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RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

ROUND 20 PREVIEWS With the announcement last week from European Professional Club Rugby confirming the structure of European competition next season, the RaboDirect PRO12 Round 20 games over the Easter weekend take on even more significance.

Pick of the round must be the Good Friday fixture at Scotstoun between and Ulster. Glasgow have already secured the automatic Scottish European Rugby Champions Cup qualification spot, but with a game in hand over their nearest rivals, can still claim a RaboDirect PRO12 home Play-Off spot. Winning this fixture is vital for either team’s chances of hosting a home knock-out game.

Also on Good Friday Leinster welcome Benetton Treviso to the RDS in . Treviso have pulled out an 8 point lead over in the table, and victory this weekend, dependent upon Zebre’s results could see them claim the Italian spot in Europe next season. Leinster on the other hand are looking to secure not only top seeding in the RaboDirect PRO12 Play- Offs, but also the guaranteed spot for Irish participation in the senior European competition for 2014/15.

The other two Irish provinces, Connacht and Munster, meet at the Sportsground on Saturday with the visitors the third Irish team in the battle for both the RaboDirect PRO12 Play-Offs and guaranteed European qualification. Over in Italy the same day Zebre know this is a must win game if they are to stand any chance of overtaking Treviso for the Italian European Rugby Champions Cup spot, whilst Edinburgh, only 10 points behind and with a game in hand over their rivals, can still claim one of the three European places awarded to the RaboDirect PRO12 teams on merit.

Easter Sunday sees the double header “Judgement Day” at the take on added spice. are the only Welsh Region still in with a chance of reaching the RaboDirect PRO12 Play-Offs, but are four points off the Play-Off Zone, with their nearest rivals, Glasgow Warriors, having a game in hand, it is going to be a hard task. Also up for grabs is the automatic Welsh place in Europe and possibly a second place in next season’s competition based on meritocracy. Ospreys and Scarlets currently hold these positions, but are not out of the equation yet, and with the vagaries of the fixture list giving them two games against Scarlets and another against Connacht before the end of the season, there is still every chance that they could claim a top tier place in Europe next season.

ROUND 20 FIXTURES Friday 18 April

GLASGOW WARRIORS v ULSTER At Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm. Live on Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 34th competition game) Assistant Referees: David Changleng, Graeme Marshall (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: John Montgomery (SRU) TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue G U Glasgow Warriors scorers Ulster scorers Fri 25 Mar 11 Firhill Stadium 19 22 (P) (T) Ruaridh Ruan Pienaar(T/C/5P) Jackson(C/3P) Fri 2 Sep 11 Ravenhill Stadium 14 28 Duncan Weir(3P) Troy Nathan(T) (T) Chris Henry(T) (2C/3P) Paul Marshall(T) Fri 25 Nov 11 Firhill Stadium 17 9 Duncan Weir(D/3P) Troy Nathan(T) Ian Humphreys(3P) Fri 31 Aug 12 Ravenhill Stadium 10 18 Duncan Weir(P) (T) (T) Mike Allen(T) Niall Ruaridh Jackson(C) O'Connor(C/2P) Fri 22 Feb 13 Scotstoun Stadium 20 14 Nikola Matawalu(T) (T) Stuart Olding(T) Ruan Pienaar(3P) Tommy Seymour(T) Peter Murchie(T) Fri 13 Sep 13 Ravenhill Stadium 13 12 (C/2P) James Eddie(T) (4P)

Page 1 of 13 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

Glasgow Warriors have won their last four RaboDirect PRO12 matches and have only failed to score a try in just one game in any competition this season: at home to Munster in October. The Warriors record against Irish provinces this season is won five, lost two. have lost just one of their last eight PRO12 encounters: 23-28 at in round 18, whilst the eight tries they tallied in their defeat of Connacht on Friday was the most they have scored in a PRO12 game since May 2006. Glasgow have won their last two encounters with Ulster and are attempting to record a fist season’s double over the Ulstermen since 2009/10.

