Rabodirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14 Round 17: 21-23 March 2014 PREVIEW ROUND 17 Having led Leinster to the RaboDirect PRO12 title last season, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt took the RBS 6 Nations crown at the first time of asking in a tense finish to the Championship last weekend. Following on Ireland’s success it is perhaps appropriate that as the RaboDirect PRO12 returns to centre stage three of the top four teams are Irish Provinces. Schmidt’s former team, Leinster are in action at the RDS on Friday night, they and Munster both host Italian opposition in round 17 and whilst the records seem to point in favour of two home wins, neither side can afford to slip up as they chase a top two finish. Third placed Ulster are also in action on Friday night, their bonus point win over Scarlets in their rearranged game last week has pulled them closer to the leaders as the battle for home advantage in the Play-Offs intensifies. Ospreys, the only non-Irish side currently in the Play-Off Zone, know they have a fight on their hands to maintain that position as Glasgow Warriors are just three points behind them but still have two games in hand. Ospreys face fellow Welsh Region Cardiff Blues on Friday night, whereas Glasgow Warriors welcome Scarlets to Scotstoun on Saturday, the Welshmen did not make up any ground on the top four in their rearranged fixture last week. The next two weeks could be critical in any team’s aspirations of making the end of season Play-Offs as the pressure starts to build towards the season finale. ROUND 17 FIXTURES Friday 21 March EDINBURGH RUGBY v ULSTER At Murrayfield, 7.45pm. Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 33rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Bob Nevins (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: John Kirk (SRU) HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue E U Edinburgh Rugby scorers Ulster scorers Fri 22 Oct 10 Murrayfield 21 16 David Blair(D) Fraser McKenzie(T) Chris Ian Humphreys(P) Paddy Wallace(C/2P) Paterson(C/2P) Netani Talei(T) Ian Whitten(T) Fri 6 Jan 12 Murrayfield 20 42 Alun Walker(T) Nick de Luca(T) Greig Dan Tuohy(T) Rory Best(T) Darren Cave(T) Laidlaw(2C/2P) Ian Humphreys(2P) Ruan Pienaar(2C/4P) Andrew Trimble(T) Fri 2 Mar 12 Ravenhill Stadium 16 38 Sep Visser(T) Phil Godman(2P) Tim Adam D'Arcy(T) Ian Humphreys(T) Chris Visser(T) Cochrane(T) Paul Marshall(T) Penalty Try(T) Ruan Pienaar(4C) Stefan Terblanche(T) Fri 2 Nov 12 Ravenhill Stadium 20 45 Tom Brown(2T) Gregor Hunter(2C/2P) Craig Gilroy(T) Jared Payne(2T) Niall O'Connor(P) Penalty Try(T) Ruan Pienaar(T/6C) Roger Wilson(T) Fri 22 Mar 13 Murrayfield 14 8 Stuart McInally(T) Piers Francis(3P) Paddy Jackson(P) Andrew Trimble(T) Fri 22 Nov 13 Ravenhill Stadium 17 41 Grayson Hart(T) Dougie Fife(T) Harry Craig Gilroy(2T) James McKinney(T/5C/2P) Leonard(C) Cornell du Preez(T) Paul Marshall(T) Robbie Diack(T) Edinburgh Rugby’s 31-25 victory over Ospreys at Meggetland in round 16 ended a three match losing run. Edinburgh have won four of their last five RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures at Murrayfield. The Scotsmen have won their last three home games against Irish provinces in all competitions. Ulster Rugby have won their last seven matches in all tournaments since their loss to Leinster at the RDS in round 11 of the PRO12. Ulster have secured bonus point victories in their last two PRO12 games, over Dragons and Scarlets. The last four matches between the two sides in the PRO12 have all been won by the home side on the day whilst the Ulstermen’s most recent victory at Edinburgh came in January 2012. Page 1 of 12 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14 Round 17: 21-23 March 2014 LEINSTER v ZEBRE At RDS Dublin, 7.15pm. Live on Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 24th competition game) Assistant Referees: Kieran Barry, Andy Brace (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: John Cole (IRFU) TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU) HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue L Z Leinster scorers Zebre scorers Sat 1 Dec 12 Royal Dublin Society 37 7 Andrew Conway(T) Cian Healy(T) Fergus Daniel Halangahu(C) Tito Tebaldi(T) McFadden(2T/C/P) Jonathan Sexton(T/2C/P) Sun 21 Apr 13 Stadio Citta del Tricolore 41 22 Dominic Ryan(T) Tom Denton(T) Fionn Sinoti Sinoti(T) Daniel Halangahu(T/2C/P) Carr(T) Fergus McFadden(T) Jonathan Carlo Festuccia(T) Sexton(5C/2P) Isa Nacewa(T) Sun 9 Feb 14 Stadio XXV Aprile 31 8 Noel Reid(T) John Cooney(T) Darren