GUINNESS PRO12: Round 19 Preview

Leaders Glasgow Warriors open this round of GUINNESS PRO12 action by hosting Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday evening, while the fourth-placed Ospreys travel to Benetton Treviso the same night.

The placings at the top of the table are so tight that should the results go their way, the Ospreys could end the evening ahead of Glasgow as there are only four points separating the two teams. Glasgow, however, have not lost at Scotstoun this campaign, and with the prospect of a home semi-final on offer, every point will count.
 
The two teams in second and third place in the table, Ulster and Munster, are in action on Saturday. Both provinces are on the road to play sides competing for a place in next season’s European Champions Cup, Connacht and Edinburgh respectively.

With points difference being the only way of separating Ulster and Munster from a home play-off spot, each game between now and the end of the season will be vital to their ambitions.
 
The Connacht v Ulster game will also see the HawkEye system in operation again, as part of trials with Sky Sports and World Rugby.
 
Elsewhere, time is running out for both Leinster and Zebre in their battles to qualify for the play-offs and European Champions Cup respectively. Leinster, four point adrift of the Ospreys in fourth, face a trip to Wales to play the Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday, while Zebre, four points short of Treviso in the table, host the Scarlets on Saturday.
 
There are just approximately 1,000 terrace tickets left for public sale for the GUINNESS PRO12 final at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Saturday, May 30. Click here to buy your ticket(s) now.

GUINNESS PRO12 – ROUND 19 FIXTURES:

Friday, April 10 –

Glasgow Warriors (1st) v Cardiff Blues (10th), Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm (live BBC ALBA)

Benetton Treviso (11th) v Ospreys (4th), Stadio di Monigo, 7.35pm local time (live Nuvolari TV/BBC 2 Wales)

Saturday, April 11 –

CONNACHT (6th) v ULSTER (2nd), the Sportsground, 2.40pm (live Sky Sports 1 HD/highlights TG4)

Zebre (12th) v Scarlets (8th), Stadio Lanfranchi, 4pm local time (live Nuvolari TV)

Edinburgh (7th) v MUNSTER (3rd), BT Murrayfield, 7.30pm (live TG4/BBC ALBA)

Sunday, April 12 –

Newport Gwent Dragons (9th) v LEINSTER (5th), Rodney Parade, 4.15pm (live S4C/highlights TG4)