LEINSTER v BENETTON TREVISO At Royal Dublin Society, 5pm Live on Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 59th competition game) Assistant Referees: Eddie Hagon-O’Connell, Will O’Connor (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU) TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue L B Leinster scorers Benetton Treviso scorers Fri 25 Feb 11 Royal Dublin Society 30 5 (T) (T) Ian Gonzalo Padro(T) McKinley(T) Isa Nacewa(3C/3P) Sat 26 Nov 11 Stadio Monigo 30 20 Leo Auva'a(T) Fionn Carr(T) Eoin Tobias Botes(5P) Manoa Vosawai(T) O'Malley(T) Fergus McFadden(3C/3P) Thu 9 Feb 12 Royal Dublin Society 42 8 John Cooney(T) Fionn Carr(T) Ian Alberto di Bernardo(D) Matteo Madigan(T/C) Isa Nacewa(T/3C/3P) Muccignat(T) Richardt Strauss(T) Sat 15 Sep 12 Stadio Monigo 19 18 Brian O'Driscoll(T) Jonathan (T) Kris Burton(C/P) Alberto Sexton(C/D/3P) di Bernardo(P) (T) Sat 16 Feb 13 Royal Dublin Society 40 5 Leo Auva'a(T) Dominic Ryan(3T) Sean Ludovico Nitoglia(T) Cronin(2T) (4C) Fergus McFadden(C) Sun 24 Nov 13 Stadio Monigo 21 20 Noel Reid(T) Jimmy Gopperth(C/3P) Mat Berquist(2C/2P) Angelo Esposito(T) Lote Tuqiri(T) Ludovico Nitoglia(T)

Leinster have now lost their last two matches, at Toulon and at Ospreys, and have not lost three in a row since December 2012. The Leinstermen are unbeaten in their last eleven RaboDirect PRO12 home matches including eight successive wins. The Irishmen have never lost at home to an Italian side. Benetton Treviso have won two of their last three matches whilst their bonus point win at home to on Saturday was their first five league point victory since round 22 last season. The Italians have not been victorious in since beating Connacht in in December 2011. The two sides have met on nine previous occasions in all tournaments with Treviso’s only previous victory being 29-13 at Stadio Monigo in the PRO12 in September 2010.

Saturday 19 April

CONNACHT v MUNSTER At Sportsground, 6.15pm. Live on Referee: (FIR, 27th competition game) Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson, Mark Patton (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU) TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue C M Connacht scorers Munster scorers Fri 6 May 11 6 22 (2P) (T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/P) (T) (T) Mon 26 Dec 11 Thomond Park 9 24 Niall O'Connor(3P) Sean Scanlon(T) Ian Keatley(C/4P) Tomas O'Leary(T)

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Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

Sat 24 Mar 12 Sportsground 16 20 Miah Nikora(C/3P) Ethienne Reynecke(T) Ian Keatley(2C/2P) Tommy O'Donnell(T) Simon Zebo(T) Sat 22 Dec 12 Sportsground 12 16 Dan Parks(D/3P) Ian Keatley(C/3P) Penalty Try(T) Sat 23 Mar 13 Musgrave Park 0 22 Paul O'Connell(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/P) Damien Varley(2T) Fri 27 Dec 13 Thomond Park 16 22 (T) Dan Parks(C/3P) JJ Hanrahan(T/C/5P)

Connacht have slipped to back-to-back defeats in the RaboDirect PRO12, both on the road, to Scarlets and to Ulster. Connacht’s only defeat at the Sportsground in any tournament since mdi-December was 8-16 to Leinster in the PRO12 on 4th January. Connacht have lost their last ten matches against Irish provinces but have not suffered a clean sweep of defeats to fellow Irishmen in the same season since 2007/08. Munster’s only win in their last four PRO12 matches was at home to Treviso in round 17. The Munstermen have been defeated in their last two encounters with opponents from Ireland and have lost three in a row against the other provinces since January 2009. Connacht’s solo victory over Munster since 1986 was 12-6 in Galway in December 2008.

