After five rounds of the RaboDirect PRO12, Glasgow Warriors are the only remaining side with a 100 per cent winning record, and have established themselves at the top of the table with a two point lead over their nearest rivals, Munster. Warriors have made a much better start to this season’s campaign than last, by this point in 2012/13 they had only just attained 4th place.
Second placed Munster have almost mirrored the start they made last year which saw them remain in or around the Play-Off zone for most of the season. Ulster and Scarlets were the front runners in the early part of 2012/13, but whilst Ulster currently sit in 4th spot, Scarlets have not made it into the Play-Off zone so far this campaign.
Ospreys have started much better than last year, never dropping below 6th so far this season whereas they hadn’t reached that height by round 5 last year. Champions Leinster, who had a slow start to their 2012/13 campaign, have had a mixed run so far winning two, losing two and drawing one game.
At the other end of the table Zebre are holding on to tenth spot, the highest they have ever been in the rankings.
Tim Visser 45th minute try for Edinburgh in their 3rd round game at Ospreys took him to the 50 try mark in his RaboDirect PRO12 career, only the second player behind Tommy Bowe to achieve that, however Visser did it in record time on only his 74th appearance.
The same weekend saw Dan Parks, the first man to pass 1000 points in his RaboDirect PRO12 career, claim another record in an unlikely fashion when his try for Connacht against Ulster took his career tally over 1500. He reverted to the boot to claim the conversion.
Ospreys’ Dan Biggar became the second ever RaboDirect PRO12 player to pass 1000 points mark, and did so coincidentally in Ospreys round 4 game against Connacht, facing a team that included Dan Parks.
