RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

ROUND 15 PREVIEWS With the international weekend kicking off on Friday night, the majority of the RaboDirect PRO12 games take place on Sunday, however Blues open round 15 with their game against current champions, Leinster at the Arms Park on Thursday evening and if past form is any guide Cardiff will have their work cut out to claim victory in this match.

The sole game on Saturday is also in with Rugby visiting to play , who missed out last round due to the weather in . The Scots do not travel well, so Scarlets must be hoping to put their own home record back on track in this fixture.

The remaining four games take place on Sunday, with a TV double header in Italy, Benetton Treviso hosting Ulster and facing another Irish province, Connacht. Connacht’s victory over Edinburgh last time out saw them swap places with Zebre at the foot of the table, which could be reversed if Zebre claim this tie. Ulster on the other hand will be hoping they can make up some ground on the teams above them in the Play-Off zone.

At the same time the remaining two Welsh regions will be in action in the principality. Newport Gwent opponents’ Warriors, currently sit in 4th place in the table courtesy of one more win than Ulster, and still have two games in hand over the three teams above them.

The outstanding game must be the pick of the weekend, leaders Munster travelling to face 3rd placed , who claimed a record victory over Treviso in their last game at the . Both teams will be looking for a win to stake their claim for home Play-Off spot.

ROUND 15 FIXTURES Thursday 20 February

CARDIFF BLUES v LEINSTER At Arms Park, 8.05pm. Live on Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU, 27th competition game) Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris, Greg Morgan (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU) TMO: Paul Adams (WRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue C L scorers Leinster scorers Sat 19 Feb 11 Cardiff City Stadium 11 3 Dan Fish(T) (2P) (P) Fri 2 Dec 11 Royal Society 9 52 Ceri Sweeney(3P) Leo Auva'a(T) (2T) (T) (T) Fergus McFadden(3C/D/3P) (2C) Nathan White(T) Sat 7 Jan 12 Cardiff City Stadium 19 23 (T) Dan Parks(D) Leigh (T) Fergus McFadden(P) Sean Halfpenny(C/3P) O'Brien(T) Jonathan Sexton(2C/2P) Sat 27 Oct 12 Royal Dublin Society 22 59 (T) Tom James(T) Leigh (T) Fionn Carr(T) Cian Halfpenny(T/2C/P) Healy(T) (2T) Dave Kearney(T) Ian Madigan(T) Damian Browne(T) Jonathan Sexton(7C) (T) Fri 8 Feb 13 Arms Park 11 26 (2P) Jason Tovey(T) Jordi Murphy(T) Ian Madigan(2C/4P) Isaac Boss(T) Fri 27 Sep 13 Royal Dublin Society 20 34 Rhys Patchell(C) (T) Alex Dominic Ryan(T) Sean Cronin(T) Ian Cuthbert(T) (C/2P) Madigan(T/4C/2P) Penalty Try(T)

Page 1 of 12 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

Cardiff Blues’ only victory in their last seven RaboDirect PRO12 contests came at home to Newport Gwent Dragons on New Year’s Day. The Blues have beaten an Irish province just once in their last eight encounters: 21-10 against Connacht at the Arms Park in round 2 this season. Leinster have been defeated just once in the PRO12 since round five: 6-11 at Edinburgh on 20th December. The Leinstermen have not been defeated by a Welsh region in any competition since they visited Ospreys in the PRO12 on 4th November 2012. Cardiff Blues have won just one of their last 14 encounters with Leinster since 2007: 11-3 in the PRO12 at the Cardiff City Stadium in February 2011.

Saturday 22 February

SCARLETS v At , 2.30pm. Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 23rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell, Jonathan Hardy (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Aurwel Morgan (WRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue S E Scarlets scorers Edinburgh Rugby scorers Thu 24 Feb 11 Parc y Scarlets 11 3 (T) Dan Newton(2P) David Blair(P) Fri 7 Oct 11 Parc y Scarlets 33 17 Adam Warren(2T) Richie Pugh(T) Rhys (2C/P) Lee Jones(T) Tim M. Thomas(T) (2C/3P) Visser(T) Fri 30 Mar 12 Murrayfield 23 26 Jonathan Davies(T) Andy Fenby(T) Rhys (T) Greig Laidlaw(2C/4P) Priestland(C/3P) Stephen Jones(C) Penalty Try(T) Fri 26 Oct 12 Murrayfield 29 28 Nick Reynolds(T) George North(2T) Harry Leonard(C/7P) (T) Gareth Davies(T) (P) Aled Thomas(3C) Fri 1 Mar 13 Parc y Scarlets 14 13 Owen Williams(P) Andy Fenby(T) Aled Dougie Fife(T) Harry Leonard(C/2P) Thomas(2P) Fri 27 Sep 13 Murrayfield 22 9 Nick Reynolds(T) Jordan Williams(T) Harry Leonard(3P) Jonathan Davies(T) Rhys Priestland(2C/P)

