RaboDirect PRO12: Round 19 Preview

Having lost their impressive unbeaten run to the Ospreys last Friday, Leinster will want to avoid a second defeat that could cut their lead at the top of the table and potentially affect their top seeding.

Munster will not only be looking for the win to close in on the leaders, but more importantly to secure the second home play-off spot they hold at present.

The third-placed Ospreys, lying in wait for Munster to make a slip up, will also have to be careful that the teams coming up behind do not knock them out of the top four altogether.

Just three points separate the third to sixth-placed teams and all of them are scrambling to make the play-offs.

Fourth-placed Glasgow Warriors welcome the seventh-placed Cardiff Blues who, already six points adrift of their opponents, must fear that a heavy defeat could all but end their hopes of reaching the semi-finals this season.

The Warriors currently hold a play-off spot courtesy of a one-point advantage over Ulster and the Scarlets, any slip up on Friday night could see them out of the top four altogether with both their challengers facing opposition from the lower half of the table.

With every game until the end of the season now a ‘must win’ scenario for almost half of the teams in the RaboDirect PRO12, we are in for a nail-biting finale.

RABODIRECT PRO12 – ROUND 19 FIXTURES:

Friday, March 30 –

ULSTER v Aironi Rugby, Ravenhill, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland/TG4)

Newport Gwent Dragons v CONNACHT, Rodney Parade, 7.15pm

Edinburgh v Scarlets, Murrayfield, 7.35pm

Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues, Firhill Stadium, 7.35pm (live BBC 2 Wales/BBC ALBA)

Saturday, March 31 –

Ospreys v Benetton Treviso, Liberty Stadium, 6.30pm (live S4C)

MUNSTER v LEINSTER, Thomond Park, 7.30pm (live RTÉ Two/BBC ALBA)