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Home , Alberto Sgarbi, Chris Paterson, Craig Gilroy, Dan Evans (rugby union), Dan Parks, Dave Kearney

RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2012/13

Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

ROUND NINE PREVIEWS

With the completion of their postponed Round 4 game against , have now pulled out a six points lead at the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table. They are in action in Italy again on Friday night when they face Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo, and will be looking to extend their unbeaten record in the country as well as maintaining their 100per cent start to this season’s RaboDirect PRO12.

Current RaboDirect PRO12 champions, , are also in action on Friday night travelling to Murrayfield to play Rugby. Ospreys sit just outside the top four due to poorer points difference than Munster, should results go their way this weekend it could be the first time they have entered the Play-Off zone this season.

The match of the day must be the encounter at Scotstoun where third placed must overcome the reigning European champions, Leinster if they are to set a new Warriors record in this tournament of seven successive wins.

The final game on Friday night is in when Newport Gwent host Connacht. Both teams have had a mixed start to their seasons, and a win would be a welcome boost to their campaigns.

The round concludes with two games on Sunday, Munster v and Zebre v . After having narrowly missed out to Ulster last weekend, Zebre are still looking for their first win in the completion, and will be hoping Blues poor form continues for one more week.

Munster will be hoping their impressive record against Scarlets in will continue, they have not lost to the Welsh Region since March 2007, whilst second placed Scarlets will be aiming to close the gap on leaders Ulster.

ROUND NINE FIXTURES Friday 23 November BENETTON TREVISO v ULSTER At Stadio Monigo, 7.05pm local time (6.05pm UK & Ireland). Live on Live on Referee: Peter Allan (SRU, 49th competition game) Assistant Referees: Andrea Spadoni, Stefano Traversi (both FIR) Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (FIR) TMO: Stefano Marama (FIR)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue B U Benetton Treviso scorers Ulster scorers Fri 26 Nov 10 Stadio Monigo 9 19 Tobias Botes(3P) (2T) Ian Humphreys(2C) (T) Fri 7 Jan 11 Ravenhill 13 32 Willem de Waal(C/2P) Gonzalo Adam D'Arcy(T) Nevin Spence(T) Padro(T) (T) Ian Humphreys(3C/2P) Ruan Pienaar(T) Fri 7 Oct 11 Ravenhill 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 Chris Henry(T) (T) Ceccato(T) Alberto di Bernardo(T) Ruan Pienaar(3C/2P) Ian Whitten(T)

Benetton Treviso have slipped to four straight defeats in all competitions since their 27-22 victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on 5 October. Treviso have lost their last seven encounters with Irish provinces. Ulster very nearly lost their 100% record this season when they narrowly overcame Zebre 27-25 in a rearranged RaboDirect PRO12 encounter at Parma on Sunday. The Ulstermen have won their last five away games and have never lost in nine previous visits to Italy in all competitions. The two sides have met on eight previous occasions with Ulster’s only defeat being 23-12 at Ravenhill in October 2011.

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

EDINBURGH RUGBY v OSPREYS At Murrayfield , 7.05pm. Live on Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 16th competition game) Assistant Referees: David Changleng, Adrian Graves (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: Joihn Kirk (SRU) TMO: Iain Heard (SRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue E O scorers Ospreys scorers Sun 4 Oct 09 10 31 Phil Godman(C/P) (T) (4C/P) (T) (T) (T) Jonathan Thomas(T) Sun 7 Mar 10 Murrayfield 33 17 David Blair(C) Ben Cairns(T) Phil Dan Biggar(C) (T) Sonny Godman(3C) Mark Robertson(T) Tim Parker(T) (T) Visser(3T) Sat 4 Dec 10 Liberty Stadium 16 33 David Blair(C/2P) (P) Dan Biggar(C/D/6P) (T) Tim Visser(T) Richard Fussell(T) Sat 26 Mar 11 Murrayfield 23 16 (2C/3P) Jim Dan Biggar(T/C/3P) Thompson(T) Tim Visser(T) Sat 10 Sep 11 Liberty Stadium 19 26 Greig Laidlaw(C/4P) Tim Visser(T) Dan Biggar(2C/4P) Justin Tipuric(T) (T) Fri 10 Feb 12 Murrayfield 14 15 Dougie Fife(T) Phil Godman(3P) Dan Biggar(C/D) Hanno Dirksen(T) (T)