ZEBRE v At Stadio XXV Aprile, 3.30pm local time (2.30pm UK & Ireland). Live on Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 55th competition game) Assistant Referees: Matteo Liperini, Andrea Spadoni (FIR) Citing Commissioner: Roberto Carra (FIR) TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue Z E Zebre scorers Edinburgh Rugby scorers Fri 14 Sep 12 Murrayfield 10 41 Sinoti Sinoti(T) Daniel Halangahu(C/P) Sean Cox(T) (T) (5C/2P) Penalty Try(T) (2T) Fri 29 Mar 13 Stadio XXV Aprile 7 9 Luciano Orquera(C) Dries van Greig Laidlaw(3P) Schalkwyk(T) Fri 1 Nov 13 Murrayfield 23 25 (T) Tommaso Iannone(T) Harry Leonard(2C/2P) WP Nel(T) Cornell Luciano Orquera(2C/3P) du Preez(T) Greig Tonks(T)

Zebre have attained league points in their last two RaboDirect PRO12 matches; drawing 25-all with Dragons and losing 20- 27 at Scarlets, and have only once before gained points from three successive matches, between rounds 10 and 12 earlier this season. Zebre’s record against Scottish opponents is played six, lost six, although they have gained a losing bonus point in the last three such encounters. Edinburgh’s only victory in their last four PRO12 fixtures was 23-19 at Newport Gwent Dragons on 3rd April; they have not recorded back-to-back away wins in the tournament since September 2009. The Scotsmen have lost on their last two visits to Italy but have a 100% winning record against Zebre.

Sunday 20 April

CARDIFF BLUES v SCARLETS At Millennium Stadium, 2pm. Live on Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 16th competition game) Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell, Simon Rees (WRU) Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU) TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue C S Cardiff Blues scorers Scarlets scorers Fri 22 Oct 10 Cardiff City Stadium 10 16 (T/C/P) (T/3P) Stephen Jones(C) Fri 6 May 11 Parc y Scarlets 23 38 Chris Czekaj(T) Dafydd Hewitt(T) Dan Ben Morgan(T) (T) Sean Parks(2C/D/2P) Lamont(2T) Rhys Priestland(C/2P) Stephen

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Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

Jones(2C/2P) Sat 24 Mar 12 Cardiff City Stadium 14 26 (T) Ceri Sweeney(2C) Gareth Davies(T) Dom Day(T) Andy Casey Laulala(T) Fenby(2T) Aled Thomas(3C) Sat 5 May 12 Parc y Scarlets 20 29 Harry Robinson(T) Andries Pretorius(T) Gareth Davies(2T) Penalty Try(T) Rhys Alex Cuthbert(T) Dan Parks(P) Ceri Priestland(3C/P) Liam Williams(T) Sweeney(C) Fri 21 Dec 12 Arms Park 6 9 Rhys Patchell(2P) Aled Thomas(3P) Sat 20 Apr 13 Parc y Scarlets 6 24 (2P) Owen Williams(2C/P) Jonathan Davies(2T) Rhys Priestland(C) Liam Williams(T)

Cardiff Blues have triumphed in their last two RaboDirect PRO12 matches but have not won three in a row in the competition since November 2011. The Blues only victory in their last six matches against fellow Welsh Regions was 21-13 at home to the Dragons on New Year’s Day. Cardiff Blues have not been victorious at Millennium Stadium since they beat Toulouse there in the European Cup quarter final in April 2009. Scarlets have won their last two games, against Connacht and Zebre, but have slipped to three straight defeats against Welsh opponents in the PRO12. The Llanelli based side have been victorious on both of their previous visits to Millennium Stadium, beating Bath there in the Anglo-Welsh semi-final in 2006 and overcoming the Dragons in last season’s “Judgement Day” double header. The Scarlets have won their last eight encounters with Cardiff Bleus in all tournaments since the Blues victory at Parc y Scarlets in the PROI2 in April 2010.

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v OSPREYS At Millennium Stadium, 4.45pm. Live on Referee: (WRU, 109th competition game) Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Jon Mason (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU) TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue N O Newport Gwent Dragons scorers Ospreys scorers Fri 15 Apr 11 Rodney Parade 32 28 (C/2P) (2T) Wayne (2P) (T) James Evans(T) Matt Jones(2C) Ashley Smith(T) Hook(2C/P) (T) Nikki Walker(T) Fri 6 Jan 12 Rodney Parade 21 20 Lewis Robling(T) Jason Tovey(C/3P) Dan Biggar(P) Matthew Morgan(4P) Martyn Thomas(T) Tommy Bowe(T) Fri 20 Apr 12 Liberty Stadium 12 31 Lewis Robling(4P) Dan Biggar(3C/P) Ryan Jones(T) (T/C) Penalty Try(2T) Mon 31 Dec 12 Rodney Parade 3 14 Tom Prydie(P) Ashley Beck(T) Dan Biggar(2C) (T) Fri 22 Mar 13 Liberty Stadium 19 52 (T) Steffan Jones(3P) Ashley Beck(T) Dan Biggar(T/5C/P) Tom Dan Evans(T) Habberfield(T) Matthew Morgan(2C) (T) Dimitri Arhip(T) Tom Isaacs(T) Kahn Fotuali'i(T) Fri 25 Oct 13 Liberty Stadium 17 40 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro(T) Tom Prydie(T) Scott Baldwin(T) Dan Biggar(4C/3P) Kris Burton(2C/D) Matthew Morgan(D) Justin Tipuric(2T) Penalty Try(T)

