RaboDirect PRO12 Previews Round 21
For immediate release: Monday 28 April 2014
Issued on behalf of RaboDirect PRO12
The May Day weekend should provide some of the most intense scrutiny of the RaboDirect PRO12 tables during the season, with almost every team still having something to play for at the start of the round.
The opening fixture between Zebre and Ospreys could go a long way to answering some of the questions – a loss for the hosts would put Treviso in the box seat for the Italian spot in next season’s European competition, whilst a loss for the visitors Ospreys, without picking up any league points would take away their mathematical chances of making the Play-Offs .

Bonus point wins are the big prize in the game at Ravenhill on Friday night – a bonus point win for the hosts would secure their place in the Play-Offs regardless of the Ospreys result, whilst a maximum pointer for Leinster would gain them home advantage having already qualified for a top four finish.

Also on Friday Scarlets have the chance to secure European rugby next season needing just two points from their game with Newport Gwent Dragons to deny Cardiff Blues or Edinburgh any mathematical chance of beating them to sixth place.

Glasgow Warriors bonus point victory over Edinburgh in their rearranged fixture last weekend lifted the Warriors into second spot, whilst they have racked up the most wins, 16, in the competition so far this season. Both will stand them in good stead as they will no doubt be looking for maximum points in Italy to support their push for a home Play-Off. Depending on the results of the May Day game, their hosts Benetton Treviso, will also know exactly what they have to do to claim the Italian berth in Europe next season.

The calculators will be to the fore in Limerick as Munster fans watch their three main competitors for the Play-Offs battle it out on Friday night before Munster take on Edinburgh the following day. Any points that the Munstermen can take out of this game reduces the pressure on their last fixture, which will be against Ulster.

One of the most exciting penultimate rounds of recent years could set up a grandstand finish for the last round of the regular season.

2013/14 ABBREVIATED RULES

The RaboDirect PRO12 shall consist of a league stage followed by a play-off stage.

In the league stage, four league points shall be awarded for a win and two league points shall be awarded for a draw.

One bonus league point shall be awarded to a Team scoring four or more tries and one bonus league point shall be awarded to a Team losing by seven points or less.

The top four Teams in the league at the end of the season shall qualify for the play- offs which shall consist of the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi Finals and the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order:

number of matches won;

the difference between points for and points against;

the number of tries scored;

the most points scored;

the difference between tries for and tries against;

the fewest number of red cards received;

the fewest number of yellow cards received.

In the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals, the Team placed first in the league shall play the Team placed fourth and the Team placed second shall play the Team placed third. The RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals shall be held at the home grounds of the first and second placed Teams respectively. The winners shall meet in the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

The RaboDirect PRO12 Final is provisionally scheduled to take place the weekend of 31^st May 2014. RaboDirect PRO12 will determine the venue for the RaboDirect PRO12 Final however the Team that finished highest in the league stage competing in the Final will be able to propose a venue within its own Union’s jurisdiction (which may include the team’s own ground) to host the RaboDirect PRO12 Final, provided that the venue meets certain commercial criteria and has capacity for a minimum of 18,000 spectators.

The winner of the RaboDirect PRO12 for 2013/14 will therefore be the Team that wins the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

THE PLAYOFF ZONE

If the Play Offs were to happen after this round they would be:

1st v 4th –  Leinster v Ulster

2nd v 3rd – Glasgow Warriors v Munster

With games due to take place on the weekend of 16/17/18 May.

The RaboDirect PRO12 Final is scheduled for Saturday 31^st May.

THE RUN IN

SPECSAVERS FAIRPLAY LEAGUE

The Specsavers Fairplay League rewards the best disciplinary record, with the club with the fewest disciplinary points (1 point for each yellow card, and 3 points for each red card or upheld citing) at the end of the 22 week regular season given £10,000 to spend on their youth development programme.

The above sets out a summary of certain provisions of the RaboDirect PRO12 Rules for information purposes only. As such these provisions may not be relied upon and for a full and proper understanding  of the provisions and rules of the RaboDirect PRO12, reference must be made to the RaboDirect PRO12 Rules in their existing and entire form.

PROVEN CITINGS (4)

Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues v Connacht, 13 Sept). Cited for an infringement of Law 10.4(a) (Punching or striking a player), suspended for two weeks.

Lorenzo Cittadini (Benetton Treviso @ Scarlets, 14 Sept). Cited for an infringement of Law 10.4(a) (Punching or striking a player), suspended for three weeks.

Aleki Lutui (Edinburgh @Ospreys 21 Sept) cited for an infringement of Law 10.4(e) (dangerous tackling), suspended for two weeks.

Liam Williams (Scarlets v Cardiff Blues, 20 Apr). Cited for a dangerous tackle contrary to Law 10.4 (e), suspended for two weeks.

 (note, the above is only a brief summary for purposes of the Specsavers Fairplay chart)

RED CARDS (2)

Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Newport Gwent Dragons at Leinster, 14 Feb) suspended for a period of 10 weeks for a dangerous “tip” tackle, contrary to Law 10.4 (j)

Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues v Scarlets, 20 Apr) suspended for 2 weeks for a stamp to the head contrary to Law 10.4 (b)

Liam Williams (Scarlets v Cardiff Blues, 20 Apr). see above citing

YELLOW CARDS (135)

TOP RaboDirect PRO12 ACCUMULATORS

TOP RaboDirect PRO12 TRY SCORERS

RHINO GOLDEN BOOT AWARD

The Rhino Golden Boot is awarded to the kicker who has successfully converted the highest percentage of place kicks during the 22 week regular season. The minimum criteria are 20 attempts at goal.

BEST RaboDirect PRO12 KICKERS

RaboDirect PRO12 RECORD CENTRE

INDIVIDUAL GAME RECORDS

TEAM RECORDS

Note: 2013/14 Season bests set or equalled this past round shown in italics.

APPROACHING CAREER MILESTONES

CAREER TOP TENS