The RaboDirect PRO12 is back and so is our weekly PRO12 preview, which takes the spotlight off the capital club and pans across the division.
edinburghrugby
FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
The RaboDirect PRO12 season 2013/14 kicks off with both the reigning champions, Leinster and runners up, Ulster in action in Wales on Friday night.
Surprisingly, the Champions are not known as fast starters (having only won one opening round since 2003 (2007 v Edinburgh at the RDS), while their opponents, Scarlets, will be looking to make the most of their home advantage. Dragons took maximum points from their opening fixture last season, but they will find Ulster far tougher opposition then new boys Zebre were in 2012/13.
Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff Blues complete the action on Friday night and, after an auspicious start to the season last year, the Warriors will look to get their push for a Play-Off return underway at their Scotstoun home.
SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
The remaining three round one games all take place on Saturday, in Italy and Ireland.
In a repeat of last season’s opening fixture, Ospreys travel to Italy to face Treviso, and will hoping for a better result than last year when the began their then title defence with a 12-6 loss to their hosts. The second Italian outfit, Zebre, face Irish province Connacht in Galway.
The visitors are still looking for that elusive first win in the competition, but should be buoyed by the fact that, on the last two occasions that the teams met, there was less than seven points apart.
The round wraps up on Saturday evening at Musgrave Park in Cork where Munster welcome Edinburgh Rugby. History seems to favour the hosts who have only been defeated once in the opening weekend of the tournament since 2006, though records are there to be broken.
ROUND ONE FIXTURE LIST:
FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
GLASGOW WARRIORS v CARDIFF BLUES, Scotstoun (kick-off 7.35pm) – Live on BBC ALBA
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v ULSTER, Rodney Parade (kick-off 7.15pm) – Live on BBC NI
SCARLETS v LEINSTER, Parc y Scarlets (kick-off 7.05pm) – Live on BBC Wales
SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
BENETTON TREVISO v OSPREYS, Stadio Monigo (kick-off 6.30pm) – Live on S4C
CONNACHT v ZEBRE, Sportsground (kick-off 5pm)
MUNSTER v EDINBURGH RUGBY, Musgrave Park (kick-off 7.15pm) – Live on BBC ALBA and TG4
Gla 12/12 Car – was a 56th ish minute penalty over by Patchell
Gla 15/19 Car – missed some of the action – 73rd minute now
Oops wrong way around now Gla 22/15 Car -74th minute
Bath 9 / 0 Newcastle, after 58 min
Full time PRO12 scores: Scarlets 19/42 Leinster; Dragons 15/8 Ulster; Glasgow Warriors 22/15 Cardiff Blues
23 @ grootblousmile:
Hello GBS sorry didn’t spot your comment at the time was too busy watching and posting and in between also needing to be taxi driver, also thought I was alone in here as it sounded quite echoey 🙂 It was pouring with rain in Glasgow as well made for tough conditions so Glasgow did well to get the win especially losing their captain so early too injury.
34 @ grootblousmile:
I see Bath beat Newcastle by far in the end – Bath 21/0 Newcastle was the final score, am sure in those conditions and with those two teams (newly promoted Newcastle) it wasn’t a true reflection of the quality of the Premiership.
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