Edinburgh Rugby have lost their last seven encounters in all competitions since overcoming Zebre 41-10 at Murrayfield in the RaboDirect PRO12 on 14 September. Edinburgh’s only win over a Welsh region in their last four such fixtures was 21-19 over at the Arms Park on 7 September. Ospreys, the reigning RaboDirect PRO12 champions, have got their defence back on track courtesy of five successive victories in the tournament. Ospreys have won just one of their last four matches against Scottish opponents. Ospreys achieved the season’s double over Edinburgh in 2011/12, claiming a win at Murrayfield for the first time since 2007 in the process.

GLASGOW WARRIORS v LEINSTER At Scotstoun Stadium , 7.35pm. Live on Referee: Neil Hennessey (WRU, 13th competition game) Assistant Referees: Andy Macpherson, Bob Nevins (both SRU) Citing Commissioner:Iain Goodall (SRU) TMO: Andy Ireland (SRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue G L Glasgow Warriors scorers Leinster scorers Fri 23 Apr 10 Firhill Stadium 30 6 (2T) Bernardo Stortoni(T) (2P) (3C/3P) Fri 3 Sep 10 Firhill Stadium 22 19 Duncan Weir(C/D/P) DTH van der Dominic Ryan(T) (T) Merwe(T) (3P) Fergus McFadden(2P) Isa Nacewa(P) Fri 6 May 11 Royal Society 3 38 Duncan Weir(P) Dominic Ryan(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) (T) Kevin McLaughlin(T) Fergus McFadden(3C/4P) Sat 17 Sep 11 Royal Dublin Society 23 19 Pete Horne(T) Duncan Weir(C/2P) Ian Madigan(T) Isa Nacewa(C/4P) Nick Campbell(T) Scott Wight(C/P) Sat 25 Feb 12 Firhill Stadium 10 10 Ruaridh Jackson(C/P) Penalty Try(T) Ian Madigan(C) Isa Nacewa(P) Heinke van der Merwe(T) Sat 12 May 12 Royal Dublin Society 15 19 Duncan Weir(P) (T) (T) Jonathan (PO) Ruaridh Jackson(C) (T) Sexton(C/4P)

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

Glasgow Warriors are going for a new Warriors record in the history of this competition - seven successive wins. However Glasgow’s only wins in their last nine encounters with Irish provinces have both been over Connacht. Leinster’s four game winning run in all competitions ended at Ospreys in round eight of the RaboDirect PRO12. The Leinstermen have not been defeated by a team from since Glasgow won 23-19 at the RDS on 17 September 2011. The Warriors have lost just once at home to Leinster since 2007: 23-16 in the European Cup at Firhill in January 2012.

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v CONNACHT At Rodney Parade, 7pm. Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini (FIR, 4th competition game) Assistant Referees: James Jones, Kevin Shorte (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Ray Walton (WRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue N C Newport Gwent Dragons scorers Connacht scorers Sat 3 Oct 09 Rodney Parade 23 10 Joe Bearman(T) Jamie Harris(T) Miah Nikora(T/C/P) James Arlidge(C/2P) Shaun Connor(C/P) Wed 17 Mar 10 Sportsground 3 16 (P) Fionn Carr(T) Ian Keatley(C/3P) Sat 4 Sep 10 Sportsground 17 40 Will Harries(T) Matthew Jones(4P) Sean Cronin(T) Ian Keatley(T/4C/4P) Ray Ofisa Treviranus(T) Penalty Try(T) Thu 6 Jan 11 Rodney Parade 17 16 Jason Tovey(2C/P) (T) Ian Keatley(C/3P) Troy Nathan(T) Tom Riley(T) Fri 23 Sep 11 Sportsground 13 17 Jason Tovey(C/2P) Nathan Matthew Jarvis(2C) (T) Williams(T) Niall O'Connor(P) Eoin Griffin(T) Fri 30 Mar 12 Rodney Parade 19 27 Toby Faletau(T) Lewis Robling(4P) Fetu'u Vainikolo(2T) Miah Steffan Jones(C) Nikora(C/5P)

Newport Gwent Dragons have slipped to seven straight defeats in all competitions – their worst sequence since the region was formed in 2003. Dragons have not overcome an Irish province since beating Ulster 22-9 at Rodney Parade in the RaboDirect PRO12 on 30 September 2011. Connacht beat Treviso 18-3 in round eight and are attempting back to back PRO12 victories for the first time since April. Connacht’s only away wins in 2012 in all competitions have come at Zebre (twice) and today’s opponents the Dragons at Rodney Parade in March. Connacht achieved the season’s double over the Men from Gwent in 2011/12.