Newport Gwent Dragons are without a win in their last five matches since their defeat of Glasgow in the RaboDirect PRO12 at Rodney Parade on 23rd February. Dragons have played only once at Millenniums Stadium before, losing 20-28 to Scarlets in last season’s double header. Ospreys have won two of their last three matches and have been victorious in their last thirteen PRO12 encounters against fellow Welsh Regions. Ospreys have won on all three occasion they have visited Millennium Stadium, twice in Anglo-welsh Cup semi-finals and 23-16 over Cardiff Blues in this event last year. Ospreys have won their last four PRO12 encounters with Dragons since the Men from Gwent’s 22-20 victory at Rodney Parade in January 2012.

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Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

ROUND 19 MICROCOSM FRIDAY 11 APRIL (B) ULSTER (30)58 CONNACHT (5)12 Paddy Jackson(5C/2P) Miah Nikora(C) James McKinney(C) Dave McSharry(8) Paul Marshall(5/ 25) Darragh Leader(62) Andrew Trimble(16/ 42/ 59) Att: 13,948 Tommy Bowe(23) Luke Marshall(48) Craig Gilroy(68) (b) EDINBURGH RUGBY (10)22 CARDIFF BLUES (17)29 (B) Jack Cuthbert(2C/P) Gareth Davies(3C/P) (10) (19) Tom Brown(47) Filo Paulo(35) Cornell du Preez(80) Dan Fish(42) Att: 3,700 Dafydd Hewitt(75) OSPREYS (13)25 LEINSTER (10)19 (b) Dan Biggar(C/D/5P) Jimmy Gopperth(C/4P) Jeff Hassler(33) (37) Att: 8,656 SATURDAY 12 APRIL MUNSTER (5)5 GLASGOW WARRIORS (22)22 CJ Stander(18) Duncan Weir(2C/P) Att: 13,946 (4) (25) (36) (B) BENETTON TREVISO (19)45 NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS (6)27 Mat Berquist(4C/4P) Jason Tovey(3C/2P) Ludovico Nitoglia(22) (57) Luke McLean(44) Ross Wardle(64) (51) (71) Manoa Vosawai(61) Att: 3,183 Matteo Muccignat(65) SCARLETS (9)27 ZEBRE (13)20 (b) Rhys Priestland(C/5P) Luciano Orquera(C) Jordan Williams(43) Samuela Vunisa(27) (53) (34) Att: 6,708 Gonzalo Garcia(65/P) 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 19 (1) (Edinburgh Rugby)

Page 5 of 13 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 20: 18-20 April 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 Leinster (1)  19 14 1 4 7 4 69 45 37 51 1 455 27 18 45 2 312 0 5 143 2 Ulster (3)  19 14 0 5 6 3 65 43 30 49 0 422 20 12 42 1 253 0 5 169 3 Munster (2)  19 14 0 5 5 2 63 43 36 49 0 434 21 15 49 1 285 0 6 149 4 Glasgow Warriors (4)  18 14 0 4 1 3 60 33 23 39 0 328 17 15 41 4 250 0 10 78 5 Ospreys (5)  19 11 1 7 5 5 56 48 37 48 7 479 25 19 53 2 328 0 5 151 6 Scarlets (6)  19 9 1 9 2 5 45 34 25 47 0 361 40 30 41 0 383 4 5 -22 7 Edinburgh Rugby (7)  18 7 0 11 1 6 35 30 23 43 0 325 40 29 44 1 393 4 6 -68 8 Connacht (8)  19 6 0 13 4 6 34 34 22 31 2 313 41 32 46 1 410 4 2 -97 9 Cardiff Blues (10)  19 6 1 12 1 6 33 26 23 62 3 371 48 39 53 2 483 6 3 -112 10 Newport Gwent Dragons (9)  19 6 1 12 0 5 31 29 22 45 5 339 38 32 52 3 419 5 4 -80 11 Benetton Treviso (11)  19 5 1 13 1 6 29 27 26 49 0 334 57 45 30 2 471 5 2 -137 12 Zebre (12)  19 3 2 14 0 5 21 29 19 35 1 291 47 37 52 0 465 5 3 -174 TOTALS 113 109 4 109 33 56 541 421 323 548 19 4452 421 323 548 19 4452 33 56

