RaboDirect PRO12: Round 3 Preview

After just two rounds there are only three teams left with 100% winning records in the RaboDirect PRO12 – Munster, the Scarlets and Ulster – and one of those must go this weekend as Ulster host Munster at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Munster have the better record in this fixture, however Ulster have had the better of their opponents at home so it really is anyone’s game.

Also on Friday night, reigning champions, the Ospreys, will be looking for their first victory of the current campaign Visitors Glasgow Warriors are also seeking to shed an unwelcome played two, lost two record start to the season.

The final game on Friday takes place in Scotland’s capital city when Edinburgh take on Italian newcomers Zebre. The hosts lost their first round encounter with Munster at Murrayfield, despite a try hat-trick by Tim Visser, so will be looking for a result for their fans to cheer.

The round wraps up with three games on Saturday. Connacht kick off the action at 3pm in the afternoon when current table toppers, the Scarlets, are the visitors to the Sportsground in Galway, a venue where they last tasted victory in January 2009.

The focus then switches to Italy with Benetton Treviso welcoming European champions Leinster to Stadio di Monigo. Treviso won the first meeting of the two teams in this competition, but the results have gone the way of the Irish province since then.

Last, but by no means least, is the all-Welsh derby between the Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade.

Having led the table after the first round, the Dragons slipped up last week to Leinster and both teams now have a won one, lost one record, with both gaining a bonus point in the process.

RABODIRECT PRO12 – ROUND 3 FIXTURES:

Friday, September 14 –

ULSTER (3rd) v MUNSTER (2nd), Ravenhill, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland/RTÉ Two)

Ospreys (10th) v Glasgow Warriors (11th), Liberty Stadium, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Wales/BBC ALBA)

Edinburgh (7th) v Zebre (12th), Murrayfield, 7.30pm

Saturday, September 15 –

CONNACHT (5th) v Scarlets (1st), the Sportsground, 3pm (live TG4)

Newport Gwent Dragons (4th) v Cardiff Blues (6th), Liberty Stadium, 6.30pm (live S4C)

Benetton Treviso (9th) v LEINSTER (8th), Stadio di Monigo, 7.05pm local time/6.05pm Irish time (live www.TG4.tv / Sport Italia 2)