Round 17 of the Guinness PRO14 arrives after a weekend which saw the race for Finals Series spots get even tighter. Last weekend’s results meant that champions Leinster became the first team to secure their place - with a home semi-final on offer next - while Munster and Glasgow Warriors won to keep setting the pace in Conference A.
Behind them, the chase is as close as ever for the remaining places. This weekend sees some huge games taking place, in particular with Benetton hosting Edinburgh and Connacht taking on the Ospreys.
What’s at stake?
The weekend kicks off on Friday night with just the one game, as Leinster play host to the Toyota Cheetahs at the RDS (live on Premier Sports 1 and eir Sport 1, 19:35 and SuperSport 1 & DAZN, 20:35). Leinster’s bonus-point win over the Isuzu Southern Kings last week, combined with other results meant that the 2017/18 champions are now mathematically assured of a place in the Finals Series, and another win would seal top spot in Conference B. The Cheetahs, by contrast, really need a win to stay in touch in the race for a top three spot in Conference A. However, they are still searching for a first win in Ireland, and face a Leinster team who have not lost at home since April 2018.
Saturday’s action begins at the Sportsground as Connacht host the Ospreys (live on Premier Sports 1 and TG4, 14:45, DAZN 15:45). With just three points separating Cardiff Blues, Connacht and Ospreys in the race for a Finals Series spot, this could have huge implications for the end of season. The Ospreys were narrowly beaten by Munster last week and have now lost five in a row in all competitions to slip to fifth in Conference A. Connacht, meanwhile, have had some struggles of their own with just one win in their last four in the Championship but have not lost at home to a Welsh side since 2017.
Later on Saturday the Scarlets host Munster in a re-run of the 2017 Final, this time at Parc y Scarlets (live on Premier Sports 2, TG4, S4C and eir Sport 1, 17:00, DAZN 18:00). Last year’s runners-up find themselves in a perilous position in the race for a Final Series sport, sitting fifth in Conference B. They are however only five points off Benetton in second, so that could all change in a single weekend. The Scarlets boast a fine home record, with just one defeat at Parc y Scarlets since 2016 in the Championship, and they got back to winning ways against the Cheetahs last time out. Munster, however, were victorious on their last trip to the Scarlets, winning in September 2016.
Glasgow Warriors will look to keep the pressure on Munster as they travel to Parma to take on Zebre (live on Free Sports, 17:15, DAZN, 18:15). The Warriors sit just a point back on Munster following last week’s bonus-point success against Connacht, and now face a Zebre side who they have beaten in all 13 meetings between the sides. The Warriors were beaten on their last trip to Italy, away to Benetton, while Zebre beat the last Scottish opposition to come to Parma, Edinburgh.
The final game of Saturday is Cardiff Blues at home to the Isuzu Southern Kings (live on Premier Sports 2 19:35, DAZN 20:35, Super Sport 1, 21:35). The Blues came from behind to record a vital win away at Edinburgh last week, and moved into the top three in Conference A. They will be keen to consolidate that position against a Kings side whose only wins this season have come against Scottish opposition. The Blues have only been beaten once in their last four games, that thriller against Glasgow Warriors, and with their two play-off rivals facing each other earlier in the day, a win could open up some breathing room ahead of the loser in Galway.
Finally, on Sunday Ulster travel to the Dragons in need of a win at Rodney Parade (live on Premier Sports 2, 15:00, DAZN 16:00, Super Sport 1, 17:00). A big win over the Kings got Ulster back into the top three in Conference B, and they have the chance to cement that place in Wales. The Dragons have not beaten Irish opposition since 2017, although the last time the teams met at Rodney Parade, they played out a thrilling 32-32 draw. Ulster are on a good run having now won two in a row on the road, and will look to make it three straight away wins for the first time since 2016.
Opta Top Performers – Round 16
Most tackles: 29 Tienie Burger, Henry Brown (both Isuzu Southern Kings)
Most carries: 20 Ed Byrne (Leinster)
Defenders Beaten: 10 Keelan Giles (Ospreys)
Offloads: 7 Monty Ioane (Benetton)
Clean Breaks: 5 Paul Asquith (Scarlets)
Metres made: 139 Paul Asquith (Scarlets)
Turnovers Won: 4 Tadhg Beirne (Munster)
Lineout Steals: 2 Tadhg Beirne (Munster)
Opta Top Performers – Overall
Most tackles: 210 Olly Cracknell (Ospreys)
Most Carries: 221 Bill Mata (Edinburgh)
Defenders Beaten: 61 Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh)
Offloads: 24 Tom Farrell (Connacht)
Clean breaks: 27 Sibhale Maxwane (Toyota Cheetahs)
Metres made: 996 Malcolm Jaer (Toyota Cheetahs)
Turnovers won: 23 Olly Robinson (Cardiff Blues)
Lineout Steals: 7 Junior Pokomela (Toyota Cheetahs), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), James King (Ospreys)
DRAGONS v ULSTER RUGBY
Overall Guinness PRO14 head to head record: Played 31, Dragons won 10, Ulster won 19 with 2 games drawn.
Did you know?
- Dragons have lost their last four fixtures since beating Timisoara Saracens at Rodney Parade in the European Challenge Cup on 11 January.
- Dragons have lost three of their last five home games in the Guinness PRO14 whilst they have not beaten an Irish province at any venue since they defeated Connacht in Newport in September 2017.
- Ulster are unbeaten in their last five fixtures in all competitions since losing at Leinster in round 13 of the Guinness PRO14.
- Ulster have won their last two away games, at Leicester Tigers and at Ospreys, but have not won three in a row on their travels since January 2016.
- Ulster are unbeaten in their last seven encounters with Dragons since the Men from Gwent’s 26-22 victory at Rodney Parade in March 2015, a sequence which also includes a 32-all draw, the last time the sides met in Newport.
CLICK HERE to secure your tickets for the Dragons final home game in Newport this season as Ulster come to Rodney Parade for the Guinness PRO14 clash on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