Scarlets round 14 game in Ulster fell foul of the weather, The Welshmen’s’ 41-33 victory in Treviso in round 13 ended a four game losing run in the RaboDirect PRO12. Scarlets have won just two of their last six home games in the tournament - against Treviso and Ulster. Edinburgh Rugby have slipped to defeat in their last two PRO12 matches against, and Connacht, whilst their only away victory in the competition since December 2012 came at Zebre in March. The Scotsmen have won just once in their last 17 visits to Wales since 2009, 21-19 over the Blues at the Arms Park in September 2012. The Scarlets have won six of their last seven fixtures against Edinburgh, the loss being 23-26 at Murrayfield on 30th March 2012, whilst Edinburgh’s only victory at Parc y Scarlets was 17-16 in December 2009.

Sunday 23 February

BENETTON TREVISO v ULSTER At Stadio Monigo, 3pm local time (2pm UK & ) Live on Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 59th competition game) Assistant Referees: TBA, Andrea Spadoni (both FIR) Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (FIR) TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

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Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue B U Benetton Treviso scorers Ulster scorers Fri 7 Jan 11 Ravenhill Stadium 13 32 (C/2P) Gonzalo Padro(T) Adam D'Arcy(T) Nevin Spence(T) (T) (3C/2P) Ruan Pienaar(T) Fri 7 Oct 11 Ravenhill Stadium 23 12 Kris Burton(T/2C/3P) Penalty Try(T) Ian Humphreys(C) Pedrie Wannenburg(2T) Sat 24 Mar 12 Stadio Monigo 23 27 Kris Burton(2C/2D/P) Enrico Ceccato(T) Chris Henry(T) (T) Ruan Alberto di Bernardo(T) Pienaar(3C/2P) Ian Whitten(T) Fri 23 Nov 12 Stadio Monigo 15 16 Alberto di Bernardo(C/P) Brendan Peter Nelson(T) Niall O'Connor(C/3P) Williams(T) Ludovico Nitoglia(T) Fri 1 Mar 13 Ravenhill Stadium 29 29 Robert Barbieri(T) Alberto di (2C/5P) Stuart Olding(T) Bernardo(3C/P) Dean Budd(3T) (T) Fri 27 Sep 13 Ravenhill Stadium 13 32 Robert Barbieri(T) Mat Berquist(P) Paddy Jackson(2C/P) (T) Alberto di Bernardo(C/P) Mike Allen(2T) Rory Best(T) (T)

Benetton Treviso have slipped to five straight defeats in all competitions since beating Zebre over Christmas. Treviso were defeated by the Scarlets in their most recent home game in the PRO12 and have not lost successive matches in the tournament at Stadio Monigo since November 2012. Ulster’s only defeat in their last ten fixtures in all tournaments since eerily November was 6-19 to Leinster at the RDS in the PRO12 on 28th December. The Ulstermen’s only previous defat to an Italian opponent came in October 2011 at Ravenhill when Treviso were the visitors. The two sides have met on 13 previous occasions in all tournaments with Ulster winning 11, Treviso 1 and one match drawn, however curiously Ulster have won on all six previous visits to Stadio Monigo. .

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v GLASGOW WARRIORS At , 2.30pm Referee: Matteo Liperini (FIR, 6th competition game) Assistant Referees: Rhys Thomas, Martyn Lewis (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Russell Howell (WRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue N G Newport Gwent Dragons scorers Glasgow Warriors scorers Fri 25 Feb 11 Firhill Stadium 16 16 Jason Tovey(C/P) Andrew Coombs(T) (C/3P) Aly Muldowney(T) Matt Jones(2P) Fri 7 Oct 11 Firhill Stadium 19 24 Jason Tovey(P) Matt Jones(C/3P) Martyn Duncan Weir(8P) Thomas(T) Sun 4 Dec 11 Rodney Parade 14 14 Jason Tovey(2P) Steffan Jones(P) Tom Ruaridh Jackson(3P) Scott Wight(T) Riley(T) Fri 2 Nov 12 6 37 (2P) Gordon Reid(T) (2T) Peter Murchie(T) Tom Ryder(T) Scott Wight(3C/2P) Fri 15 Feb 13 Rodney Parade 3 60 Tom Prydie(P) Josh Strauss(T) Duncan Weir(5C/2P) Mark Bennett(T) Nikola Matawalu(T) Alex Dunbar(T) (2T) Taylor (T) Scott Wight(2C) Fraser Thomson(T) Fri 22 Nov 13 Scotstoun Stadium 23 8 Will Harries(T) Jason Tovey(T/2C/D/2P) (P) Nikola Matawalu(T)

