Pro12 Round 15: Preview

Treviso v Cardiff Blues

After coming up short against Munster last weekend, Cardiff Blues will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they travel to Italy to take on Treviso on Friday. As for Treviso they were hammered by Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium, and have only two wins this season, both coming against Zebre. Cardiff will start the game as favourites but their form has been patchy recently, with their last win in the Pro12 coming against The Dragons on New Year’s Day. Treviso have only won one of their last nine games and will be hoping to end their barren run on Friday night.

Leinster v Zebre

Not many were expecting to see the Dragons come away with a win at the RDS last weekend, but they proved their doubters wrong and now Leinster cannot afford to lose consecutive games at home. Despite Leinster missing several players, who are with the Irish squad, they are still able to field an impressive starting XV. Zebre go into the game on the back of a hammering from Ulster and will not look forward to playing a wounded animal that is Leinster. Leinster have won all five games they have played against Zebre since the Italian side joined the league, and they will be expected to make it six wins from six unless the Italians can cause a major upset and only claim their third away win since 2012.

Edinburgh v Ulster

Friday’s game at Murrayfield see’s two of the form sides in the league go head to head. Edinburgh put in another impressive performance last week defeating Ospreys, which was their 8th successive win at Murrayfield. As for Ulster they hammered Treviso at Kingspan Park to move into 4th spot in the table. This will be a crucial game for both sides to win, with Edinburgh looking to finish in the top six this season and are currently a point behind Connacht, who are placed there at the moment. As for Ulster, with Leinster at home to Zebre they will know that a win is needed for them to stay in the top four for another weekend at least.

Scarlets v Munster

Saturday’s game is another must win for both sides for different reasons. Scarlets were able to get a bonus point win over Connacht last weekend to move level on points with the Irish side, as both look to secure 6th place and a spot in next years Champions Cup. As for Munster they defeated Cardiff Blues to keep the pressure on Glasgow at the top. with both sides looking to secure a home semi-final. Scarlets welcome Munster to the Parc Y Scarlets having not tasted defeat at home in the league since December 2013, when they were defeated by Ospreys. It will be a hard one to call with both sides looking for a win to keep the pressure on their nearest rivals.

Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys

In what is surely the game of the weekend in the Pro12, 1st meets 3rd as Ospreys travel to Scotstoun to take on Glasgow.  After losing away to Edinburgh last weekend the Ospreys face an even more difficult test against a Glasgow side who have won their last 15 games at home. After another impressive win against Treviso last weekend, Glasgow will look to continue their fine form in the league by beating an Ospreys side they have beaten in the last six meetings between the sides. A win for Glasgow will increase the gap between them and the Ospreys and if Munster suffer defeat away to Scarlets they could have a six point lead at the top come the end of the weekend.

Dragons v Connacht

The Dragons go into this game on the back of what was one of their biggest wins in the league for years, defeating reigning champions Leinster in their own back yard. They now take on a Connacht side who they have not beaten since 2012. Connacht go into this game looking to avoid another slip up, after losing heavily to the Scarlets with the Welshside now level on points with them as both chase 6th spot and a place in the Champions Cup next year. Connacht have not won away since October and will need to change that on Sunday or face dropping out of the top six.

Ciaran Fallon