With just nine rounds to play, the Guinness PRO12 is hotting up!
In Round 14 games will take place on Friday (Feb 10) and Sunday (Feb 12) with four of the six fixtures broadcast live.
Munster Rugby lead Ospreys Rugby by a point at the top of the table while only six points separates 3rd-placed Leinster Rugby from Scarlets in 5th position.
What’s at Stake?
Guinness PRO12 leaders Munster play host to Newport-Gwent Dragons at Irish Independent Park where they have lost two of their last four fixtures to Welsh opposition. However, Dragons arrive in Ireland searching for their first PRO12 away in 18 games. Ulster Rugby are also aiming to reverse a poor trend of results which has seen them pick up just one win across all competitions in their last six games while visitors Edinburgh Rugby are looking to complete their first double over the province since the 2007/08 season.
Ospreys Rugby and Leinster Rugby both travel to Italy to take on Zebre Rugby and Benetton Rugby Treviso, respectively, where they will arrive boasting two of the best attacking records in the Championship. Ospreys’ tally of 51 tries is the highest in the Guinness PRO12 while Leinster are second with 49.
Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues will host Connacht Rugby at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park where the visitors really need a victory to push themselves into contention to qualify for the Champions Cup. Connacht have beaten Cardiff Blues already this season but have never completed a PRO12 double over the Capital region.
Fixtures –
Friday, February 10: Munster Rugby v Newport-Gwent Dragons (7.35pm); Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets (7.35pm); Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby (7.35pm); Zebre Rugby v Ospreys Rugby (8pm CET).
Sunday, February 12: Cardiff Blues v Connacht Rugby (1.05pm); Benetton Rugby Treviso v Leinster Rugby (1.30pm).
ZEBRE RUGBY v OSPREYS RUGBY
At Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 8pm local time (7pm UK & Ireland)
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 48th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (SRU, Stefano Bolzonella (FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (FIR)
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT GUINNESS PRO12 MEETINGS
Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record:
Played 9, Zebre won 1, Ospreys won 8
Did you know?
- Zebre Rugby’s only victory this season was 19-14 against Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield in round 7 of the Guinness PRO12, whilst they have not been victorious in Parma since beating Dragons there on 7 May.
- Ospreys only reversal in the last eight rounds of the PRO12 was 0-33 to Munster in Cork on 4 November.
- Ospreys have not lost to an Italian side since facing Zebre at Parma in May 2014.
- The two sides have met on nine previous occasions with Zebre’s only victory being 30-27 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in round 21 of the 2013/14 campaign.
Top performers
For more Opta statistics visit http://www.pro12rugby.com/powered-by-opta/
Tickets for this month’s home games against Munster and Glasgow are available to buy now at www.ospreysrugby.com/buytickets, priced from £20 (adults), £5 (U16) and, if you buy a Munster ticket you can get Glasgow for half price.