Sunday 25 November

MUNSTER v SCARLETS At Musgrave Park , 5.15pm. Live on Referee: Laurent Cardona (FFR, 1st competition game) Assistant Referees: M Patton, Eanna O’Dowd (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: John West (IRFU) TMO: Seamus Flannery (IRFU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT RaboDirect PRO12 MEETINGS Date Venue M S Munster scorers Scarlets scorers Sat 19 Sep 09 22 20 Denis Hurley(2T) Jeremy Mark Jones(T) Deacon Manu(T) Rhys Manning(2C/P) Toby Morland(T) Priestland(2C/P) (P) Thu 18 Mar 10 Musgrave Park 23 17 Paul Warwick(2C/3P) James (T/4P) Coughlan(T) Jean de Villiers(T) Sun 21 Nov 10 Musgrave Park 27 26 Paul Warwick(T/3C/2P) Barry Jon Edwards(2T) Rhys Murphy(T) Sam Tuitupou(T) Priestland(2C/4P)

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

Sat 16 Apr 11 Parc y Scarlets 13 6 Paul Warwick(C/2P) (T) Rhys Priestland(2P) Sat 17 Sep 11 Musgrave Park 35 12 Ian Keatley(3C/3P) (T) Dale Ford(P) Dan Newton(3P) Tommy O'Donnell(T) Penalty Try(T) Duncan Williams(T) Sat 21 Apr 12 Parc y Scarlets 20 20 Ian Keatley(2C/2P) Donnacha (T) (T) Ryan(T) Simon Zebo(T) Rhys Priestland(2C/2P)

Munster have won their last three games in all competitions. The Munstermen’s only home defeat in the PRO12 since October 2011 was 18-9 to Leinster at on 31 March. Munster have won their last 15 games at Musgrave Park since Glasgow won there 21-18 on 10 May 2008. Scarlets have won their last three matches in the RaboDirect PRO12 and are unbeaten in their last four encounters with Irish provinces in the competition. Munster are unbeaten in their last 15 clashes with Scarlets in all competitions since the European Cup quarter-final in March 2007. Scarlets have lost on all their seven previous visits to Musgrave Park.

ZEBRE v CARDIFF BLUES At Stadio XXV Aprile , 3pm local time (2pm UK & Ireland). Live on Referee: Leo Colgan (IRFU, 9th competition game) Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano, Simone Boaretto (both FIR) Citing Commissioner: Roberto Carra (FIR) TMO: Mauro Dordolo (FIR)

Zebre came within a whisker of gaining a first ever win in Parma on Sunday in the rearranged fixture with table- topping Ulster, leading 25-20 with just five minutes left, only to concede a converted penalty try. Cardiff Blues have slipped to four straight defeats in the RaboDirect PRO12 The Blues have won all 14 previous encounters they have played against Italian opponents in all competitions. The two sides have never met before.

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

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 Ulster (1)  8 8 0 0 3 0 35 28 21 21 0 245 11 8 16 2 125 1 3 120 2 Scarlets (2)  8 6 0 2 3 2 29 24 15 15 1 198 12 10 21 0 143 0 2 55 3 Glasgow Warriors (3)  8 6 0 2 2 1 27 19 12 20 0 179 10 6 14 0 104 0 1 75 4 Munster (5)  8 5 0 3 2 1 23 18 15 19 2 183 13 8 19 0 138 0 2 45 5 Ospreys (6)  8 5 0 3 1 2 23 15 13 19 1 161 7 6 25 0 122 0 1 39 6 Leinster (4)  8 5 0 3 2 0 22 24 20 16 1 211 24 16 15 1 200 2 2 11 7 Cardiff Blues (7)  8 3 0 5 1 2 15 13 11 19 0 144 24 17 15 1 202 2 1 -58 8 Connacht (10)  8 3 0 5 1 1 14 13 9 15 0 128 18 12 9 0 141 3 0 -13 9 Benetton Treviso (8)  8 3 0 5 0 1 13 11 8 16 0 119 15 12 19 2 162 1 3 -43 10 Edinburgh Rugby (9)  8 2 0 6 1 4 13 19 13 18 1 178 21 18 19 3 207 2 1 -29 11 Newport Gwent Dragons (11)  8 2 0 6 1 0 9 12 9 20 4 150 26 19 17 0 219 4 0 -69 12 Zebre (12)  8 0 0 8 1 2 3 10 7 15 0 109 25 21 24 1 242 3 0 -133 TOTALS 48 48 0 48 18 16 226 206 153 213 10 2005 206 153 213 10 2005 18 16