Newport Gwent Dragons only victory in their last five RaboDirect PRO12 matches came at home to Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day. The Dragons have lost only twice at Rodney Parade in the PRO12 since last March, both against Irish Provinces – Leinster and Munster. Glasgow Warriors’ 27-20 victory at Cardiff on Saturday set a new record for successive away victories in the tournament – seven. The Warriors have lost only one of their last eight visits to Wales in the PRO12: 6-29 at the Scarlets in April 2013.

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Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

Dragons were victorious 23-8 when they visited Scotstoun in round 8 but have not achieved a season’s double over the Scotsmen since season 2006/07. The Warriors are unbeaten in their last three visits to Rodney Parade in all tournaments.

OSPREYS v MUNSTER At Liberty Stadium, 4pm. Live on Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 25th competition game) Assistant Referees: Wayne Davies, Jon Mason (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Jeff Marks (WRU) TMO: Tim Hayes (WRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue O M Ospreys scorers Munster scorers Sat 8 Oct 11 17 13 (4P) (T) Danny Barnes(T) Ian Keatley(C/2P) Sat 3 Dec 11 Liberty Stadium 19 13 Matthew Morgan(3P) Richard Fussell(T) Ian Keatley(C/P) (T) Ronan Rhys Webb(T) O'Gara(P) Fri 11 May 12 Liberty Stadium (SF/PO) 45" 10 Dan Biggar(T/4C/4P) Andrew Bishop(T) Ian Keatley(T/C/P) Hanno Dirksen(T) Kahn Fotuali'i(T) Rhys Webb(T) Sat 29 Sep 12 Liberty Stadium 30 15 Dan Biggar(3C/3P) Richard Fussell(T) Ian Keatley(P) Ronan O'Gara(4P) (T) Penalty Try(T) Sat 2 Mar 13 Thomond Park 13 13 Matthew Morgan(C/2P) Jonathan Ronan O'Gara(C/2P) Damien Varley(T) Thomas(T) Sat 2 Nov 13 Thomond Park 6 12 Matthew Morgan(2P) JJ Hanrahan(P) Ian Keatley(3P)

Ospreys 75-7 demolition of Treviso last time out was their biggest victory since the region was formed in 2003. Ospreys’ only two defeats at the Liberty Stadium in the RaboDirect PRO12 since September 2012 were to Ulster and Glasgow in rounds 5 and 9 this season. The Welshmen have won only one of their last nine contests with Irish provinces: 43-26 against Connacht in Galway in the PRO12 last September. Munster continue to set the pace at the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 standings, having suffered just one defeat in the tournaments since round 3: 19-29 at Ulster on 3rd January. The Munstermen have won all their six fixtures against Welsh opponents this season. Munster have lost on their last three visits to Liberty Stadium since their 22-20 victory in April 2011.

ZEBRE v CONNACHT At Stadio XXV Aprile, 5.30pm local time (4.30pm Ireland & UK) Live on Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 14th competition game) Assistant Referees: Giuseppe Vivarini, Elia Rizzo (both FIR) Citing Commissioner: Roberto Carra (FIR) TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue Z C Zebre scorers Connacht scorers Fri 7 Sep 12 Stadio XXV Aprile 17 30 Samuele Pace(T) Luciano Orquera(2C/P) Tiernan O'Halloran(T) Mike McCarthy(T) Dries van Schalkwyk(T) George Naoupu(T) Miah Nikora(3C/3P) Fri 1 Mar 13 Sportsground 19 23 (T) Gonzalo Garcia(P) Eoin McKeon(T) (T) Dan Paolo Buso(C/3P) Parks(2C/D/2P) Sat 7 Sep 13 Sportsground 16 25 Andrea Manici(T) Luciano Matt Healy(T) Fionn Carr(T) Dan Orquera(C/3P) Parks(2C/2P) Nathan White(T)