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 13 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

THE PLAYOFF ZONE

Positions by Round 2013/14

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 R 19 20 21 22 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Blues Connacht Edinburgh Glasgow Dragons Leinster Munster Ospreys Scarlets Ulster POZ Zebre Treviso

If the Play Offs were to happen after this round they would be: 1st v 4th – Leinster v Glasgow Warriors 2nd v 3rd –Ulster v Munster With games due to take place on the weekend of 16/17/18 May. The RaboDirect PRO12 Final is scheduled for Saturday 31st May. THE RUN IN

Team Pts Round 20 Rearranged Round 21 Round 22 Pos Play-Offs Final 10 May (6.30pm) 1 Leinster 69 18/4: TREVISO 2/5: Ulster EDINBURGH 1st 2 Ulster 65 18/4: Warriors 2/5: LEINSTER Munster 2nd v v 3 Munster 63 19/4: Connacht 3/5: Edinburgh ULSTER 3rd 4 Glasgow Warriors 60 18/4: ULSTER 26/4: EDINBURGH 2/5: Treviso ZEBRE 4th 5 Ospreys 56 20/4: Dragons 1/5: Zebre CONNACHT 16 May 31 May 6 Scarlets 45 20/4: Blues 2/5: DRAGONS BLUES 7 Edinburgh Rugby 35 19/4: Zebre 26/4: Warriors 3/5: MUNSTER Leinster 8 Connacht 34 19/4: MUNSTER 3/5: BLUES Ospreys Key: 9 Cardiff Blues 33 20/4: SCARLETS 3/5: Connacht Scarlets Versus top 4 team 10 Newport Gwent Dragons 31 20/4: OSPREYS 2/5: Scarlets TREVISO Versus middle 4 team 11 Benetton Treviso 29 18/4: Leinster 2/5: WARRIORS Dragons Versus bottom 4 team 12 Zebre 21 19/4: EDINBURGH 1/5: OSPREYS Warriors Home games in CAPS

Page 7 of 13 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 20: 18-20 April 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 7 0 0 7 2 Connacht 9 0 0 9 2 Glasgow Warriors 9 0 0 9 2 Leinster 9 0 0 9 2 Ospreys 9 0 0 9 6 Benetton Treviso 9 0 1 12 6 Cardiff Blues 9 0 1 12 6 Edinburgh Rugby 9 0 1 12 6 Munster 12 0 0 12 10 Scarlets 13 0 0 13 10 Zebre 13 0 0 13 12 Newport Gwent Dragons 15 1 0 18 TOTALS 123 1 3 135 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) suspended for a period of 10 weeks for a dangerous "tip" tackle, contrary to Law 10.4 (j). YELLOW CARDS (123) Blues (9) Robin Copeland(2), Filo Paulo(2), Macauley Cook, Bradley Davies, Pat Palmer, Rory Watts-Jones, Owen Williams Connacht (9) Rodney Ah You, Mata Fifita, Darragh Leader, Ronan Loughney, Frank Murphy, Paul O’Donohoe, Kiernan Marmion, Michael Swift, Nathan White Dragons (15) Owen A. Evans(2), Jevon Groves(2), Andrew Coombs, Nathan Buck, Lewis Evans, Taulupe Faletau, Cory Hill, Adam Jones, Ieuan Jones, Pat Leach, Matthew Pewtner, , Netani Talei Edinburgh (9) Cornell du Preez(2), Izak van der Westhuizen(2), Ollie Atkins, Tom Brown, , Lee Jones, WP Nel, Leinster (9) Sean Cronin, , Tom Denton, Darren Hudson, Dave Kearney, Jack McGrath, Brendan Macken, Ian Madigan, Jack O’Connell Munster (12) James Cronin(2), (2), Stephen Archer, , Paul O’Connell, Niall Ronan, Cathal Sheridan, , CJ Stander, Duncan Williams Ospreys (9) Scott Baldwin, Ashley Beck, Andrew Bishop, Aaron Jarvis, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Aisea Natoga, Marc Thomas, Justin Tipuric Scarlets (13) Rob Evans(2), Gareth Owen(2), Sione Timani(2),Jacobie Adriaanse, , John Barclay, Gareth Page 8 of 13 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