Kelly Haimona(P) Dries van Schalkwyk(T) Hudson(T) Jimmy Gopperth(2C/P) Ian Madigan(2C) Zane Kirchner(T) Leinster have won their last eight matches in all competitions whilst in the RaboDirect PRO12 they have been defeated only once since round five: 6-11 at Edinburgh on 20th December. The Leinstermen are unbeaten at the RDS in any competition since Ulster were the visitors in the PRO12 on 30th March 2013. Zebre achieved their third victory of the season in their last contest at home to Cardiff Blues and are now attempting to record back to back victories for the first time. Leinster have won all three previous contests between the two sides. OSPREYS v CARDIFF BLUES At Liberty Stadium, 7.05pm . Live on Referee: Nigel Owens ( WRU, 106th competition game) Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Jon Mason (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU) TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU) HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue O C Ospreys scorers Cardiff Blues scorers Sat 2 Apr 11 Liberty Stadium 21 21 Dan Biggar(D/5P) James Hook(D) Dan Parks(2D/5P) Sun 1 Jan 12 Liberty Stadium 17 12 Dan Biggar(2P) Matthew Morgan(2P) Dan Parks(D) Leigh Halfpenny(3P) Tommy Bowe(T) Sat 14 Apr 12 Cardiff City Stadium 33 12 Dan Biggar(3C/4P) Alun-Wyn Jones(T) Leigh Halfpenny(4P) Adam Jones(T) Tom Smith(T) Fri 30 Nov 12 Liberty Stadium 33 12 James King(T) Morgan Allen(T) Matthew Rhys Patchell(2P) Ceri Sweeney(2P) Morgan(3C/4P) Richard Fussell(T) Sat 30 Mar 13 Millennium Stadium 23 16 James King(T) Dan Biggar(2C/3P) Leigh Halfpenny(T/C/3P) Jonathan Spratt(T) Fri 20 Dec 13 Arms Park 22 19 Dan Biggar(C/D/4P) Justin Tipuric(T) Kristian Dacey(T) Leigh Halfpenny(C/4P) Ospreys only victory in their last four RaboDirect PRO12 encounters was their record 75-7 eclipsing of Benetton Treviso at Liberty Stadium in round 14. Ospreys have won their last twelve contests with fellow Welsh regions in the PRO12 and have not lost at home to a Welsh opponent since Newport Gwent Dragons visited Liberty Stadium in October 2010. Cardiff Blues have secured only one victory in their last nine PRO12 fixtures: 21-13 at home to Dragons on New Year’s Day. The Blues are one of three sides still without an away win in the PRO12 this season and have not been victorious on their travels since defeating Edinburgh at Murrayfield on 15th February 2013. The Blues last two wins away from home at a fellow Welsh Region in the PRO12 were both against Dragons, in 2010 and 2012. Page 2 of 12 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14 Round 17: 21-23 March 2014 Ospreys have won their last five encounters with the Blues in the PRO12 since their 21-all draw at Liberty Stadium in 2011, the Capital side have however already beaten Ospreys at Liberty Stadium this season, but that victory was in the Anglo- Welsh Cup in November. Saturday 22 March GLASGOW WARRIORS v SCARLETS At Scotstoun Stadium, 6.30pm. Live on Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU, 63rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Lloyd Linton , David Changleng (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: John Montgomery (SRU) TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU) HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue G S Glasgow Warriors scorers Scarlets scorers Fri 22 Apr 11 Firhill Stadium 29 37 DTH van der Merwe(2T) Ruaridh Ben Morgan(T) Tavis Knoyle(T) Lou Jackson(C/4P) Tom Ryder(T) Reed(T) Morgan Stoddart(2T) Stephen Jones(3C/2P) Sat 7 Jan 12 Parc y Scarlets 14 16 Ruaridh Jackson(P) Moray Low(T) Scott Gareth Davies(T) Rhys Priestland(C/3P) Wight(2P) Thu 9 Feb 12 Firhill Stadium 19 9 Ruaridh Jackson(C/4P) Jon Welsh(T) Dan Newton(3P) Fri 7 Sep 12 Scotstoun Stadium 13 18 Duncan Weir(C) Chris Cusiter(T) Ruaridh Aaron Shingler(T) George North(T) Andy Jackson(2P) Fenby(T) Rhys Priestland(P) Fri 12 Apr 13 Parc y Scarlets 6 29 Ruaridh Jackson(2P) Owen Williams(2C/D/4P) Ken Owens(T) Liam Williams(T) Sat 5 Oct 13 Parc y Scarlets 17 12 Duncan Weir(2C/P) Tim Swinson(T) Ryan Jordan Williams(P) Rhys Priestland(3P) Grant(T) Glasgow Warriors’ last eight matches in all tournaments have all been very close with the vanquished on each occasion securing a losing bonus point. The Warriors 8-6 victory at home to Connacht in their most recent match at Scotstoun on 9 February ended a four game losing run in all competitions at the venue. Scarlets were defeated 13-26 at Ulster in their rearranged game on 14th March to end a three game winning run in the PRO12. Scarlets have been victorious their last three visits to Scotland.