URC Friday Preview: Round 16

A jam-packed weekend lies ahead in the United Rugby Championship with Irish and Welsh derbies as well as four ‘North v South’ fixtures as Benetton, Connacht, Glasgow Warriors & Leinster all kick off their South African tour.

This weekend, DHL Stormers and Cell C Sharks have their eye on a top four spot as they look to secure wins against Glasgow Warriors who travel to Cape Town and Durban, respectively. Vodacom Bulls are looking to bounce back from their recent loss to DHL Stormers two weeks ago as Benetton make the trip to Pretoria in their first meeting since the Italian side's win in the Rainbow Cup Final last June. The other South African fixture sees Emirates play host to Connacht with both teams maintaining mathematical chances of reaching the URC Play-Offs.

There are three derbies in Round 16, Munster travel to Kingspan Stadium looking to secure a win in the fight for top four position where they will face Ulster who sit second in the table. Welsh Shield leaders Scarlets will travel to Rodney Parade to face Dragons while Cardiff Rugby will welcome Ospreys to the Arms Park. In Scotland, Edinburgh host Zebre Parma as they look to secure points to remain in the top eight.

DHL STORMERS v GLASGOW WARRIORS

At DHL Stadium, Cape Town, 6.30pm April 22.

Referee: Andy Brace (IRFU, 76thcompetition game)

Assistant: AJ Jacobs, Griffin Colby (both SARU)

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

Did you know?

•DHL Stormers have won their last five United Rugby Championship matches since their 17-19 defeat at Connacht on 26 February.

•Stormers only home defeat this season came when Emirates Lions were the visitors to Cape Town Stadium on 4 December.

•Stormers only previous encounter with a Scottish opponent was a 20-all draw at Edinburgh on 9 October.

•Glasgow Warriors have lost only two of their last eight first team matches, both in the United Rugby Championship, away at Scarlets in Round 13 and Cardiff in Round 14.

•The Scotsmen have won just twice away from home in the Championship this campaign, at Zebra in Round 4 and at Connacht in Round 11.

•The Warriors have lost only two of their ten previous encounters with South African opponents in the Championship, at Southern Kings in September 2018 and at Cheetahs a year later.

•The two sides have never met before.

ULSTER RUGBY v MUNSTER RUGBY

At Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, 7.35pm April 22.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU, 8thcompetition game)

Assistant: Andrew Cole, Paul Haycock (both IRFU)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Overall URC head-to-head record: Played 40, Ulster won 17, Munster won 21, Drawn 2.

Did you know?

•Ulster Rugby have lost their last two United Rugby Championship matches and have not lost three successive league games since 2018.

•The Ulstermen have won their last seven matches at Kingspan Stadium in the Championship since Connacht beat them there during last season’s Rainbow Cup.

•Ulster have won both previous home games they have played against fellow Irish provinces this season.

•Munster Rugby's only victory in their last four United Rugby Championship encounters was 51-22 against Benetton Rugby in Cork on the 25 March.

•The Munstermen have lost their last four away games in all competitions and have not lost five in succession on their travels since 2006.

•Munster beat Ulster 18-13 at Thomond Park on the 8 January and have not achieved a Championship season’s double over the Men from the North since 2016/17.

•Munster have lost on the last four occasions they have visited Belfast since their victory there by a solitary point in October 2016.

EDINBURGH RUGBY v ZEBRE PARMA

At The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh, 7.45pm April 22

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 61stcompetition game)

Assistant: Graeme Ormiston, Dunx McClement (both SRU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

Overall URC head-to-head record:Played 16, Edinburgh won 11, Zebre won 5.

Did you know?

•Edinburgh Rugby have won just two of their last seven United Rugby Championship matches, at home to Connacht in Round 13 and away at Cell C Sharks in Round 14.

•Edinburgh's overall record at The DAM Health Stadium in all competitions is played 9, won 8, drawn one.

•The Scotsman’s only defeat in their last five contests against Italian opponents was 27-28 to Benetton Rugby in Treviso on 2 October.

•Zebra Parma's most recent victory in any competition was 26-15 at home to the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship on 27 February 2021.

•Zebre's last away win was 24-15 at Benetton Treviso on 2 January 2021. Zebre have beaten a Scottish opponent only once since 2016: 34-16 over today's adversaries Edinburgh in Parma in October 2018.

•Edinburgh have won their last four fixtures against Zebre, whilst the Italian’s only previous victory in Scotland was 19-14 at BT Murrayfield in October 2016.