With the finalists in the Guinness PRO14 showcase Final on March 27 now decided as Leinster and Munster, this weekend’s action on Premier Sports focuses on the battle for European places in the ranks below the Conference leaders.
In Conference A, Ulster will finish runners-up to Leinster this season with Ospreys currently in 3rd holding a 10-point lead over 4th placed Glasgow Warriors, who have a game in hand as do Dragons in 5th with 20 points.
It’s equally tight in Conference B, with Munster on top and four teams grouped close together below. Connacht are in second place on 42 points and with a home win this weekend against Edinburgh will not be caught. Scarlets sit in 3rd currently on 34 points, eight points above Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues on 26 points with Edinburgh in 5th on 20 points but with two games in hand.
Premier Sports’ team for Round 15 coverage lines up as follows:
- Fri 12 March Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys: Dougie Vipond, John Barclay, Sean Holley, Rory Hamilton, Emma Dodds
- Fri 12 March Zebre v Leinster: Reggie Corrigan & Bernard Jackman
- Sat 13 March Dragons v Ulster: Ross Harries, Aled Brew, Andrew Trimble, Wyn Gruffydd, Lauren Jenkins
- Sun 14 March Benetton v Cardiff Blues: Tom Shanklin & Rhys Ap William
Friday night kicks off with a trio of matches all live on Premier Sports. Leinster head out to Parma in Italy with a Final place in the bag, and will now take the opportunity to showcase their next generation of players and formidable their strength-in-depth with some new faces appearing on the team sheet for this weekend. Leinster have won all 14 previous meetings with their hosts Zebre and are unbeaten in Italy since 2010.
A big night awaits in Scotland as Ospreys, who have lost their last two games, travel to Scotstoun to face 4th placed Glasgow Warriors, knowing a victory for the Welsh side will secure them third place in Conference A and a spot in the Champions Cup next season (live on Premier Sports 1 from 7.30pm).
It’s then to Limerick where the Scarlets face a challenging visit to Munster, the newly crowned Conference B winners. Scarlets have won their last two games against Benetton and Edinburgh and are on the brink of Champions Cup qualification if they can get a win at Thomond Park.
On Saturday evening, it’s Connacht against Edinburgh (Premier Sports 2 from 7pm) and Dragons against Ulster (Premier Sports 1 from 7pm live from the Principality Stadium). Both Connacht and Ulster will be looking to bounce back after their hopes of reaching the PRO14 final were crushed with losses to Munster and Leinster respectively last weekend. Both sit in second in their Conferences and will want finish the final rounds of this season’s competition on a positive note as runners-up.
Dragons Rugby have announced they will be playing their next three home games in the Guinness PRO14 against Ulster, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, to give the pitch at Rodney Parade some respite and time for essential maintenance and repairs ahead of games from April onwards.
The final game of the weekend sees Cardiff Blues travel to Benetton where the visitors will be looking to avoid a third successive defeat after losing out to Connacht and Munster in recent weeks.
Cardiff Blues have won their last seven fixtures against Italian opposition in all competitions though, and they are on a three-match winning run against Benetton, whose last victory against the Welsh side came two and a half years ago. All six PRO14 matches will be live on Premier Sports this weekend.
- Fri 12 March Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 7.30pm (KO 8pm)
- Fri 12 March Zebre v Leinster: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 5.40pm (KO 5.45pm UK)
- Fri 12 March Munster v Scarlets: Live on Premier Sports 2 from 7.55pm (KO 8pm)
- Sat 13 March Dragons v Ulster: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 7pm (KO 7.35pm)
- Sat 13 March Connacht v Edinburgh: Live on Premier Sports 2 from 7pm (KO 7.35pm)
- Sun 14 March Benetton v Cardiff Blues: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 12.55pm KO 1pm UK)