Davies, Mike Poole, Aaron Shingler, Treviso (9) Alberto di Bernardo(2),Robert Barbieri, Dean Budd, Ignacio Fernandez-Rouet, Marco Filippucci, , Giovanni Maistri, Ulster (7) Sean Doyle, , David McIlwaine, Stuart Olding, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Roger Wilson Warriors (9) Tyrone Holmes(2), Jonny Gray, Stuart Hogg, , Moray Low, Nikola Matawalu, , Zebre (13) Filippo Ferrarini(2), (2), , Dion Berryman, , Tommaso Iannone, , Kameli Ratuvou, Luca Redolfini, Dries van Schalkwyk, Samuela Vunisa

Page 9 of 13 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

TOP RaboDirect PRO12 ACCUMULATORS TOP RaboDirect PRO12 POINTS SCORERS Rank Name Team Apps Mins Try Conv PG DG Points 1 Dan Biggar Ospreys 14 1071 1 27 36 5 182 2 Jason Tovey Newport Gwent 16+1 1200 1 18 37 4 164 Dragons 3 Paddy Jackson Ulster 14 1069 3 14 34 0 145 4 Mat Berquist Benetton Treviso 13+1 985 0 17 35 0 139 5 JJ Hanrahan Munster 10+6 767 3 23 25 0 136 6 Jimmy Gopperth Leinster 9+8 815 1 17 27 1 123 7 Ian Madigan Leinster 11+4 942 1 20 23 0 114 8 Luciano Orquera Zebre 10+4 884 1 13 24 1 106 9 Ian Keatley Munster 10+5 842 1 13 24 0 103 10 Dan Parks Connacht 14+5 1084 1 17 18 2 99 11 Leigh Halfpenny Cardiff Blues 7 560 0 7 28 0 98 12 Gareth Davies Cardiff Blues 9+7 927 1 12 21 1 95 13 Rhys Priestland Scarlets 9+2 761 0 7 22 0 80 14 Ruan Pienaar Ulster 8+1 658 1 10 13 0 64 15 Duncan Weir Glasgow Warriors 7 518 0 5 18 0 64 16 Greig Laidlaw Edinburgh Rugby 5 400 0 7 16 0 62 17 Aled Thomas Scarlets 8+3 695 0 13 9 0 53 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 14+2 943 9 4 5 5 4 2 Jeff Hassler Ospreys 15+2 1138 7 4 3 4 3 3 Ludovico Nitoglia Benetton Treviso 18 1375 6 5 1 2 4 4 Ashley Beck Ospreys 12+1 938 5 4 1 4 1 5 Tommy Bowe Ulster 7 503 5 5 0 4 1 6 Fionn Carr Connacht 14+4 1194 5 4 1 2 3 7 Darren Cave Ulster 14+3 1170 5 2 3 4 1 8 Cardiff Blues 10+5 662 5 4 1 4 1 9 Cornell du Preez Edinburgh Rugby 13+1 1055 5 3 2 1 4 10 Jordan Williams Scarlets 12+3 1039 5 3 2 2 3 11 Kieran Marmion Connacht 17+2 1228 5 2 3 3 2 12 Nikola Matawalu Glasgow Warriors 10+2 833 5 3 2 4 1 13 Aisea Natoga Ospreys 9+2 685 5 5 0 3 2 14 Noel Reid Leinster 12+2 921 5 2 3 3 2 15 Samuela Vunisa Zebre 18 1383 5 3 2 2 3 16 Ross Wardle Newport Gwent 10+6 885 5 3 2 1 4 Dragons 17 Robin Copeland Cardiff Blues 16+3 1266 4 2 2 4 0 18 Dougie Fife Edinburgh Rugby 14 1013 4 3 1 3 1 19 John Muldoon Connacht 14+2 1174 4 2 2 2 2 20 WP Nel Edinburgh Rugby 16+2 1301 4 3 1 2 2 21 CJ Stander Munster 11+7 980 4 2 2 1 3 22 Andrew Trimble Ulster 10 800 4 4 0 1 3 23 Simon Zebo Munster 9+1 739 4 3 1 2 2 Best in a PRO12 Season: 14 by Tim Visser (Edinburgh) 2010/11