Zebre’s only previous home victory came against Benetton Treviso on 4th January, whilst they have been defeated in all 18 previous encounters with Irish provinces in all tournaments. Connacht’s 11-7 victory over Edinburgh on Saturday ended a three game losing streak in the RaboDirect PRO12. The Irishmen are still without a victory away from home in the tournament this season, but did win twice on their travels in the European Cup, at Zebre and notably at . Connacht have won all seven previous contest they have had with Zebre in all tournaments. Page 4 of 12 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

ROUND 14 MICROCOSM FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY (B) LEINSTER (10)31 NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS (3)19 Ian Madigan(4C/P) Jason Tovey(D/2P) Jack McGrath(38) Ashley Smith(46) Penalty Try(60/ 67) Richie Rees(48) Darren Hudson(80) Att: 15,000 ULSTER PP SCARLETS PP

SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY CONNACHT (3)11 EDINBURGH RUGBY (7)7 (b) Dan Parks(P) Carl Bezuidenhout(C) Craig Ronaldson(P) Roddy Grant(7) Michael Swift(47) Att: 4,038 (B) MUNSTER (15)36 ZEBRE (5)8 JJ Hanrahan(C/P) (P) Ian Keatley(3C) Tommaso d'Apice(12) (26/ 34) Att: 7,330 Ger Slattery(62/ 79) Tommy O'Donnell(70) (b) CARDIFF BLUES (10)20 GLASGOW WARRIORS (7)27 Gareth Davies(P) (2C/2P) Simon Humberstone(2C/P) Ruaridh Jackson(C) Robin Copeland(34) Lee Jones(40) Lewis Jones(44) James Eddie(71) Att: 5,645 Mark Bennett(78) SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY (B) OSPREYS (21)75 BENETTON TREVISO (0)7 Dan Biggar(4C) Mat Berquist(C) Jonathan Spratt(21/ 42) Jacopo Sarto(54) Ashley Beck(24) Att: 5,089 Rhys Webb(34) Aisea Natoga(49) Jeff Hassler(57) (59/ 79/6C) (63) Hanno Dirksen(65) (73) Key: winning team shown in green, losing team in red, a draw marked in amber Note: (B) denotes a try bonus point and (b) a losing bonus point

RaboDirect PRO12 DEBUTS IN ROUND 14 (7) Romulo Acosta, Andrea Menniti Ippolito Jacopo Sarto, Enrico Targa, Mantydas Tveraga (Benetton Treviso), Carl Bezuidenhout, Andries Strauss (Edinburgh Rugby)

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Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

HOW THEY STAND

RaboDirect PRO12 Record Points Attack Defence Pos Team P W D L TB LB Tot T C PG DG For T C PG DG Agst TB LB PD 1 Munster (1)  14 12 0 2 5 0 53 36 31 39 0 359 14 11 38 1 209 0 6 150 2 Leinster (2)  14 10 1 3 5 3 50 32 27 36 1 325 20 13 31 1 222 0 3 103 3 Ospreys (4)  14 9 1 4 4 3 45 39 33 33 5 375 17 14 38 2 233 0 4 142 4 Glasgow Warriors (5)  12 10 0 2 0 1 41 19 14 27 0 204 9 9 32 3 168 0 9 36 5 Ulster (3)  13 9 0 4 3 2 41 23 14 37 0 254 15 9 27 1 177 0 3 77 6 Scarlets (6)  13 5 1 7 1 5 28 22 17 32 0 240 25 22 30 0 259 2 1 -19 7 Newport Gwent Dragons (7)  13 5 0 8 0 4 24 17 13 34 5 228 19 16 35 3 241 2 3 -13 8 Edinburgh Rugby (8)  12 5 0 7 1 2 23 19 15 28 0 209 28 21 27 1 266 3 4 -57 9 Cardiff Blues (9)  14 4 1 9 0 5 23 17 16 49 3 273 33 29 42 2 355 4 1 -82 10 Benetton Treviso (10)  13 3 1 9 0 5 19 19 19 35 0 238 40 29 23 2 333 3 1 -95 11 Connacht (12)  14 3 0 11 0 5 17 15 10 27 2 182 25 21 39 1 287 2 2 -105 12 Zebre (11)  14 2 1 11 0 4 14 20 14 27 1 212 33 29 42 0 349 3 2 -137 TOTALS 80 77 3 77 19 39 378 278 223 404 17 3099 278 223 404 17 3099 19 39

2013/14 ABBREVIATED RULES The RaboDirect PRO12 shall consist of a league stage followed by a play-off stage. In the league stage, four league points shall be awarded for a win and two league points shall be awarded for a draw.

