RaboDirect PRO12: Round 15 Preview

With the international weekend kicking off on Friday night, the majority of the RaboDirect PRO12 matches take place on Sunday, however Cardiff Blues open round 15 against defending champions Leinster at the Arms Park on Thursday.

If past form is any guide, Cardiff will have their work cut out to claim victory in against Matt O’Connor’s Leinster side.

The sole game on Saturday is also in Wales with Edinburgh visiting Llanelli to play the Scarlets, who missed out last round due to the bad weather in Belfast. The Scots do not travel well, so the Scarlets must be hoping to put their own home record back on track in this fixture.

The remaining four games take place on Sunday, with a TV double header in Italy, Benetton Treviso hosting Ulster and Zebre facing another of the Irish provinces, Connacht.

Connacht’s victory over Edinburgh last time out saw them swap places with Zebre at the foot of the table, which could be reversed if Zebre claim this tie.

Ulster, on the other hand, will be hoping they can make up some ground on the teams above them in the play-off zone.

At the same time the remaining two Welsh regions will be in action in the principality. Newport Gwent Dragons’ opponents Glasgow Warriors currently sit in fourth place in the table courtesy of one more win than Ulster, and still have two games in hand over the three teams above them.

The outstanding game must be the pick of the weekend, leaders Munster travelling to face third-placed Ospreys, who claimed a record victory over Treviso in their most recent outing at the Liberty Stadium. Both teams will be looking for a win to stake their claim for home play-off spot.

RABODIRECT PRO12 – ROUND 15 FIXTURES:

Thursday, February 20 –

Cardiff Blues (9th) v LEINSTER (2nd), Arms Park, 8.05pm (live RTÉ Two/BBC 2 Wales)

Saturday, February 22 –

Scarlets (6th) v Edinburgh (8th), Parc y Scarlets, 2.30pm

Sunday, February 23 –

Newport Gwent Dragons (7th) v Glasgow Warriors (4th), Rodney Parade, 2.30pm

Benetton Treviso (10th) v ULSTER (5th), Stadio di Monigo, 3pm local time/2pm Irish time (live Sport Mediaset/BBC Sport NI Website/Red Button)

Ospreys (3rd) v MUNSTER (1st), Liberty Stadium, 4pm (live S4C/highlights TG4)

Zebre (12th) v CONNACHT (11th), Stadio XXV Aprile, 5.30pm local time/4.30pm Irish time (live Sport Mediaset/highlights TG4)