After a weekend that saw leaders Ospreys fall to their first defeat of the season, and Italian outfit Benetton Treviso gain their first ever try bonus point, the top four teams in the RaboDirect PRO12 stayed the same with Ospreys, Munster, Leinster and Cardiff Blues currently occupying the Play-Off Zone spots.
Two of those teams, Leinster and Munster, face each other in what must be the biggest game of the weekend, if only in crowd size, in the Round 8 clash at the Aviva Stadium. Fortune must favour the home team, who have not lost any game they’ve played at the venue since 2006, however the visitors, reigning champions Munster, have been successful in their last six encounters against other Irish Provinces. With Rugby World Cup stars returning to action, this promises to be the tie of the round.
CLICK HERE FOR 12 Page Supplement reviewing the previous round and up coming round 8 – waht a series of games ahead including Ulster v Connacht
In the only other game on Friday night, fourth placed Cardiff Blues will be looking to consolidate that Play-Off spot when they travel to Newport Gwent Dragons, although their hosts currently have an excellent record at Rodney Parade where they will be celebrating the opening of their new stand.
The remaining Round 8 games all take place on Saturday, with two games in Italy in the afternoon, both involving Scottish opposition. Aironi host Glasgow Warriors, whilst Benetton Treviso welcome Edinburgh. After the impressive victory Treviso recorded last round against the Dragons, Edinburgh cannot be looking forward to the journey, especially as each side won its respective home game last season. Glasgow Warriors on the other hand, with a won 4, lost 3 record so far this season, will be looking to improve on the margin of victory they achieved on their last trip to Aironi when they won by a single point.
The remaining two games are an all-Welsh and an all-Irish affair, Ospreys facing Scarlets and Ulster hosting Connacht. Victory over the table topping Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium will be a tough ask for Scarlets who have only won there once before, in 2007.
Connacht’s record against Ulster, especially in the Province, is not good, however their hosts lost their unbeaten record to Benetton Treviso last time out at Ravenhill. Ulster and Ospreys are both still searching for that elusive 100th competition victory.