2012/13 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 25th May 2013. 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 2012/13 will therefore be the Team that wins the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

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

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

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 0 0 0 0 2 Leinster 3 0 0 3 3 Cardiff Blues 4 0 0 4 3 Newport Gwent Dragons 4 0 0 4 3 Connacht 4 0 0 4 6 Scarlets 5 0 0 5 7 Glasgow Warriors 6 0 0 6 7 Benetton Treviso 6 0 0 6 7 Ospreys 3 1 0 6 7 Edinburgh Rugby 6 0 0 6 11 Munster 6 1 0 9 12 Zebre 10 0 0 10 TOTALS 57 2 0 63

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 (0) RED CARDS (2) (Ospreys @ Benetton Treviso, 31 Aug) Damien Varley (Munster @ Ospreys, 29 Sep) YELLOW CARDS (57) Blues (4) Scott Andrews, , , Nathan Trevett Connacht (4) Dave Gannon(2), Rodney Ah You, Tiernan O’Halloran Dragons (4) Jonathan Evans, Steve Jones, Dan Way, Nathan Williams Edinburgh (6) Sean Cox(2), WP Nel, , Greig Tonks, John Yapp Leinster (3) Leo Auva’a, Brendan Macken, Kevin McLaughlin Munster (6) Sean Dougall, Donncha O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Ronan O’Gara, , Damien Varley Ospreys (3) Duncan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Rhys Webb Scarlets (5) Gareth Davies, Rob McCusker, , Gareth Owen, Aaron Shingler Treviso (6) , Dean Budd, , Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet, , Ulster (0) Warriors (6) Tim Swinson(2), James Eddie, Ofa Fainga’anuku, Dougie Hall, Zebre (10) (2), , Alberto Chillon, Filippo Cristiano, Filippo Ferrarini, , Luca Redolfini, Samuele Pace, Tito Tebaldi

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

TOP RaboDirect PRO12 ACCUMULATORS TOP RaboDirect PRO12 POINTS SCORERS Rank Name Team Apps Mins Try Conv PG DG Points 1 Tom Prydie Dragons 8 612 1 8 18 0 75 2 Dan Biggar Ospreys 6+1 495 1 11 14 0 69 3 Ian Keatley Munster 6+2 510 2 8 11 2 65 4 Leinster 4 308 1 13 7 1 55 5 Ian Madigan Leinster 7+1 537 3 6 9 0 54 6 Greig Laidlaw Edinburgh 5 400 0 9 9 1 48 7 Ulster 4+2 277 0 8 10 0 46 8 Tim Visser Edinburgh 6 480 9 0 0 0 45 9 Aled Thomas Scarlets 4+1 269 0 8 8 0 40 10 Ronan O'Gara Munster 4+1 276 0 7 8 0 38 11 Ruan Pienaar Ulster 2 150 2 11 2 0 38 12 Rhys Priestland Scarlets 4+3 371 0 6 7 1 36 13 Scarlets 6 466 7 0 0 0 35 14 Daniel Halangahu Zebre 6 480 1 4 7 0 34 15 Miah Nikora Connacht 3+4 263 0 4 8 0 32 16 Alberto di Bernardo Benetton Treviso 5+1 466 0 5 7 0 31 17 Niall O'Connor Ulster 2+2 230 0 2 9 0 31 Best in a PRO12 Season: 287pts by (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 Tim Visser Edinburgh 6 480 9 7 2 6 3 2 George North Scarlets 6 466 7 3 4 2 5 3 Robert Barbieri Benetton Treviso 5+1 376 6 2 4 2 4 4 Andy Fenby Scarlets 6 440 5 2 3 3 2 5 Ulster 7+1 573 5 3 2 1 4 6 Tommy Seymour Glasgow 6 471 5 2 3 0 5 7 DTH van der Merwe Glasgow 4 280 5 3 2 2 3 8 Dan Evans Dragons 7 560 4 2 2 2 2 9 Nick Williams Ulster 7+1 542 4 1 3 3 1 10 Tom Brown Edinburgh 3+1 261 3 0 3 3 0 11 Cardiff Blues 4 295 3 1 2 0 3 12 Brendan Macken Leinster 4+2 419 3 3 0 0 3 13 Ian Madigan Leinster 7+1 537 3 2 1 2 1 14 Tommy O'Donnell Munster 2+4 228 3 1 2 1 2 15 Dries van Zebre 8 628 3 3 0 0 3 Schalkwyk Best in a PRO12 Season: 14 by Tim Visser (Edinburgh) 2010/11