One bonus league point shall be awarded to a Team scoring four or more tries and one bonus league point shall be awarded to a Team losing by seven points or less.

The top four Teams in the league at the end of the season shall qualify for the play- offs which shall consist of the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi Finals and the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order: number of matches won; the difference between points for and points against; the number of tries scored; the most points scored; the difference between tries for and tries against; the fewest number of red cards received; the fewest number of yellow cards received.

In the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals, the Team placed first in the league shall play the Team placed fourth and the Team placed second shall play the Team placed third. The RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals shall be held at the home grounds of the first and second placed Teams respectively. The winners shall meet in the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

The RaboDirect PRO12 Final is provisionally scheduled to take place the weekend of 31st May 2014. RaboDirect PRO12 will determine the venue for the RaboDirect PRO12 Final however the Team that finished highest in the league stage competing in the Final will be able to propose a venue within its own Union’s jurisdiction (which may include the team's own ground) to host the RaboDirect PRO12 Final, provided that the venue meets certain commercial criteria and has capacity for a minimum of 18,000 spectators.

The winner of the RaboDirect PRO12 for 2013/14 will therefore be the Team that wins the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

Page 6 of 12 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

THE PLAYOFF ZONE

If the Play Offs were to happen after this round they would be: 1st v 4th – Munster v Glasgow Warriors 2nd v 3rd – Leinster v Ospreys

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Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

SPECSAVERS FAIRPLAY LEAGUE The Specsavers Fairplay League rewards the best disciplinary record, with the club with the fewest disciplinary points (1 point for each yellow card, and 3 points for each red card or upheld citing) at the end of the 22 week regular season given £10,000 to spend on their youth development programme.

FAIRPLAY LEAGUE YC RC PC Pts 1 Ulster 5 0 0 5 2 Ospreys 7 0 0 7 2 Connacht 7 0 0 7 4 Glasgow Warriors 8 0 0 8 4 Leinster 8 0 0 8 6 Benetton Treviso 6 0 1 9 6 Edinburgh Rugby 6 0 1 9 8 Zebre 10 0 0 10 8 Cardiff Blues 7 0 1 10 10 Munster 11 0 0 11 10 Scarlets 11 0 0 11 12 Newport Gwent Dragons 12 1 0 15 TOTALS 98 1 3 110 The above sets out a summary of certain provisions of the RaboDirect PRO12 Rules for information purposes only. As such these provisions may not be relied upon and for a full and proper understanding of the provisions and rules of the RaboDirect PRO12, reference must be made to the RaboDirect PRO12 Rules in their existing and entire form. PROVEN CITINGS (3) (Cardiff Blues v Connacht, 13 Sept). Cited for an infringement of Law 10.4(a) (Punching or striking a player), suspended for two weeks. (Benetton Treviso @ Scarlets, 14 Sept). Cited for an infringement of Law 10.4(a) (Punching or striking a player), suspended for three weeks. Aleki Lutui (Edinburgh @Ospreys 21 Sept) been cited for an infringement of Law 10.4(e) (dangerous tackling), suspended for two weeks. (note, the above is only a brief summary for purposes of the Specsavers Fairplay chart) RED CARDS (1) Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Newport Gwent Dragons at Leinster, 14 Feb) YELLOW CARDS (98) Blues (7) Robin Copeland(2), Filo Paulo(2), Macauley Cook, Pat Palmer, Owen Williams Connacht (7) Rodney Ah You, Mata Fifita, Ronan Loughney, Frank Murphy, Paul O’Donohoe, Kiernan Marmion, Nathan White Dragons (12) Jevon Groves(2), Andrew Coombs, Nathan Buck, Lewis Evans, Owen A. Evans, , Adam Jones, Ieuan Jones, Pat Leach, Matthew Pewtner, Netani Talei Edinburgh (6) Cornell du Preez(2), Tom Brown, Lee Jones, WP Nel, Izak van der Westhuizen Leinster (8) Sean Cronin, , Darren Hudson, Dave Kearney, Jack McGrath, Brendan Macken, Ian Madigan, Jack O’Connell Munster (11) James Cronin(2), , , , Paul O’Connell, Niall Ronan, Cathal Sheridan, Mike Sherry, CJ Stander, Duncan Williams Ospreys (7) Scott Baldwin, Andrew Bishop, Aaron Jarvis, Alun-, Aisea Natoga, Marc Thomas, Scarlets (11) (2), Gareth Owen(2), Jacobie Adriaanse, , John Barclay, Gareth Davies, Mike Poole, , Sione Timani

