro12, Round 19
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Leaders Glasgow Warriors open this round of Pro12 action by hosting Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun on Friday, whilst fourth placed Ospreys travel to Benetton Treviso the same day.
The placings at the top of the table are so tight that should the results go their way.
Ospreys could end ahead of Glasgow as there are only four points separating the two teams.
Glasgow, however, have not lost at Scotstoun this campaign, and with the prospect of a home play-off on offer, every point will count.
The two teams in second and third place in the table, Ulster and Munster, are in action on Saturday both travelling away to play teams competing for a place in the top tier of next season's European competition, Connacht and Edinburgh respectively.
With points difference being the only way of separating Ulster and Munster from a home play-off spot, each game between now and the end of the season will be vital to their ambitions.
The Connacht versus Ulster game will also see the HawkEye System in operation again, as part of trials with World Rugby.
Elsewhere time is running out for both Leinster and Zebre in their battles to qualify for the play-offs and European Champions Cup respectively.
Leinster, four points adrift of fourth placed Ospreys, face a trip to Wales to play Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday whilst Zebre, four points short of Benetton Treviso in the table, host Scarlets on Saturday.
There are just approximately 1,000 terrace tickets left for public sale for the Pro12 Final at the Kingspan Stadium, Belfast on Saturday May 30.
We look at all the Round 19 matches.
Friday, April 11
Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
Glasgow Warriors have been defeated only once in their last six Pro12 encounters: 10-22 against Munster in Cork on 28th February.
The Scotsmen have not lost at Scotstoun in the tournament since Dragons were the visitors in November 2013.
Cardiff Blues have lost their last two matches, at Ulster in the Pro12 and at Dragons in the quarterfinal of the European Challenge Cup.
The Blues have not won outside Wales in the competition since they visited Zebre in round 1.
Warriors have won their last seven encounters with the Blues in the Pro12, although the Welshmen were victorious both home and away in last season’s European Cup.
The Blues have scored only one try at Scotstoun on their three visits – by Josh Navidi in March 2013.
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Adam Ashe, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Al Kellock (captain), 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Mike Cusack, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jerry Yanuyanutawa.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 Josh Strauss, 21 Ali Price, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Lee Jones.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Tom Isaacs, 12 Garyn Smith, 11 Dan Fish, 10 Gareth Davies, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Josh Navidi, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Macauley Cook, 5 Lou Reed, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Sam Hobbs.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Taufa'ao Filise, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Simon Humberstone, 23 Richard Smith.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Lloyd Linton (Scotland), Mike Adamson (Scotland)
TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Benetton Treviso v Ospreys
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 20.35; 18.35 GMT)
Benetton Treviso’s only victory in their last six Pro12 fixtures was 40-24 at home to Cardiff Blues in round 15. The Italian’s record in all competitions at Stadio Monigo in 2015 is won two, lost three.
Ospreys are unbeaten in their last three Pro12 encounters although all of these games were played in Swansea.
Ospreys have not been victorious on the road in the Pro12 since beating Zebre 15-14 in Parma in October.
The two sides have already met on three occasions this season (twice in the European Champions Cup) with all fixtures being won by the home side on the day.
Ospreys have visited Stadio Monigo four times before in the Pro12 and lost just once: 6-12 in August 2012.
Teams:
Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Paul Derbyshire, 5 Corniel Van Zyl (captain), 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Zanusso.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Romulo Acosta, 18 Matteo Muccignat, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Meyer Swanepoel, 21 Nicola Cattina, 22 Simone Ragusi, 23 James Ambrosini.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Ryan Bevington.
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Lloyd Peers, 20 James King, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Ben John.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Marius Mitrea (Italy), Simone Boaretto (Italy)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Saturday, April 11
Connacht v Ulster
(Galway Sportsground, Galway – Kick-off: 14.40; 13.40 GMT)
Connacht have slipped to three successive defeats in all tournaments, with all encounters being played away from home.
Connacht have lost just once in the Pro12 at the Sportsground this season: 13-16 to Edinburgh in January.
Ulster’s only defeat in their last six Pro12 fixtures was 22-26 against Dragons in Newport in March.
Ulster have won only one of their last four contests with fellow Irish provinces: 13-10 over Connacht in Belfast in round 11.
Connacht’s solitary victory over Ulster in their last 17 matches since 2005 came in Galway in April 2012.
Teams:
Connacht: TBC
Ulster: TBC
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), John Carvill (Ireland)
TMO: Jude Quinn (Ireland)
Zebra v Scarlets
(Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 16.00; 14.00 GMT)
Zebre have lost their last two Pro12 matches, in Glasgow and at the Ospreys, since beating Dragons in Parma 23-17 in round 16 – their only victory over a Welsh region this season.
Scarlets only win in their last four encounters was 23-13 at home to Leinster in March.
The Welshmen have not won on the road in any competition since beating Treviso 41-33 at Stadio Monigo in the Pro12 in February 2014.
The two sides have met on five previous occasions, with the only time that Scarlets haven’t won being a 16-16 draw in Parma in October 2013.
Teams:
Zebra: TBC
Scarlets: TBC
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Elia Rizzo (Italy), Filippo Bertelli (Italy)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Edinburgh v Munster
(Murrayfield, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 19.30; 18.30 GMT)
Edinburgh have won their last three matches in all tournaments since tripping up in Cardiff on March 1.
The Scotsmen’s run of eight successive victories in all competitions was halted when Ulster visited Murrayfield in the Pro12 in February.
Munster have lost just one of their last six Pro12 matches: 12-26 to Ospreys in Swansea in round 17.
The Munstermen have scored at least one try in their last 23 Pro12 matches.
Edinburgh’s 14-13 victory in Limerick in the opening round of this season’s Pro12 campaign ended around of five successive defeats to the Munstermen.
Teams:
Edinburgh: TBC
Munster: TBC
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson (Scotland), Andy Macmenemy (Scotland)
TMO: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Sunday, April 12
Newport Gwent Dragons v Leinster
(Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Newport Gwent Dragons have won their last three encounters in all tournaments since losing out to Zebre in Parma in the Pro12 in March.
Dragons have won two of their last three contests with Irish provinces with their 26-22 victory over Ulster in round 17 ending a run of five home losses to Irish opponents at Rodney Parade.
Leinster’s only win in their last five Pro12 fixtures was 29-8 at home to Zebre on in February.
The Leinstermen have been victorious only once away from home in any tournament since October: 22-13 at Cardiff Blues in the Pro12 in January – a run which includes three draws.
Dragons beat Leinster in round 14 and have never before achieved a Pro12 season’s double over the Irishmen, however Leinster have won on their last four visits to Newport.
Teams:
Newport Gwent Dragons: TBC
Leinster: TBC
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Sean Brickell (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)
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