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

RHINO GOLDEN BOOT AWARD BEST RaboDirect PRO12 KICKERS Rank Name Team Good Att Kick% Last 10 kicks Conv PG Streak 1 Ian Keatley Munster 19 22 86.36% 32/3/2/p3222c 8/9 11/13 Missed last 1 2 Ronan O'Gara Munster 15 18 83.33% 3/c333p/2322 7/9 8/9 Last 4 3 Cardiff Blues 9 11 81.82% 3323/3p/3c22 3/4 6/7 Last 2 4 Zebre 9 11 81.82% 33/p223/3233 3/3 6/8 Last 7 5 Ruan Pienaar Ulster 13 16 81.25% 3222/222222 11/12 2/4 Last 11 6 Miah Nikora Connacht 12 15 80.00% 323322/3c3/2 4/5 8/10 Last 2 7 Ian Madigan Leinster 15 19 78.95% 32c/33p/32pp 6/7 9/12 Missed last 2 8 Jonathan Sexton Leinster 20 26 76.92% 2/22222c22c 13/16 7/10 Missed last 1 9 Paddy Jackson Ulster 18 24 75.00% c2c22p/3223 8/11 10/13 Last 4 10 Tom Prydie Dragons 26 35 74.29% 2/33p233/p33 8/11 18/24 Last 2 11 Dan Biggar Ospreys 25 34 73.53% 2c332/2c2p2 11/13 14/21 Last 1 12 Aled Thomas Scarlets 16 22 72.73% 2c2/3p33323 8/10 8/12 Last 5 13 Greig Laidlaw Edinburgh 18 25 72.00% 2/3332/p32c2 9/14 9/11 Last 1 14 Alberto di Bernardo Benetton Treviso 12 17 70.59% 3/p2323p2/3p 5/6 7/11 Missed last 1 15 Harry Leonard Edinburgh 9 13 69.23% c/23333p333 2/3 7/10 Last 3 16 Kris Burton Benetton Treviso 11 16 68.75% 2/323c/c/p23p 3/5 8/11 Missed last 1 17 Cardiff Blues 10 15 66.67% 33/p32p2322 5/5 5/10 Last 4 18 Scott Wight Glasgow 10 15 66.67% 32c/3223cc2 6/10 4/5 Last 1 19 Dan Parks Connacht 9 15 60.00% p/333p/332pc 3/6 6/9 Missed last 2 20 Niall O'Connor Ulster 11 19 57.89% pp/3/3333c32 2/4 9/15 Last 2 21 Daniel Halangahu Zebre 11 20 55.00% p3p2/c3cpc2 4/7 7/13 Last 1 22 Ruaridh Jackson Glasgow 9 17 52.94% c/p2c2p/p333 3/5 6/12 Last 3 23 Rhys Priestland Scarlets 13 29 44.83% pp2/p223/3c/3 6/12 7/17 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 Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