Page 8 of 12 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

Treviso (6) Alberto di Bernardo(2),Robert Barbieri, Dean Budd, , Ulster (5) Sean Doyle, David McIlwaine, Stuart Olding, Lewis Stevenson, Roger Wilson Warriors (8) , , Tyrone Holmes, , Moray Low, Nikola Matawalu, , Zebre (10) , Dion Berryman, Filippo Ferrarini, , Salvatore Perugini, Matteo Pratichetti, Kameli Ratuvou, Luca Redolfini, Dries van Schalkwyk,

TOP RaboDirect PRO12 ACCUMULATORS TOP RaboDirect PRO12 POINTS SCORERS Rank Name Team Apps Mins Try Conv PG DG Points 1 JJ Hanrahan Munster 8+3 632 3 20 25 0 130 2 Dan Biggar Ospreys 10 751 1 23 23 3 129 3 Jason Tovey Newport Gwent 11+1 860 1 11 27 4 120 Dragons 4 Mat Berquist Benetton Treviso 9+1 676 0 13 24 0 98 5 Leigh Halfpenny Cardiff Blues 7 560 0 7 28 0 98 6 Leinster 7+7 647 1 12 21 1 95 7 Luciano Orquera Zebre 9+2 741 1 11 18 1 84 8 Paddy Jackson Ulster 9 705 1 4 23 0 82 9 Ian Madigan Leinster 8+3 684 1 15 14 0 77 10 Dan Parks Connacht 9+5 745 1 9 14 2 71 11 Ian Keatley Munster 7+3 564 1 11 14 0 69 12 Greig Laidlaw Edinburgh Rugby 5 400 0 7 16 0 62 13 Rhys Priestland Scarlets 7+2 606 0 3 15 0 51 14 Ruan Pienaar Ulster 5+1 430 0 5 12 0 46 15 Harry Leonard Edinburgh Rugby 8+2 672 0 6 10 0 42 16 Duncan Weir Glasgow Warriors 4 306 0 3 12 0 42 17 Rhys Patchell Cardiff Blues 8 497 0 1 11 2 41 Best in a PRO12 Season: 287pts by Felipe Contepomi (Leinster) in 2005/06 TOP RaboDirect PRO12 TRY SCORERS TOP RaboDirect PRO12 TRY SCORERS Rank Name Team Apps Mins Tries Home Away 1st H 2nd H 1 Gareth Davies Scarlets 9+2 619 6 2 4 3 3 2 Ludovico Nitoglia Benetton Treviso 13 1000 5 4 1 1 4 3 Cardiff Blues 6+4 410 4 3 1 3 1 4 Dougie Fife Edinburgh Rugby 11 813 4 3 1 3 1 5 Jeff Hassler Ospreys 10+2 763 4 3 1 2 2 6 Mike Allen Ulster 8+2 586 3 2 1 2 1 7 Ashley Beck Ospreys 8+1 640 3 2 1 2 1 8 Fionn Carr Connacht 9+4 848 3 3 0 1 2 9 Ulster 9+3 770 3 2 1 2 1 10 Frazier Climo Scarlets 5 400 3 0 3 2 1 11 Robin Copeland Cardiff Blues 11+3 866 3 1 2 3 0 12 James Cronin Munster 6+6 457 3 2 1 3 0 13 Alex Cuthbert Cardiff Blues 7 560 3 2 1 1 2 14 Cornell du Preez Edinburgh Rugby 7+1 575 3 2 1 1 2 15 JJ Hanrahan Munster 8+3 632 3 2 1 1 2 16 Matt Healy Connacht 12 851 3 2 1 2 1 17 Darren Hudson Leinster 2+3 89 3 1 2 0 3 18 Jack McGrath Leinster 7+3 546 3 3 0 2 1 19 WP Nel Edinburgh Rugby 11+1 891 3 3 0 1 2

