Preview: Pro12, Round Nine
On a blustery weekend match results were so tight that losing bonus points were claimed in four of the games, whereas the only try bonus point was in Edinburgh's 32-13 win over Newport Gwent Dragons.
Leaders Connacht kick-off Round Nine with their game at Cardiff Blues Friday, and few people would bet against the visitors adding to their only two previous victories at Cardiff Arms Park.
Should he be selected for this game, Connacht captain John Muldoon will become the first player to make 200 appearances in the Pro12.
There is also action in Belfast on Friday when Ulster face Edinburgh. Equal on points Edinburgh sit above their hosts in a Champions Cup qualifying place courtesy of having more wins whilst 7 out of Ulster's 23 points come from bonus points.
Current champions Glasgow Warriors lie just outside the play-off zone, but welcome fourth placed Leinster to Scotstoun on Saturday, a home win could see the teams swap places. Second placed Scarlets are also in action on Saturday travelling to bottom of the table Benetton Treviso, the Welshmen may consider their task easier but they have lost to the Italian outfit on four previous occasions.
The round wraps up with two games involving Welsh regions on Sunday; Newport Gwent Dragons hosting Munster and Ospreys travelling to play Zebre. Dragons lost their home record last time out and have won only two out of eight so far this campaign whilst their hosts, third placed Munster, are the complete opposite with a won 6 lost two record.
Ospreys have won three games so far including last time out against regional rivals, Cardiff Blues, and are beginning to progress up the table swapping eighth spot with Dragons after last weekend's win. They must hope the trip to Italy will bring the same kind of reward.
With a third of the season already gone, teams will be looking to consolidate their positions in the Pro12 table before the focus turns once again to European competition followed by the Christmas and New Year derbies.
We look at all the Round Nine matches!
Friday, December 4
Cardiff Blues v Connacht
(Cardiff Arms Park – 19.05)
Cardiff Blues have slipped to seven straight defeats in the Pro12, their worst run in the history of the tournament, although they have at least picked up four losing and one try bonus point along the way.
The Blues are actually the joint second top try scorers in the Pro12 with 23 whilst their only two victories over Irish provinces in their last 13 such encounters have both been against Connacht.
Connacht continue to head the Pro12 table and are the tournament's top try scorers with 25.
Their only defeat in any competition this season was by a single point in 65 at Glasgow in round 2. Connacht have won their last six matches in the competition, a new Connacht record.
Each side won its respective home game when the two teams met last season whilst the Irishmen have won just twice before at Cardiff Arms Park – against Cardiff RFC in 2001 and The Blues themselves in February 2013.
The teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom James, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Josh Turnbull, 6 Macauley Cook, 5 Lou Reed, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Ethan Lewis, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 James Down, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Garyn Smith, 23 Dan Fish.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Ian Porter, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 James Connolly, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Ronan Loughney.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Conan O'Donnell, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 George Naoupu, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Peter Robb, 23 Rory Parata.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Neil Hennessy, Simon Rees (both Wales)
TMO: Jonathan Mason (Wales)
Ulster v Edinburgh
(Kingspan Stadium – 19.35)
Ulster's only defeat in the Pro12 at Kingspan Stadium since September 2013 came when Leinster were the visitors in May 2014, since then the Ulstermen are unbeaten at home in the tournament in 14 matches.
The Ulstermen have lost their last three matches against Scottish opponents.
Edinburgh climbed to sixth in the table courtesy of their maximum point victory over Dragons at Murrayfield on Friday – their first bonus point win since beating Zebre in April.
The Scotsmen have won just once on their travels in the Pro12 this season: 27-24 at Treviso in Round Two.
The two sides have already met this season with Edinburgh victorious at Murrayfield in Round Four, and are attempting to achieve a season's double over the Ulstermen for the first time since 2007/08, although Edinburgh have not won in Belfast since September 2009.
The teams:
Ulster: 15 Peter Nelson, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Rory Scholes, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Dan Tuohy, 3 Ricky Lutton, 2 Rob Herring (captain), 1 Kyle McCall.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Wiehan Herbst, 19 Alan O'Connor, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Stuart McCloskey, 23 Louis Ludik.
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Chris Dean, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Will Helu, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 Cornell Du Preez, 7 John Hardie, 6 Mike Coman (captain), 5 Alex Toolis, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 John Andress, 19 Jamie Ritchie, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Michael Allen, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant referees: Kieran Barry, Frank Murphy (both Ireland)
TMO: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
Saturday, December 5
Benetton Treviso v Scarlets
(Stadio Monigo – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Benetton Treviso slipped to a 15th successive Pro12 defeat in Glasgow on Friday but at least picked up a fifth losing bonus point this campaign.
Scarlets have lost just one of their last dozen Pro12 fixtures: 15-19 at Leinster in Round Seven.
The Scarlets face Italian opposition for the second week running and have not lost to an opponent from that country since Treviso visited Parc y Scarlets in May 2013.
The two sides have met on ten previous occasions in the Pro12 with Treviso gaining four victories to the Scarlets six.
The Welshmen have won on their last two visits to Stadio Monigo.
Teams:
Benetton Treviso: TBC
Scarlets: TBC
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Giuseppe Vivarinni, Simone Boaretto (both Italy)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
(Scotstoun Stadium – Kick-off: 15.00)
Glasgow Warriors have won their last three Pro12 encounters since tripping up at Leinster in Round Five.
The Warriors solitary defeat at Scotstoun in the Pro12 in their last 25 matches since New Year 2014 came when Scarlets were the visitors in Round One this season.
Leinster have won their last four Pro12 fixtures since they were defeated on a trip to Scarlets in Round Four.
The Leinstermen's only win in Scotland in their last five visits was against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in round 22 last year.
Leinster are attempting a regular season double over Warriors for the first time since 2012/13, which coincidently was the only time they have been victorious at Scotstoun: 6-9 in November 2012.
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: TBC
Leinster: TBC
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Lloyd Linton, Dunx McClement (both Scotland)
TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Sunday, December 6
Newport Gwent Dragons v Munster
(Rodney Parade – Kick-off: 14.30)
Newport Gwent Dragons only win in their last six Pro12 encounters was 19-12 at home to Treviso in Round Five.
The Dragons were defeated by Ulster at Rodney Parade in Round Seven which ended a five game winning run at the venue in the tournament.
Munster suffered only their second reversal this season with their home loss to table topping Connacht on Saturday.
Munster's only defeat in their last five away games in the Pro12 was 22-25 at Scarlets in Round Five.
Dragons have won just one of their last nine encounters with Munster: 30-24 at Rodney Parade in April 2013 whilst Munster's record at the venue in the tournament is an even won six, lost six.
Teams:
Newport Gwent Dragons: TBC
Munster: TBC
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Leighton Hodges, Daniel Jones (both Wales)
TMO: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Zebre v Ospreys
(Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Zebre's last seven matches in all tournaments have all been won by the home side on the day.
The Italians have won their last three home matches, against Edinburgh and the Blues in the Pro12 and Worcester in the European Challenge Cup.
Ospreys have won their last two Pro12 matches, against Zebre and the Blues both at Liberty Stadium, but their only away victory in any tournament since May came on a visit to Treviso in Round Four.
The two sides have met on seven previous occasions with Zebre's only victory so far being 30-27 in Parma on 1st May 2014.
Teams:
Zebre: TBC
Ospreys: TBC
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Elia Rizzo, Luca Trentin (both Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Source: @PRO12rugby