Page 10 of 13 RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2013/14

Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

RHINO GOLDEN BOOT AWARD The Rhino Golden Boot is awarded to the kicker who has successfully converted the highest percentage of place kicks during the 22 week regular season. The minimum criteria are 20 attempts at goal.

Rank Name Team Good Att Kick% 1 Gareth Davies Cardiff Blues 33 37 89.19% 2 JJ Hanrahan Munster 48 55 87.27% 3 Dan Biggar Ospreys 63 75 84.00% 4 Greig Laidlaw Edinburgh Rugby 23 28 82.14% 5 Ian Madigan Leinster 43 53 81.13%

BEST RaboDirect PRO12 KICKERS BEST RaboDirect PRO12 KICKERS Rank Name Team Good Att Kick% Last 10 kicks Conv PG Streak 1 Gareth Davies Cardiff Blues 33 37 89.19% 32333/3222c 12/14 21/23 Missed last 1 2 JJ Hanrahan Munster 48 55 87.27% 2/32c/2/pp22/c 23/25 25/30 Missed last 1 3 Tobias Botes Benetton Treviso 12 14 85.71% 23/3322/23pp 7/7 5/7 Missed last 2 4 Glasgow Warriors 16 19 84.21% 2c323/c2232 9/11 7/8 Last 4 5 Dan Biggar Ospreys 63 75 84.00% 2/33/3p32333 27/35 36/40 Last 5 6 Alberto di Bernardo Benetton Treviso 10 12 83.33% 3332/p/32/333 2/2 8/10 Last 5 7 Matthew Morgan Ospreys 10 12 83.33% p3/33333c23 2/3 8/9 Last 2 8 Steve Shingler Scarlets 14 17 82.35% 3333/32p/3c/p 4/5 10/12 Missed last 2 9 Greig Laidlaw Edinburgh Rugby 23 28 82.14% 2/c33p/3233p 7/8 16/20 Missed last 1 10 Ian Madigan Leinster 43 53 81.13% 2c2/33p3323 20/24 23/29 Last 4 11 Mat Berquist Benetton Treviso 52 65 80.00% p/323332c22 17/18 35/47 Last 2 12 Leigh Halfpenny Cardiff Blues 35 44 79.55% 33/p3333pp3 7/8 28/36 Last 1 13 Duncan Weir Glasgow Warriors 23 29 79.31% c3/33cp/23c2 5/9 18/20 Last 1 14 Carl Bezuidenhout Edinburgh Rugby 15 19 78.95% 333/3p/3p332 5/6 10/13 Last 3 15 Luciano Orquera Zebre 37 48 77.08% p/p3/233333/2 13/17 24/31 Last 8 16 Jason Tovey Newport Gwent 55 72 76.39% 33332/33222 18/24 37/48 Last 12 Dragons 17 Harry Leonard Edinburgh Rugby 16 21 76.19% 3/pc2323/cc2 6/9 10/12 Last 1 18 Jimmy Gopperth Leinster 44 58 75.86% 322p/p32333 17/21 27/37 Last 5 19 Jack Cuthbert Edinburgh Rugby 9 12 75.00% p32233/322c 4/6 5/6 Missed last 1 20 Ruan Pienaar Ulster 23 31 74.19% p2/22/3/222pp 10/11 13/20 Missed last 2 21 Aled Thomas Scarlets 22 30 73.33% 2/332c2p/32/p 13/17 9/13 Missed last 1 22 Rhys Priestland Scarlets 29 40 72.50% c2/33p32c33 7/10 22/30 Last 2 23 Paddy Jackson Ulster 48 68 70.59% 3/c3c223222 14/26 34/42 Last 6 24 Sam Davies Ospreys 12 17 70.59% 22c22/3pcp3 8/10 4/7 Last 1 25 Rhys Patchell Cardiff Blues 12 17 70.59% p333p333/2/3 1/1 11/16 Last 5 26 Ian Keatley Munster 37 53 69.81% 323p/333333 13/18 24/35 Last 6 27 Dan Parks Connacht 35 55 63.64% 2322/22/33c/c 17/24 18/31 Missed last 2 28 Craig Ronaldson Connacht 13 23 56.52% p3pp3/3pppc 1/2 12/21 Missed last 4 29 Gonzalo Garcia Zebre 6 11 54.55% p32/33/3/p3cc 1/3 5/8 Missed last 2 30 Ruaridh Jackson Glasgow Warriors 8 16 50.00% c22/c3ppp/p2 4/7 4/9 Last 1 31 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 20: 18-20 April 2014