Page 9 of 12 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

20 Ulster 9+1 706 3 3 0 3 0 21 Noel Reid Leinster 8+2 609 3 0 3 1 2 22 Leonardo Sarto Zebre 7+1 542 3 1 2 1 2 23 CJ Stander Munster 8+5 722 3 1 2 0 3 24 Justin Tipuric Ospreys 4+1 353 3 2 1 1 2 25 Ospreys 6+1 483 3 2 1 2 1 26 Simon Zebo Munster 5 400 3 3 0 2 1 Best in a PRO12 Season: 14 by Tim Visser (Edinburgh) 2010/11 RHINO GOLDEN BOOT AWARD BEST RaboDirect PRO12 KICKERS Rank Name Team Good Att Kick% Last 10 kicks Conv PG Streak 1 JJ Hanrahan Munster 45 49 91.84% 3322222/32c 20/21 25/28 Missed last 1 2 Duncan Weir Glasgow Warriors 15 17 88.24% 3333/33333c 3/4 12/13 Missed last 1 3 Steve Shingler Scarlets 14 16 87.50% 23333/32p/3c 4/5 10/11 Missed last 1 4 Dan Biggar Ospreys 46 53 86.79% p32/223/2222 23/27 23/26 Last 9 5 Gareth Davies Cardiff Blues 13 15 86.67% 233233/323/3 5/5 8/10 Last 10 6 Ian Madigan Leinster 29 34 85.29% pp3/22/32222 15/16 14/18 Last 8 7 Sam Davies Ospreys 10 12 83.33% 3/2p/2222c22 8/9 2/3 Last 2 8 Alberto di Bernardo Benetton Treviso 10 12 83.33% 3332/p/32/333 2/2 8/10 Last 5 9 Matthew Morgan Ospreys 10 12 83.33% p3/33333c23 2/3 8/9 Last 2 10 Mat Berquist Benetton Treviso 37 45 82.22% 3/3333222/p2 13/13 24/32 Last 1 11 Greig Laidlaw Edinburgh Rugby 23 28 82.14% 2/c33p/3233p 7/8 16/20 Missed last 1 12 Leigh Halfpenny Cardiff Blues 35 44 79.55% 33/p3333pp3 7/8 28/36 Last 1 13 Rhys Priestland Scarlets 18 23 78.26% 33/33/p3p333 3/4 15/19 Last 3 14 Aled Thomas Scarlets 16 21 76.19% p2/3pcc2222 10/13 6/8 Last 4 15 Harry Leonard Edinburgh Rugby 16 21 76.19% 3/pc2323/cc2 6/9 10/12 Last 1 16 Jason Tovey Newport Gwent 38 51 74.51% pp233p/cc33 11/15 27/36 Last 2 Dragons 17 Luciano Orquera Zebre 29 39 74.36% p/pc32/c333p 11/15 18/24 Missed last 1 18 Ruan Pienaar Ulster 17 23 73.91% 232p333/3p2 5/6 12/17 Last 1 19 Jimmy Gopperth Leinster 33 45 73.33% 333/332/23p2 12/16 21/29 Last 1 20 Rhys Patchell Cardiff Blues 12 17 70.59% p333p333/2/3 1/1 11/16 Last 5 21 Paddy Jackson Ulster 27 42 64.29% 3p/33233p/33 4/12 23/30 Last 2 22 Ian Keatley Munster 25 39 64.10% 3/ppcp22/222 11/15 14/24 Last 5 23 Dan Parks Connacht 23 39 58.97% 33pc/3332/p/3 9/12 14/27 Last 1 24 Craig Ronaldson Connacht 13 23 56.52% p3pp3/3pppc 1/2 12/21 Missed last 4 25 Ruaridh Jackson Glasgow Warriors 8 16 50.00% c22/c3ppp/p2 4/7 4/9 Last 1 26 Stuart Hogg Glasgow Warriors 5 10 50.00% 33p2/pp2p/p/3 2/2 3/8 Last 1 Qual: 10 place kicks at goal Under Streak, "Last 4" means has kicked last four place kicks in a row successfully. Under "Last 10 kicks" 3 denotes a penalty goal, 2 a conversion, p is a missed penalty and c a missed conversion, whilst separate matches are divided with forward slashes.

