RaboDirect PRO12: Round 20 Preview

Munster and Glasgow Warriors are level in the table on 56 points, and defeat for either team could leave the way open for fifth-placed Ulster, just one point behind, to leapfrog above them and take their place in the top four.

One more victory – or less with other results permitting – will guarantee Leinster a coveted home play-off spot. Fellow Heineken Cup semi-finalists Edinburgh are the opposition that Joe Schmidt’s men will have to beat on Friday night in order to achieve that feat.

Ulster face their second interprovincial derby in six days when they travel to Galway to meet a Connacht side that is brimming with confidence after their away win over the Dragons last time out.

The other team currently sitting in a home play-off spot, the Ospreys, face fellow Welsh region, the Cardiff Blues, who know that should they fail to claim any points in the game it will end their own hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the league.

The only other side still in with a possibility of reaching the top four, the sixth-placed Scarlets, face a trip to Italy to play Aironi Rugby on Sunday, by which time their chances of climbing the table may become clearer.

With just three rounds of the regular season left, and with just three points separating the teams in second to fifth position, there is still everything to play for in the RaboDirect PRO12.

RABODIRECT PRO12 – ROUND 20 FIXTURES:

Friday, April 13 –

Newport Gwent Dragons v Benetton Treviso, Rodney Parade, 7.30pm (live S4C)

LEINSTER v Edinburgh, the RDS, 7.45pm (live TG4/BBC ALBA)

Saturday, April 14 –

CONNACHT v ULSTER, the Sportsground, 5.15pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Northern Ireland)

Cardiff Blues v Ospreys, Cardiff City Stadium, 6.30pm (live S4C)

MUNSTER v Glasgow Warriors, Musgrave Park, 7.15pm (live RTÉ Two/BBC ALBA)

Sunday, April 15 –

Aironi Rugby v Scarlets, Stadio Zaffanella, 3.05pm local time (live Rai Sport 2/BBC 2 Wales)