RaboDirect PRO12 RECORD CENTRE INDIVIDUAL GAME RECORDS All-Time Best in 2013/14 Most points 32 - Stephen Jones (Llanelli RFC @ 24 – JJ Hanrahan Swansea, 4 Oct 02) (Munster v Blues, 8 Feb) Most tries 4 - Mike Mullins (Munster @ Caerphilly, 11 3 – Aisea Natoga Sep 01) (Ospreys v Blues, 21 Mar) 4 - Lee Abdul 3 – Andrew Trimble (Blues v Ospreys, 25 Oct 03) (Ulster v Connacht, 11 Apr) 4 – Jamie Robinson (Blues v Borders, 27 Feb 04) Most conversions 9 - Brendan Laney (Edinburgh @ 6 – JJ Hanrahan Caerphilly, 21 Sep 02) (Munster v Blues, 8 Feb) 6 – Sam Davies (Ospreys v Treviso, 16 Feb) Most penalty goals 9 – Luciano Orquera 7 – Gareth Davies ( v Treviso, 23 Dec 11) (Blues v Ulster, 29 Mar) 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 1 min 2 secs – (Dragons @ Blues, 27 Dec 05) (Glasgow v Treviso, 4 Apr) Quickest 17 mins 43 secs – Tommy Bowe 24 mins 30 secs – Paul Marshall bonus point try (Ulster v Reivers, 12 May 06) (Ulster v Connacht, 11 Apr)

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 51,700 – Leinster v Munster 51,700 – Leinster v Munster (regular season) (, 29 Mar 14) (Aviva Stadium, 29 Mar) Note: 2013/14 Season bests set or equalled this past round shown in italics.

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Round 20: 18-20 April 2014

APPROACHING CAREER MILESTONES POINTS SCORING 1,500 points: - 1,000 points: Ian Keatley (918) 500 points: Duncan Weir (454), Ruan Pienaar (445), Greig Laidlaw (422) Record: 1,580 points – Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors, Cardiff Blues & Connacht) TRY SCORING 50 tries: - 25 tries: Brian O’Driscoll (23), Sean Lamont (22), Darren Cave (22), (21) Record: 56 tries – Tommy Bowe (Ulster & Ospreys) MATCHES PLAYED 150 games: (146), Ross Ford (146), Robert Sidoli (141) 100 games: (99), Chris Czekaj (99), Paul Marshall (99), Darren Cave (98), (97), Ken Owens (97) Record: 180 games – Michael Swift (Connacht)

CAREER TOP TENS MOST POINTS MOST GAMES MOST MINS PLAYED MOST TRIES Dan Parks 1580 Michael Swift 180 John Muldoon 11472 Tommy Bowe 56 Dan Biggar 1122 Dan Parks 168 Dan Parks 11284 Tim Visser 50 Ronan O’Gara 940 John Muldoon 166 Alastair Kellock 10681 Shane Horgan 39 Ian Keatley 918 Phil John 162 Michael Swift 10407 Andrew Trimble 38 Felipe Contepomi 877 Adam Jones 160 Tommy Bowe 9922 Nikki Walker 36 Chris Paterson 810 Dougie Hall 159 Gavin Duffy 9791 Fionn Carr 35 David Humphreys 786 Alastair Kellock 155 Graeme Morrison 9760 Shane Williams 34 Stephen Jones 741 Duncan Jones 154 Allan Jacobsen 9546 Aled Brew 30 Ceri Sweeney 698 Ceri Sweeney 151 Richard Fussell 9197 Simon Danielli 30 Paul Warwick 664 Allan Jacobsen 148 Robert Sidoli 9185 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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