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Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

RaboDirect PRO12 RECORD CENTRE INDIVIDUAL GAME RECORDS All-Time Best in 2013/14 Most points 32 - Stephen Jones (Llanelli RFC @ 23 – Greig Laidlaw , 4 Oct 02) (Edinburgh v Connacht, 29 Nov) Most tries 4 - Mike Mullins (Munster @ Caerphilly, 11 2 by 14 players Sep 01) 4 - Lee Abdul (Blues v Ospreys, 25 Oct 03) 4 – Jamie Robinson (Blues v Borders, 27 Feb 04) Most conversions 9 - Brendan Laney (Edinburgh @ 6 – Sam Davies Caerphilly, 21 Sep 02) (Ospreys v Treviso, 16 Feb) Most penalty goals 9 – Luciano Orquera 6 by five players ( v Treviso, 23 Dec 11) Most drop goals 4 – Dan Parks 2 – Dan Biggar (Glasgow v Ulster, 16 Apr 10) (Ospreys @ Treviso,6 Sep) Fastest try 18 secs – Nathan Brew 2 mins – Dafydd Hewitt (Dragons @ Blues, 27 Dec 05) (Blues v Zebre, 20 Sep) Quickest 17 mins 43 secs – Tommy Bowe 42 mins – Jonathan Spratt bonus point try (Ulster v Reivers, 12 May 06) (Ospreys v Treviso, 16 Feb)

TEAM RECORDS All-Time Best in 2013/14 Most points in a home 75-7 Ospreys v Treviso 75-7 Ospreys v Treviso game (Liberty Stadium, 16 Feb 14) (Liberty Stadium, 16 Feb) Most points in an away 67-15 Ulster @ Caerphilly 43-21 Munster @ Zebre game (Virginia Park, 5 Oct 02) (Stadio XXV Aprile, 13 Sep) 43-26 Ospreys @ Connacht (Sportsgound, 28 Sep) Highest aggregate of 98pts - Caerphilly 32, Edinburgh 66 74pts – Treviso 33, Scarlets 41 points in game (Virginia Park, 21 Sep 02) (Stadio Monigo, 8 Feb) Biggest home win 68pts – Ospreys 75, Treviso 7 68pts – Ospreys 75, Treviso 7 (Liberty Stadium, 16 Feb 14) (Liberty Stadium, 16 Feb) Biggest away win 57pts – Dragons 3, Glasgow 60 23pts – Scarlets 19, Leinster 42 (Rodney Parade, 15 Feb 13) (Parc y Scarlets, 6 Sep) 23pts – Zebre 8, Leinster 31 (Stadio XXV Aprile, 9 Feb) Best attendance 50,645 – Leinster v Munster 20,646 – Munster v Leinster (regular season) (, 2 Oct 10) (Thomond Park, 5 Oct) Note: 2013/14 Season bests set or equalled this past round shown in italics.

Page 11 of 12 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 15: 20th – 23rd February 2014

APPROACHING CAREER MILESTONES POINTS SCORING 1,500 points: - 1,000 points: Ian Keatley (884) 500 points: Duncan Weir (432), Ruan Pienaar (427), Greig Laidlaw (422) Record: 1,552 points – Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors, Cardiff Blues & Connacht) TRY SCORING 50 tries: - 25 tries: Sean Lamont (22), Brian O’Driscoll (22), Jamie Heaslip (21) Record: 52 tries – Tommy Bowe (Ulster & Ospreys) MATCHES PLAYED 150 games: Duncan Jones (149), Isaac Boss (143), (141) 100 games: Lou Reed (97), Chris Czekaj (97), Robbie Diack (97), Gethin Jenkins (97), (95) Record: 175 games – Michael Swift (Connacht)

CAREER TOP TENS MOST POINTS MOST GAMES MOST MINS PLAYED MOST TRIES Dan Parks 1552 Michael Swift 175 John Muldoon 11152 Tommy Bowe 52 Dan Biggar 1069 Dan Parks 163 Dan Parks 11006 Tim Visser 50 Ronan O’Gara 940 John Muldoon 161 Alastair Kellock 10610 39 Ian Keatley 884 Adam Jones 160 Michael Swift 10286 Nikki Walker 36 Felipe Contepomi 877 Phil John 156 Gavin Duffy 9791 Andrew Trimble 35 Chris Paterson 810 Dougie Hall 155 Graeme Morrison 9760 34 David Humphreys 786 Alastair Kellock 153 Tommy Bowe 9659 Fionn Carr 33 Stephen Jones 741 Ceri Sweeney 151 Allan Jacobsen 9546 30 Ceri Sweeney 698 Duncan Jones 149 Ceri Sweeney 9167 Simon Danielli 30 Paul Warwick 664 Allan Jacobsen 148 9117 Matthew Watkins 30 Active players in RaboDirect PRO12 marked in orange

Compiled for RaboDirect PRO12 by SFMS Ltd Tel: 0044 1455 442849 Fax: 0044 1455 442559 e-mail: [email protected]

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