RaboDirect PRO12 RECORD CENTRE INDIVIDUAL GAME RECORDS All-Time Best in 2012/13 Most points 32 - Stephen Jones ( RFC @ 24 – Dan Biggar , 4 Oct 02) (Ospreys @ Zebre, 5 Oct) Most tries 4 - Mike Mullins (Munster @ 3 – Tim Visser Caerphilly, 11 Sep 01) (Edinburgh v Munster, 1 Sep) 4 - Lee Abdul (Blues v Ospreys, 25 Oct 03) 4 – Jamie Robinson (Blues v Borders, 27 Feb 04) Most conversions 9 - Brendan Laney (Edinburgh @ 7 – Jonathan Sexton Caerphilly, 21 Sep 02) (Leinster v Blues, 27 Oct) Most penalty goals 9 – Luciano Orquera 7 – Harry Leonard ( v Treviso, 23 Dec 11) (Edinburgh v Scarlets, 26 Oct) Most drop goals 4 – Dan Parks 3 – Stefan Jones (Glasgow v Ulster, 16 Apr 10) (Dragons v Edinburgh, 28 Sep) Fastest try 18 secs – Nathan Brew 2 mins – Ian Keatley (Dragons @ Blues, 27 Dec 05) (Munster v Dragons, 22 Sep) Quickest 17 mins 43 secs – Tommy Bowe 26 mins – Dave Kearney bonus point try (Ulster v Reivers, 12 May 06) (Leinster v Blues, 27 Oct)

TEAM RECORDS All-Time Best in 2012/13 Most points in a 63-17 Ulster v Reivers 59-22 Leinster v Blues home game (Ravenhill, 12 May 06) (RDS, 27 Oct) Most points in an 67-15 Ulster @ Caerphilly 48-19 Ulster @ Blues away game (Virginia Park, 5 Oct 02) (Arms Park, 28 Sep) Highest aggregate of 98pts - Caerphilly 32, Edinburgh 66 81pts – Leinster 59, Blues 22 points in game (Virginia Park, 21 Sep 02) (RDS, 27 Oct) Biggest home win 62pts - Connacht 62, Caerphilly 0 37pts – Leinster 59, Blues 22 (, 16 Sep 01) (RDS, 27 Oct) Biggest away win 52pts - Ulster 67 @ Caerphilly 15 29pts – Blues 19, Ulster 48 (Virginia Park, 5 Oct 02) (Arms Park, 28 Sep) Best attendance 50,645 – Leinster v Munster 46,280 – Leinster v Munster (regular season) (, 2 Oct 10) (Aviva Stadium, 6 Oct) Note: 2012/13 Season bests set or equalled this past round shown in italics.

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Round Nine: 23rd – 25th November 2012

APPROACHING CAREER MILESTONES POINTS SCORING 1,500 points: Dan Parks (1365) 1,000 points: Ronan O’Gara (896), Dan Biggar (841), Ian Keatley (738) 500 points: Jason Tovey (430) Record: 1,365 points – Dan Parks (Glasgow Warrior, Cardiff Blues & Connacht) TRY SCORING 50 tries: Tommy Bowe (48), Tim Visser (46) 25 tries: Gordon D’Arcy (23), Sean Lamont (22), Doug Howlett (21), Jonathan Davies (21), Brian O’Driscoll (21) Record: 48 tries – Tommy Bowe (Ulster & Ospreys) MATCHES PLAYED 150 games: (143), Adam Jones (143), John Muldoon (141) 100 games: Ryan Jones (98), (98), Ronan O’Gara (98), John Barclay (98), Wayne Evans(97) 50 games: Jon Welsh (49), (48), Tommy O’Donnell (47), Scott Andrews (47) Record: 153 games – Michael Swift (Connacht)

CAREER TOP TENS MOST POINTS MOST GAMES MOST MINS PLAYED MOST TRIES Dan Parks 1365 Michael Swift 153 John Muldoon 9841 Tommy Bowe 48 Ronan O’Gara 896 Ceri Sweeney 143 9605 Tim Visser 46 Felipe Contepomi 877 Adam Jones 143 9468 Shane Horgan 39 Dan Biggar 841 John Muldoon 141 Dan Parks 9300 Nikki Walker 36 Chris Paterson 810 Deiniol Jones 139 Tommy Bowe 9086 34 David Humphreys 786 Alastair Kellock 138 Michael Swift 8957 Simon Danielli 30 Stephen Jones 741 Dan Parks 136 Ceri Sweeney 8881 Matthew Watkins 30 Ian Keatley 738 Dougie Hall 136 Allan Jacobsen 8867 Aled Brew 30 Ceri Sweeney 676 Steve Jones 135 Mick O’Driscoll 8857 Three players 29 Paul Warwick 664 Allan Jacobsen 135 Gareth Wyatt 8587 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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